Gov. Joe Manchin called for all coal companies in West Virginia to shut down for safety checks after two more mine workers were killed Wednesday in separate accidents. Although Manchin's call was voluntary, he also ordered mine inspections speeded up so that all 544 of the state's surface and underground mines could be examined by regulators as soon as possible.
See "Coal Shutdown Urged in West Virginia", Assciated Press, Los Angeles Times, February 1, 2006