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Jeff Lassahn

As prices of steel-making coal rose sharply

Massey drove up production prior to West Virginia mine disaster

The Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virginia—where 29 miners died April 5—has outsize importance in the industry. It produces top-quality, high-value metallurgical (or coking) coal, used for steel production.

Jeff Lassahn

International Paper shuts three mills, laying off 1,600 workers

On October 23, International Paper announced the closure of three plants, resulting in the loss of 1,600 jobs. Most devastating is the spring 2010 closure of an enormous mill in Franklin, Virginia, which will result in 1,100 job cuts.

Jeff Lassahn

America’s crumbling infrastructure

America’s roads, bridges, and sewerage are in advanced state of decay, according to a 2009 report by an association of civil engineers.

Jeff Lassahn

No economic “green shoots” in world trade and transport

This massive contraction in trade is shown in the falling revenues and increasing layoffs of global transport companies. Across the world, ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroad equipment with no cargo to carry are being stored or scrapped.

Jeff Lassahn

Poverty wages for day laborers recruited for inauguration

The Labor Ready temp agency in Virginia offered $7.55 an hour for day laborers to work the inauguration festivities in Washington DC—picking up trash and horse manure in freezing cold weather for long hours.

Jeff Lassahn

US: University presidents’ pay rises to record levels

Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee is the highest paid public university president, hauling in more than $1.3 million last year in salary. Twelve more public university presidents take in more than $700,000 annually.

Jeff Lassahn

Another unnecessary tragedy: Deadly train crash in California kills at least 25

On Friday afternoon a Metrolink commuter train had a deadly head-on collision with a Union Pacific freight train in Chatsworth, California, north of Los Angeles. At least 25 were killed and 135 injured in the collision, making it the worst US rail disaster since 1993 and among the deadliest of the last half-century.

Jeff Lassahn

US: 2,600 strike Volvo Trucks in Dublin, Virginia

More than 2,600 workers at Volvo Trucks North America in Dublin, Virginia, are in their second week of a strike over unfair labor practices. Striking workers at the New River Valley assembly plant are represented by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2069. While both the Volvo and the UAW have declined to state the specific reasons for the strike, workers told World Socialist Web Site reporters that healthcare, safety and job security were their main concerns.

Jason Gibbs, Jeff Lassahn

“Antiwar” candidate Kucinich backs leading Democrat in Iowa primary

Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich has announced to his supporters in Iowa that if he does not reach the 15 percent threshold of votes needed to proceed to the second round of nominating the party’s presidential candidate, he “strongly encourages” them to vote for Senator Barack Obama. This further underscores the cynical and deceptive nature of Kucinich’s campaign and his supposedly leftist, antiwar stance.

Jeff Lassahn

New Orleans police attack residents protesting public housing demolition

On Thursday, New Orleans police attacked demonstrators attempting to gain entrance to a city council meeting scheduled to discuss and vote on the destruction of 4,500 units of public housing. The proposed demolition is part of the effort to utilize the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to bring about permanent demographic change in New Orleans, aimed at preventing the return of poor and primarily black residents.

Jeff Lassahn

Hurricane Katrina two years on

The following is the fourth part in a series of articles on the second anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Part one, “New Orleans—A city in social and economic distress,” was posted on August 29. Part two, “New Orleans: a scene of devastation and blight,” was posted on August 31. Part three, “New Orleans levees still not rebuilt,” was posted on September 1. Part four, “The Katrina gold rush—profiteering and the Gulf Opportunity Zone” was posted on September 5.

Jeff Lassahn