© 2026 WEKU

Lexington's Choice for NPR

Support WEKU!

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

The 1850 campaign is replacing lost federal funds one supporter at a time. Thanks to our listeners and supporters we are now just 303 away from reaching this ambitious goal of 1850 new supporters donating at least $10 a month. Click here to join the campaign!

Mountain Kentucky

Alpha Coal Company Announces Layoffs in Ky, Va

WEKU | By Associated Press

Published July 8, 2015 at 5:23 PM EDT

Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources Inc. has told 292 workers in Kentucky and Virginia they are losing their jobs.

The announcement by the Bristol, Virginia, company on Wednesday is the latest blow for the Appalachian coal industry, which has been staggered by a succession of layoffs as demand for coal declines amid a move to cleaner fuels.

Alpha gave notice to workers at six mines and a processing plant of the layoffs ahead of a potential sale.

The biggest impact will be felt in Virginia's Wise County. The coal-mining county will see more than 180 workers laid off at two mines and two support operations.

In Kentucky, 111 workers are being laid off in Letcher County.

Besides Kentucky and Virginia, Alphas has mining operations in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

Tags

Mountain Kentucky coal in ky Alpha Natural Resources

Associated Press

See stories by Associated Press

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

The Commonwealth

Wolfe County School officials are waiting on word from investigators at the site of the Dessie Scott School fire

Stan Ingold

Arson investigators were on the scene Monday, and insurance investigators are expected on the scene Tuesday.
Amid power outages, an unusual number of locals visit Nashville's honky tonk district

Justin Barney

While winter storms caused major power outages in Nashville, its downtown music scene saw a lot more locals who took up hotel rooms usually occupied by tourists.
An uneasy détente: Trump and Colombia's Petro to meet at White House

John Otis

Of all the relationships Trump has had with world leaders, the one with Colombia's President has perhaps been one of the most volatile - but for the first time on Tuesday, President Petro will hold a face to face meeting with President Trump at the White House.
Scientists release a map of the clearest picture yet of what dark matter looks like

Katia Riddle

Dark matter makes up most of the universe, yet we have very little understanding of it. Scientists recently released a map that gives the clearest picture yet of what dark matter looks like.
The method for estimating a dinosaurs' age at death may be off, research suggests

Ari Daniel

A growing body of research on dinosaurs' closest living relatives suggests the method that's been used to estimate how old a dinosaur was when it died may be leading paleontologists astray.