Shows / Blankenship On Trial
Blankenship On Trial
On April 5, 2010, 29 men were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia. Federal regulators say a history of unsafe practices led to the explosion and prosecutors are now trying to prove that culture at Massey Energy came from the top down, starting with former CEO Don Blankenship. These are the stories as they are told in the courtroom, the evidence as presented by both sides and the community's reactions to the trial of Don Blankenship.
Episodes
Blankenship On TrialUnderstanding Risks, Prevention Of Tick Bites, This West Virginia Morning
As temperatures rise and people start heading outside, the chance of contracting a tick-borne illness goes up. Cases of Lyme disease have seen a sharp rise in…
Blankenship On TrialGreen Bank Observatory SETI Tours Takes Visitors Behind The Scenes, This West Virginia Morning
The Greenbank Observatory is offering a limited chance to go behind the scenes to check out its Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). SETI tours…
Blankenship On TrialUnderstanding And Preventing Chemical Incidents, This West Virginia Morning
There are still many questions that surround the chemical incident near Institute last week that killed two workers. Chris Schulz spoke with Dr. Christopher…
Blankenship On TrialThe Chemical Spill In Kanawha County And Photographer Perry Bennett, This West Virginia Week
On this West Virginia Week, the air around the site of a chemical leak near Institute is determined safe, the state reaches a settlement with Roblox, and…
Blankenship On TrialWillie Carver Jr. And Marina Waters, Inside Appalachia
This week, in author Willie Carver, Jr.’s new book, he reconsiders a negative childhood experience with a neighborhood girl who might have just been looking…
Blankenship On TrialWeaving Poetry Into Short Stories, This West Virginia Morning
Kentucky writer Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr’s new book Tore All To Pieces weaves poetry and short stories into a narrative about people and place. Inside…
Blankenship On TrialUs & Them: The Good, The Bad, And The American Revolution
As the U.S. approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are debating not just politics but the nation’s past. In this…
Blankenship On TrialThe State Gets Good Grades For Air Quality, This West Virginia Morning
The American Lung Association has released its 27th State of the Air report on air pollution and awarded grades for metro areas across the country. No one in…
Blankenship On TrialW.Va. Photographer Talks Photo That Brought Him International Recognition, This West Virginia Morning
A West Virginia photographer is representing Team USA in the 2026 World Photographic Cup in Iceland this week – and he’s there because of a photo he almost…
Blankenship On TrialThe Healing Power Of Water, This West Virginia Morning
Especially in a land-locked state, the idea of caring for our natural waterways may not come easily. The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in…
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High Voltage Lines And Ticks, This West Virginia Week
On this West Virginia Week, a Florida energy company plans to build a high voltage line across four West Virginia counties. Also, the state’s horse racing…
Blankenship On TrialCoal’s Cost On Energy Prices, Inside Appalachia
This week, coal power can be expensive. Utilities run coal-fired power plants harder in the winter and summer when demand is high. Also, two films made in West…
Blankenship On TrialDifferent Approaches To Providing Electric Power, This West Virginia Morning
Lawmakers in both West Virginia and Virginia have been looking at ways to make power bills more affordable, but their approaches are very different. We spoke…
Blankenship On TrialPolitical Science Professor Analyzes Upcoming Primary Election, This West Virginia Morning
On this West Virginia Morning, some unusual things are happening in the leadup to the state's primary elections next month. A Marshall political science…
Blankenship On TrialIranian American Weighs In On War In Iran, This West Virginia Morning
With the war in Iran now in its second month, many questions remain about the motivations for and the objectives of the conflict. Ace Parsi’s family left Iran…
Blankenship On TrialSaving Rural Hospitals, This West Virginia Morning
America’s rural hospitals are closing at an alarming pace. That’s become a concern in many parts of West Virginia. We look at nearby Tennessee, which has the…
Blankenship On TrialThe Connection Between Pollution And Lung Cancer, This West Virginia Morning
We’ve long known that smoking can cause lung cancer. But what about air pollution? As The Allegheny Front reports, a new Appalachian study finds a connection…
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Supreme Court Weighs In On Vaccines And Planet Money Talks, This West Virginia Week
On this West Virginia Week, the state supreme court decides on vaccine requirements, the office of miners health and safety releases its findings about recent…
Blankenship On TrialEncore: Our Common Nature With Yo-Yo Ma, Inside Appalachia
This week, "Our Common Nature" is a new podcast from WNYC. It features cellist Yo-Yo Ma and producer Ana González, as they explore America and talk to folks…
Blankenship On TrialA Conversation On Acclaimed Cellist’s Visit To W.Va., This West Virginia Morning
Lots of public radio listeners know acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In the fall, WNYC released Our Common Nature, a podcast that follows the musician and producer…
Blankenship On TrialUs & Them Encore: Housing Options Are Few & Far Between In Appalachia
An Us & Them episode honored by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for Best Podcast examines the hidden side of homeownership in Appalachia…
Blankenship On TrialA Look At The Housing Crisis, This West Virginia Morning
By some measures, West Virginia has the nation’s highest homeownership rate. However much of that housing is old and needs repair. Our latest episode of Us…
Blankenship On TrialThe Connection Between A Mineral And Data Centers, This West Virginia Morning
Fluorspar is a little-known mineral used to make everything from steel, aluminum and gasoline to uranium fuel and batteries. For the Appalachia Mid-South…
Blankenship On TrialHow To Better Understand The Economy, This West Virginia Morning
The economy is everything we buy or sell and services we use. It can be a broad category and most of us struggle to understand what it all means. The show…
Blankenship On TrialA Conversation With ‘Verity Vox And The Curse Of Foxfire’ Author, This West Virginia Morning
"Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire" is a young adult novel set in Appalachia. Written by West Virginia native Don Martin, the book follows the story of a…
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Vetoes, Vaccines And Data Centers, This West Virginia Week
On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey vetoed 12 bills that made it through the legislative process. We also hear the latest in the battle over…
Blankenship On TrialJohn Rose And The Snuffy Smith Comic Strip, Inside Appalachia
This week, having a very specific talent can lead to a dream job. It’s how cartoonist John Rose got his foot in the door to draw the comic strip Snuffy Smith…
Blankenship On TrialThe Legacy Of Comic Strip ‘Snuffy Smith,’ This West Virginia Morning
For nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it’s easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to…
Blankenship On TrialPanel Explores Data Center Development In State, This West Virginia Morning
A panel discussion consisting of community, political and data center industry leaders Tuesday night at Shepherd University has reignited the debate over local…
Blankenship On TrialA Look At The State’s New Office Of Entrepreneurship, This West Virginia Morning
It has been a week since the bill creating the state’s new Office of Entrepreneurship was signed into law – with an official opening date of July 1. Maria…
Blankenship On TrialAn Analysis Of 10 State School Districts, This West Virginia Morning
Overwhelming issues at school districts across the state in the last few years have prompted the West Virginia Department of Education to investigate and…