WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a modification to existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company is requesting permission to use Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), specifically the CleanSpace EX and 3M Versaflo TR-800, in areas where current rules prohibit unapproved electronic equipment. The petition argues that these devices, though not MSHA-certifi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced that Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned for a modification of a safety standard concerning the use of respirators in its Mine No. 77 in Kentucky. The company is requesting permission to use specific unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800, in certain areas of the mine. Currently, these PAPRs lack MSHA approval, and the company states that th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Chairman Comer and Rep. Luna Announce Republican Appointments to Declassification and Transparency Task Force WASHINGTON--House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), newly appointed chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Chairman Guthrie Applauds Confirmation of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after Howard Lutnick was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Secretary of the Department of Commerce:   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a modification of safety regulations at Mine No. 77 in Perry County, Kentucky. The company is seeking approval to use two unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)--the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800--within areas restricted under existing safety rules. While these devices are not MSHA-certified as permissible, Blue Diamond Coal argue  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Comer Announces Hearing on the 2025 GAO High-Risk List WASHINGTON--House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today announced a hearing on "The Government Accountability Office's 2025 High-Risk List." The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan agency in the legislative  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Comer, Burlison Launch Investigation Into the Detrimental Energy Policies Imposed by the Biden Administration Americans will continue to endure the consequences of the Green New Deal agenda until President Trump's new, America First energy policies are fully implemented House Committee on Oversight and Government Refo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Dan Goldman Introduces Legislation to Support Families of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Bipartisan Legislation Ensures Those Who Give the Ultimate Sacrifice Are Not Unjustly Denied Benefits Read Bill Here Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced the 'Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act,' which would ensure the families of law enfor  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Mining, LLC has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a modification to federal safety regulations at its Bear Branch 2 mine in Perry County, Kentucky. The company seeks permission to use two unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800, in restricted underground areas. Blue Diamond Mining argues that these respirators, while not certified as permissib  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Mining, LLC has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a regulatory modification at its Bear Branch 2 mine in Perry County, Kentucky. The company is requesting approval to use two types of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces, despite the fact that neither device has received MSHA's official permissibility rating. The company argues that the CleanSpace EX and 3M Versaf  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Feb. 18 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) has granted Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation's request for confidential treatment of specific information within employment contracts submitted as part of Case No. 2024-00085, concerning a general rate adjustment. The decision, issued on January 6, 2025, shields the contract details from public disclosure for a period of ten years. Jackson Purchase Energy, in response to a Commission Staff post-hearing request for i  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Feb. 19 -- Duke Energy Kentucky has filed a petition with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) requesting confidential treatment for certain information related to its proposed conversion of the wet flue gas desulfurization system at its East Bend Generating Station. The request, filed on September 6, 2024, seeks to protect sensitive vendor pricing, market risk evaluations, reliability risks, pricing forecasts, and strategic procurement information for a period of te  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a modification to existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company seeks approval to use non-MSHA-certified Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), specifically the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800, as part of its respiratory protection program. These devices, which are designed to provide continuou  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Mining, LLC has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a modification to existing mine safety regulations, seeking approval to use unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) at its Bear Branch 2 mine in Perry County, Kentucky. The request specifically aims to permit the use of the CleanSpace EX PAPR and the 3M Versaflo TR-800 Intrinsically Safe PAPR, which the operator claims provide superior respiratory protection   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a modification to existing federal safety regulations, seeking approval to use unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces at its Mine No. 77 in Perry County, Kentucky. The petition specifically requests authorization for the CleanSpace EX PAPR and the 3M Versaflo TR-800 Intrinsically Safe PAPR, arguing that both   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has received a petition from Blue Diamond Coal Co. seeking a modification of existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 Mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company is requesting an exemption from the requirement that only MSHA-approved electrical equipment be used within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces. Specifically, the petition aims to permit the use of unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respi  more

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Feb. 19 -- Kentucky Youth Advocates issued the following news release: * * * Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky kids have told us - as well as teachers, parents, coaches, and health care providers - vaping is happening among our high school and middle school students. And the reality is that, despite the Tobacco-21 law prohibiting sales of vapes   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Timmons Announces Hearing on Trump Administration's Plans to Restore U.S. Global Supremacy WASHINGTON--Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs Chairman William Timmons (R-S.C.) announced the subcommittee will hold its first hearing on "Emerging Global Threats: Putting America's National Security First." This hearin  more

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Feb. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky Collects Over $104 Million in Fiscal Year 2024 Louisville, KY- U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that the United States Attorney's Office collected $104.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024, which includes $9,239,721.20 in criminal r  more

TAMPA, Florida, Feb. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: * * * United States Attorney's Office Announces Departure Of Roger B. Handberg As U.S. Attorney Orlando, Florida - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announces the departure of Roger B. Handberg as U.S. Attorney. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney will serve as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florid  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Will Thompson Concludes His Service as United States Attorney CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Will Thompson announced today that he has concluded his tenure as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, effective immediately. "Serving as the United States Attorney has genuinely been a career highlight," Thom  more