The Legislature began its 2012 Regular Session on Wednesday, January 11^th with the introduction of 159 bills in the State Senate and 46 in the House of Delegates.  In addition, 1,268 bills were carried over from last year in the House of Delegates.  As the session adjourned for the weekend, on Friday afternoon, there had been a total of 185 Senate bills and 83 House bills introduced.  When combined with the carryover bills, there are 1,586 bills already before this year’s Legislature.  While the State Journal article summarizes many of the bills that have specific relevance to our industry, keep in mind most of these are “carryovers” from last year, meaning they were introduced but no action was taken.

Stonie Barker Jr., a high-ranking coal executive in Lexington during the 1970s and '80s, died Tuesday at his home in Naples, Fla. He was 85.

Born in Chapmanville, W.Va., Mr. Barker worked his way up through the mining industry and eventually led Island Creek Coal Co., one of the largest coal companies in the United States at the time.

A report in The State Journal this week indicated coal mining remains the primary driver of the state’s economic engine.  Mark Muchow, deputy secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue, presented a balanced budget to the House of Delegates Finance Committee January 12, and cited coal employment and exports as some of the major drivers of West Virginia's economy.

According to Muchow's presentation, forty percent of coal, mostly metallurgical coal, ends up in Europe, although Asian and South American countries are becoming players in the coal market. The price of coal was four times higher in 2011 when compared to 2003, Muchow said.

The building partnership between the U.S. military and the state’s mining industry continued this week with the official opening of a “drop zone” training center for the West Virginia Air National Guard on a reclaimed surface mine in Clay County.

"That's a good example of why the guys on the ground in Afghanistan want West Virginia guys flying their loads," said Major General James Hoyer, the state's adjutant general, who was among those watching an airdrop exercise at the West Virginia National Guard's new Fola drop zone on Tuesday.

Remember The Miners, the non-profit organization dedicated to honoring coal miners and their legacy through public awareness campaigns and charitable contributions, is excited to announce a sweepstakes to win entrance to the Bob Huggins Tailgate presented by Little General, to be held on January 17th at the Moose Lodge in Charleston.

The winner will receive a table at the event (seats 10), as well as three VIP passes. VIP ticket holders have admittance to the meet and greet with Coach Bob Huggins, Honorary Chairman of Remember The Miners, as well as access to the Smooth Ambler Spirits tasting room. The event will also feature West Virginia band Taylor Made, who will be playing live music during the event.

To enter the sweepstakes, click here, or access the Facebook page. The deadline to enter is January 16th at 5:00 PM EST.  The Charleston Moose Lodge is located at 2805 Kanawha Boulevard East in Charleston, WV.