Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
Washington County awards its largest broadband project since the start of the initiative
On July 20th, the Washington County Commissioners awarded the final three projects for the third phase of the Broadband Program to Comcast. This group of projects is the largest and the most expensive since the start of the initiative back in 2021. These projects will extend broadband access too 2,600 previously unserved locations in East…
August 2023 Newsletter
Pitt Study Results Released On August 15th, the University of Pittsburgh and PA Department of Health released the results of their studies on the health impacts of fracking in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The studies found the following: People with asthma living near wells during the production phase have a 4-5x greater chance of their asthma getting worse, including increased hospitalizations….
Purdue Pharmaceuticals Bankruptcy Settlement Paused
While state and local governments have begun receiving their share of opioid settlement funds from a variety of parties held responsible for harm, the maker of the drug that is at the center of the opioid crisis, Purdue Pharma, has been trying to shield its wealthy Sackler family owners from further lawsuits over their role…
Forward Together: Finding Hope in the Results of Pitt’s Studies on Fracking and Public Health
I’m sure like many of you, I found it difficult to sleep at night after the meeting about the results of the Pitt PA Health and Environment studies. Not because I was in despair, but because I was reeling with energy from the meeting. I was asked by a reporter what I was most angry about coming out of the meeting, and I paused to think of the crucial reason my stomach was turning. I found myself unable to, and responded that I was far more hopeful than I was angry.
Federal agencies approve new Harm Reduction Resources
Harm Reduction advocates have been hard at work trying to get state, local and federal governments to increase and expand resources and services to combat the opioid crisis and mitigate the amount of overdoses and overdose deaths across the nation. A couple new resources are now available. Recently, a test strip pre-order form was created…
Black Lung and Silica Rule Updates
Living in coal country, most of us know someone who has – or, more unfortunately, had – black lung, silicosis, and other respiratory diseases associated with coal mining. Sure, on paper the companies may show compliance with state regulations, but the fact is, more and more miners receive diagnoses of irreversible and progressive lung…
CCJ’s 9th Annual Fall Fundraiser Preview
Click here to get your tickets! If you are a local business or artist interested in donating an item for our raffle or silent auction, please contact our Event Coordinator, Allison Evans, by emailing allison@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org or calling (412) 229-7680. Check out some of our 2023 auction items! 2023 Donors Special thanks to all of our…
Tell your Commissioners: Practice Transparency when Spending Opioid Settlement Funds
There is a lot of money coming into local governments from the recent opioid settlements, and county commissioners are the ones in charge of spending it. There is nothing saying that the public must be made aware of how they spend the funds. We need to make sure these funds are used properly, and the…
Reflections on the Small Town Summit: A Gathering of Rural Organizers From Across the Country
Jodi Borello’s reflections: I had the opportunity to attend the Small Town Summit in beautiful Missoula, Montana. The town itself is beautiful and the sky is spectacular, just as I was told. I was able to enjoy a few moments of hiking and even visited a ghost town. I learned more than I ever…
Recap: Washington County Comprehensive Plan Public Meeting – AND: You Can Still Provide Your Input Until August 9th!
Washington County is updating their comprehensive plan, which was last adopted in 2005. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) Act of 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, defines a County Comprehensive Plan as “a land use and growth management plan prepared by the county planning commission and adopted by the county commissioners which establishes broad goals…