The bad news yesterday came out of the coalfields of Southwestern Virginia, where the media reported:

Consol Energy Representatives confirm that Michael J. Justice, 41, of Rowe, VA was killed today in an accident at Buchanan Mine #1. They said Justice was electrically troubleshooting at a roof bolt machine when the accident happened. Justice was a maintenance supervisor at the mine, and worked there for approximately 4 years. Federal and State authorities are on scene, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

In its preliminary report on the death, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said:

The victim was fatally electrocuted while troubleshooting a Fletcher DDR-15A roof bolting machine on 25 Right Section. The panel cover was removed from the machine and the victim was working inside the energized panel when the accident occurred.

 This is the 9th coal-mining death in the U.S. this year under the MSHA count.