American Morning
Trapped miners don't respond to rescuers
(CNN) – A bore hole was drilled early Wednesday into the area of a West Virginia coal mine where four miners, unaccounted for following an explosion Monday, are expected to be found, Gov. Joe Manchin said.
Pipes were lowered into the hole, and officials banged on the pipes in an effort to contact those underground, but there was no response, Manchin said.
The hole punched through about 4:15 a.m. ET, the governor said. Two more holes were under way, and a fourth is planned.
"There's a sliver of hope, but we know that the odds are not in our favor," West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin told CNN.
"Everyone's going to cling to the hope of a miracle," he told reporters. "That is the true agony of this."
One drill bore down 1,100 feet to open a 6-inch hole in a ceiling of the mine, said Chris Adkins, CEO of Massey Energy Co., owner of the Upper Big Branch South Mine where Monday's fatal blast occurred.
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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/miners.sign.art.gi.jpg caption="The deaths of 25 workers in a West Virginia coal mine have turned a spotlight on the safety record of the mine's owner, which has paid record fines for safety violations."]
Fatal mine accident sparks scrutiny of owner's record
(CNN) – The deaths of at least 25 workers in a West Virginia coal mine this week have turned a harsh spotlight on the safety record of the mine's owner, which has paid record fines for safety and environmental violations.
Virginia-based Massey Energy Co. has racked up millions of dollars in penalties in recent years. The Montcoal, West Virginia, mine where Monday's fatal explosion took place received 458 citations from federal inspectors in 2009, and more than 50 of those were for problems that the operators knew about but had not corrected, according to federal mine safety records.
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration hit the company with nearly $900,000 in fines in 2009 and has sought more than $100,000 in the first quarter of 2010. Inspectors cited the operators more than 100 times in the first quarter of 2010, including six times for "unwarrantable failure" to correct violations. FULL STORY
Mass. teens arraigned in Prince bullying-death
Three more Massachusetts high school students accused in the bullying-death of Phoebe Prince will be arraigned today. Yesterday, three others pleaded "not guilty." In all, as many as nine teens could face charges from statutory rape to stalking. Prosecutors say their relentless abuse led to 15-year-old Prince's suicide. Our Alina Cho has the report from the courthouse in Northhampton, Massachusetts. FULL STORY
Doctors who deny addicts in danger
You have seen the headlines from stars like Heath Ledger to Michael Jackson, but America's pill problem is growing in places far away from the spotlight. A new study says prescription drug overdoses were up by two thirds, from 1999 to 2006. Today in our series "Addicted," Carol Costello shows us it can be deadly, not only for the addict, but for the doctor who comes between the addict and his fix. FULL STORY
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
West Virginia governor: 'This was a horrific explosion'
(CNN) Our John Roberts talks to West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin about the explosion that killed 25 miners.
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each and every day. Join the live chat during the program by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/06/prescrip.drugs.art.jpg caption="An estimated 5.2 million Americans abuse prescription drugs and the problem is growing so fast that experts say that the number of drug treatment facilities will need to double in the next 10 years."]
Prescription Pill Cocktail
(CNN) – The number of prescription drug overdose deaths is now the number one cause of overdose death in the U.S. and it’s they're the second most abused drug behind marijuana. The biggest group of abusers, people ages twelve to twenty five and they’re mixing multiple drugs creating their own custom high.
In our next installment of our special series, "Addicted," we spoke with two current prescription drug abusers and one former user and get an up close and personal look at how easy it is to start a habit and how hard it is to break.
Sound off: How far reaching is the prescription drug phenomena? Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
25 killed in West Virginia mine blast
Montcoal, West Virginia (CNN) - The death toll from the massive explosion at a sprawling coal mine in West Virginia rose to 25 early Tuesday, making it the deadliest U.S. mining disaster in 25 years.
Crews halted their efforts to reach four miners still unaccounted for at the Upper Big Branch Mine following the blast Monday afternoon.
Concentrations of methane and carbon monoxide inside the mine made it a safety risk for crews to proceed, said Kevin Stricklin of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration at a 2 a.m. briefing to reporters.
Officials planned to drill bore holes from the surface 1,200 feet into the mines to help ventilate it and to collect samples. However, they will first have to use bulldozers to clear a path to reach the part of the mine where they can drill.
Stricklin said he did not know how long the process would take.
"I think it's a dire situation but I do think that it is a rescue operation and it will be that way until we confirm that these four additional people are not living," he said. "I mean, there are miracles that go on."
"Basically all we have left," Stricklin said, "is hope."
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each and every day. Join the live chat during the program by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/02/body.scanner.gi.art.jpg caption="Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will announce new airport security measures on Friday."]
New airport security measures to be announced Friday
(CNN) – All flights entering the United States will be subjected to a new level of security screening, officials plan to announce Friday.
The new security measures, that will be announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, will use "real-time, threat-based intelligence," according to the official.
The new measures will supersede the measures put in place immediately after the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day 2009, the official said.
"These new, enhanced measures are part of a dynamic, threat-based aviation security system covering all passengers traveling by air to the United States," the official said. "To more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats, these measures utilize multiple, random layers of security, both seen and unseen and are tailored to intelligence about potential threats." FULL STORY
Church expands flock on Facebook
The church has never be an organization accused of keeping up with the trends, but now places of worship are using social networks like Twitter and Facebook to expand the flock.
Church 2.0 – where followers are believers. Carol Costello will have the story live for us from Washington.
Apple's iPad meets its critics
Just one day, now, until Apple's iPad is released, but the reviews are already in. The Wall Street Journal is calling it a "wicked fast" "lap-top killer."
The New York Times is not too happy with its touch-screen keyboard or lack of a camera, but still calling it "deeply satisfying" and "goof-proof."
It's being called one of the hottest new pieces of technology ever, but will it live up to the hype?
Arik Hesseldahl is the senior technology reporter from Businessweek.com and he'll join us with a preview.
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
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