Radhika (15), Anjali (16), Suman (21), and Suhani (15) in July 2022 perform a dance routine near the village of Sahana Pahari, Jharia. Walaa Alshaer for NPR hide caption
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coal miners
An employee at a coal mine in eastern Ukraine travels deep into the mine. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption
In eastern Ukraine's coal fields, Russia's invasion sparks hopes of a comeback
Members of the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective inspect one of their apiaries. The collective teaches displaced coal miners in West Virginia how to keep bees as a way to supplement their income. Courtesy of Kevin Johnson hide caption
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., shown in 2016, said Tuesday he will hold hearings next year in response to an NPR and Frontline probe that revealed that government regulators failed to identify and prevent dangerous conditions. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
All He's Ever Wanted Is To Mine Coal. How Long Can He Chase His Dream?
Excised and preserved lungs on display at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown, W.Va., in 2012, show the dramatic effect of black lung disease. Howard Berkes/NPR hide caption
A machine coined "The Enrober" provides the "Willy Wonka moment" of MoonPie-making, when the treats are propelled under a gooey chocolate waterfall. Melanie Peeples for NPR hide caption
Miners and rescue personnel carry an injured mine worker after a coal mine explosion near Azadshahr in northern Iran. Mostafa Hassanzadeh/Tasnim News Agency/AP hide caption
James Bounds is a West Virginia miner with black lung disease; it took him 4 1/2 years to get compensation benefits. A provision in Obamacare later made qualifying for those benefits much easier. Kara Lofton/West Virginia Public Broadcasting hide caption
Obamacare Repeal Threatens A Health Benefit Popular In Coal Country
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Obamacare Repeal Threatens A Health Benefit Popular In Coal Country
President-elect Donald Trump's promises to bring back miner jobs and open mines appealed to many voters in coal country. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sent a mobile testing unit to a fire station in Wharton, W.Va., in 2012 to screen coal miners for black lung disease. Howard Berkes/NPR hide caption
Retired coal miners could face the loss of health benefits if Congress doesn't implement a fix by Friday. Steve Helber/AP hide caption