By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Steve Beshear is appealing to President Barack Obama to change federal policies that he says are costing jobs in Kentucky's coal mining industry.

In a letter to Obama earlier this week, Beshear said the EPA is knocking Kentuckians out of high-paying jobs by obstructing the opening of new mines and the expansion of existing ones.

The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, was a follow-up to a meeting last week between Beshear and Obama.

Beshear said the EPA has unduly delayed 75 mining permits in eastern Kentucky that would have created crucial jobs at a time when the nation is struggling to pull out of a national recession.

The governor urged the president to help find a reasonable way to protect the environment while supporting the mining industry.

(WASHINGTON) — An internal government watchdog says that the Environmental Protection Agency cut corners when it produced a key scientific document underpinning its decision to regulate climate-changing pollution.

The Inspector General report, obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Wednesday, says the agency circumvented a more robust review process that was warranted for a technical paper supporting a costly and controversial decision to control greenhouse gases for the first time.

The EPA and White House disagreed with the report's conclusions. They said the agency "reasonably interpreted" peer-review guidelines.

Nothing in the report challenges the overwhelming scientific consensus around the causes of global warming. But that's unlikely to stop Republicans and industry lawyers from using it to say the Obama administration should not regulate greenhouse gases without Congressional action.

Logan native and winner of America’s Got Talent, Landau Murphy, Jr. was the honored guest and performer of the Star Spangled Banner at the opening of the WVU vs. LSU football game this past Saturday night.  Landau became only the second person to ever sing the National Anthem in the history of Mountaineer Field and Mylan Puskar Stadium.

Landau and his wife were one of our guests at the Annual Meeting at The Greenbrier this past August, before winner the AGT contest.  As you can see he is very proud of his roots to the coal industry and Friends of Coal.

Landau won $1 million and a year’s contract at a Vegas venue and his opening show will be October 28^th.

The Association is endorsing Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor in the upcoming October 4^th General Election.   

In making the announcement at the Bluefield Coal Show, Chairman Gary White said the decision by the Association’s Executive Committee is in recognition of Tomblin’s lifetime of service to the people of West Virginia and his proven record of fiscal responsibility and leadership while serving as president of the Senate.  

“Our state is fortunate to have the choice between two capable candidates as Governor Tomblin and Republican candidate Bill Maloney, who has worked in and has many friends in the industry,” White said. “We want to thank each of them for their dedication, but we believe it is critical for the state to have a seasoned, demonstrated leader like Earl Ray Tomblin to guide us through the stormy seas of overly stringent federal intervention and regulation.  

The West Virginia Business & Industry Council (BIC), an organization representing more than 250,000 West Virginia employees across 26 separate industry categories, has endorsed Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor in the upcoming special general election on Oct. 4, organization officials announced today.

Jan Vineyard, chairman of BIC, said, “As America again teeters on the brink of recession and with our state’s financial outlook looking better by the quarter, West Virginia needs a governor with proven leadership and a deep understanding of the budgetary and policy issues we face.  Earl Ray Tomblin is best prepared and best suited to lead us into the future.”

Vineyard cited Tomblin’s work to combat the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s unfair and anticompetitive policies on mining, his efforts to lure a billion dollar ethane processing facility, the paving and construction of many miles of roadway through the state and passing legislation to further lower the sales tax on food, as proactive initiatives that are benefiting all West Virginians.

“West Virginia has seen steady economic growth, greater transparency in government and decreases in both business and consumers taxes under Earl Ray Tomblin’s tenure as Senate President and Acting Governor,” Vineyard said.   “While much more work remains to be done, Earl Ray Tomblin has the experience and leadership ability to move the state forward.”