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Lawrence Messina

(JEFF GENTNER/The Associated Press) Clay Mullins, brother of Rex Mullins, a victim of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion, meets with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 in Beaver, W.Va. Officals said that the new owners of the West Virginia coal mine where 29 men were killed in an April 2010 explosion, would pay a record $210 million to cover fines, compensate victims’ grieving families and improve underground safety.

Families demand prosecutions in W.Va. mine blast

Lawrence Messina, Vicki Smith The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 8:59am

BEAVER, W.Va. — Money — even a lot of it — is cold comfort to some relatives of the 29 men who died in the worst mining disaster in decades. They want justice, the kind that comes with a courtroom and a prison cell.

Explosion, Lawsuit, Miners, Fatality, National Read more Comments

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, at podium, asks for a moment of silence to honor the 29 miners killed one week ago in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine during a memorial service in front of the coal miner statue at the State Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Monday, April 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)

Bodies of all dead W. Va. miners recovered

Lawrence Messina, Tim Huber The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 8:33am

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The bodies of all 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in an explosion last week have been recovered from the mine, a spokeswoman for the state mine office said Tuesday.

Deaths, National Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) People visit a makeshift memorial outside the Whitesville Public Library in Whitesville, W.Va., on Saturday, for 29 miners who died in the explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W. Va., on Monday.

After finding bodies of 4 missing miners -- bringing death toll to 29 -- coal country moves forward with a heavy heart

Lawrence Messina, Vicki Smith The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 11:18pm

COMFORT, W.Va. — Time stopped five days ago for the families of 29 coal miners killed in the devastating explosion at Upper Big Branch mine.

Business, Accident, Featured, National Read more Comments

Gov. Joe Manchin and his wife Gayle Manchin, left, give a state certificate to the family of deceased coal miner Josh Napper, seated is his mother, Pam Napper with his daughter Jenna Leigh Napper, 20 months, his father Scott Napper and the mother of his child, Jennifer Ziegler, in red, Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at a candlelight vigil in Cabin Creek, W.Va. Napper was among the 25 miners killed on Monday including his uncle Timmy Davis Sr. and his cousin Cory Davis at an explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Coal Mine in Montcoal, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

W.Va. mine rescue teams eager to resume search

Dena Potter, Lawrence Messina, Vicki Smith The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 3:54pm

MONTCOAL, W.Va. — Rescuers running on adrenaline waited Thursday for a massive drill to vent noxious gas so they could safely resume the underground search for four coal miners missing in an explosion that killed 25 colleagues.

Accident, National Read more Comments

(BOB BIRD/The Associated Press) A coal miner who would only identify himself as Chris speaks about the miners who died in a Monday evening explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s sprawling Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., on Wednesday.

W.Va. congressman: 3 miners complain of safety

Dena Potter, Lawrence Messina The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - 4:26pm

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Congressman Nick Rahall says at least three workers from a West Virginia mine wrecked by an explosion have come to him complaining of unsafe working conditions since the blast.

Business, Safety, Accident, National Read more Comments

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin briefs reporters on the latest mine rescue operations, Wednesday morning, April 7, 2010, in Montcoal, W. Va. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

No response yet from any coal mine survivors

Dena Potter, Lawrence Messina The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - 8:13am

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Rescuers have gotten no response from possible survivors to sound signals sent deep into a West Virginia coal mine where a blast killed 25 people and left four miners missing in the worst U.S. mining accident in over two decades.

Featured, National Read more Comments

(JEFF GENTNER/The Associated Press) From left: Billy Pettry, Caden Gray, 5, and Brandon Gray sit on the steps of the Marsh Fork Worship Center in Eunice, W.Va., near the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Coal Mine Monday in Montcoal, W.Va.

25 dead in W.Va. mine blast, worst since 1984

Lawrence Messina The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - 6:44pm

AP INTERACTIVE: West Virginia Mine Blast

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- People in this small coal town prayed and hung banners in front of their homes Tuesday as rescuers launched a complicated effort to save four miners missing after a huge underground explosion killed 25 of their colleagues.

Accident, Featured, National Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) Emergency vehicles leave the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Coal Mine Monday in Montcoal, W.Va. after an explosion at the underground coal mine.

7 dead, 19 missing in W.Va. coal mine explosion

Lawrence Messina The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, April 5, 2010 - 10:24pm

SLIDESHOW: Mine Explosion

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Rescue teams were trying to locate at least 19 trapped miners in a large underground coal mine where an explosion killed seven workers on Monday, the coal company and mine safety officials said.

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