This photo of Roy Middleton working underground at the Kentucky Darby mine now sits on the mantel in the Middleton home in Harlan County, Ky. He was killed after an explosion in 2006. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch/NPR/Original photo courtesy of the Middleton family hide caption
The injuries Jack Blankenship sustained after a 300-pound rock pinned him to the ground while working in a coal mine prevent him from sitting for long periods of time or walking far. He says he's in constant pain. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch/NPR hide caption
Outside the D&C Mining Corp. mine near Cranks, Ky. The company owes more than $4 million in unpaid safety penalties. Howard Berkes/NPR hide caption