Coal communities in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia are struggling to support basic civic services as coal disappears. Federal funding to boost local economies and jobs is closer than ever before.
Minden residents are still searching for answers about PCB contamination while a new outdoor recreation economy is being built around them.
The bankruptcy could signal a new environmental and economic crisis in central Appalachia, where many coal companies have failed to reclaim former mine sites.
Sharp drops in coal severance tax revenue have led to a massive funding gap for education, infrastructure, and law enforcement.