By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MATTHEW BROWN

Swaths of Pennsylvania and many other states are honeycombed with old, unstable mines that can cause the earth to suddenly give way — a phenomenon known as “ mine subsidence ” that poses a threat to people and property.

That’s what searchers in Westmoreland County, just southeast of Pittsburgh, fear led to the disappearance of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard. Pollard and a young granddaughter were looking for a lost cat when she went missing Monday evening. At about the same time, a sinkhole appeared roughly 20 feet (6 meters) from where she had parked her car, in an area above an old coal mine. The granddaughter was found safe inside the car hours later, while the difficult and potentially dangerous search for Pollard continues.

Mine subsidence has caused billions of dollars in damage in areas of the U.S. where mining once took place. In Pennsylvania alone, coal was mined in nearly half of the state’s 67 counties and there are at least 5,000 abandoned underground mines, leaving behind hazards that officials say can arise at any time.

The Marguerite Mine that authorities believe resulted in the sinkhole was last operated in 1952 by the H.C. Frick Coke Co., according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The coal seam in the area is about 20 feet (6 meters) beneath the surface.

The state Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation will examine the scene when the search concludes to see if the sinkhole was indeed caused by mine subsidence, spokesperson Neil Shader said.

There are as many as 500,000 abandoned mines in the U.S. — far outnumbering those that are still active, according to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

In many cases their owners simply walked away from coal or precious metals mines when they became uneconomical to operate and declared bankruptcy, leaving behind safety hazards and costly pollution cleanups that public agencies must handle.

Old mines pose myriad dangers, with 381 people killed and 152 injured at abandoned mine sites nationwide between 2000 and 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Victims can fall into hidden shafts, get lost in underground tunnels or perish from poisonous gases present in many old coal mines. Mine shafts can extend hundreds of feet beneath the surface and often are unmarked.

State and federal agencies have sealed off many old mines. But more are discovered every year and officials have yet to conduct basic risk analyses on most of the abandoned mines on federal land.

Besides the safety hazards, millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead and other toxic metals flows daily from contaminated mine sites without being treated.

Rubinkam reported form northeastern Pennsylvania and Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

Olivia Lloyd | (TNS) The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C.— A pet food company based in North Carolina is recalling puppy mix sold in seven states after a batch tested positive for salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The contamination came to light when a litter of puppies got sick after consuming Blue Ridge Beef’s Puppy Mix, and the customer reported it to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to the FDA.

The FDA said it notified the company that the food tested positive for salmonella on Nov. 27, and Blue Ridge Beef issued a voluntary recall on its 2-pound plastic-wrapped logs sold in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

The recall affects puppy mix sold from Aug. 6 to Aug. 23 with logs labeled with lot numbers 08/06/N25 and 08/16/N25, with UPC 854298001696.

It’s not the company’s only recall in the past year. In January, Blue Ridge Beef expanded a December 2023 recall of its puppy mix, as well as some of its kitten food, due to possible salmonella and listeria contamination, FDA records show.

“Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting,” according to the FDA. “Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.”

Pet owners who notice these symptoms should notify their veterinarian.

Humans are also at risk of contracting the food-borne illness if they don’t wash their hands or sanitize surfaces the product has touched.

The FDA said customers who believe they purchased the recalled mix should return the product to the place they bought it or destroy the food in a way that ensures no humans or animals will be contaminated.

The company declined to comment on the recall to McClatchy News on Dec. 3. Blue Ridge Beef is located in Statesville in Iredell County, about a 40-mile drive north from Charlotte.

©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

When former Big Ten volleyball player of the year Taylor Landfair transferred away from the Gophers after the 2023 season, Minnesota head coach Keegan Cook immediately turned to Julia Hanson.

But the Savage native had averaged a paltry 0.6 kills per set in 2023, far from an all-conference-level stat for an outside hitter. Cook told Hanson most players miss their moment because they are not ready when it arrives.

“ ‘This could be your moment, if you want,’ ” he told her. “I kind of put that challenge in front of her, and she accepted it.”

She sure did.

Hanson was an unanimous selection for first team all-Big Ten on Wednesday. At 6-foot-1, her 4.06 kills per set leads the team, ranks 51st in the nation and has helped lead the Gophers back to the NCAA tournament.

The 15th-ranked Gophers (20-10) will play Western Kentucky (28-6) in the first round at 3:30 p.m. CST Thursday at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. The winner will play either No. 11 Kentucky or Cleveland State at 6 p.m. Friday for a spot in the Sweet 16.

The Gophers have won 15 straight first-round matches dating back to a 3-1 loss to Sacramento State in 2007, and they have advanced to the Final Four six times since 2003, the last time in 2019.

“All spring, (Hanson) performed at a really high level. But I think her improvement over the course of the fall is something that stands out to me.” Cook said. “You don’t see that a lot. I mean, the player that I saw in August looks nothing like the player that I see here in December — in the best way.”

Cook said it’s rare for players in today’s age to be so clear about what type of coaching they need and show up every day ready to get better.

“To take risk at a time when people don’t like to take risk,” Cook explained. “She works pretty diligently and quietly most days. She doesn’t miss a lot of practices. She’s reaping what she has sowed for a long time right now.”

Hanson, a junior, acknowledged she would get overwhelmed as the coaching points kept streaming in during practices over the past year, but she fell back on her belief she could step into Landfair’s shoes. California transfer Lydia Grote’s 2.88 kills per set have also helped.

“I just feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing, and this is where I’m supposed to be at, which is 100% true,” Hanson said. “It’s been the best season ever, and I love this team.”

Hanson shares an apartment with setter Melanie Shaffmaster, which for an outside hitter is akin to a quarterback and wide receiver living together. Shaffmaster also earned all-Big Ten honors this season after averaging 9.27 assists per set.

“It helps significantly,” Shaffmaster said. “We all kind of understand each other’s personality at a different level. That’s good to know, other than just when we come in the gym and practice and lift weights and stuff. She’s honestly like a sister to me.”

Hanson and senior Shaffmaster have lived together for two years. Shaffmaster knows Hanson’s mannerisms and can tell what mood she might be in and what she might need, such as a talk or some time to herself.

“Then I think just, on the court, knowing that we’re in it together,” Hanson said. “Our relationship has grown so much, and I think that also stems from us playing together all season.”

Hanson and Shaffmaster also live with fellow Gophers teammates Lauren Crowl and Elise McGhie. They will often all sit on a huge bean bag chair to watch new episodes of the TV show “Yellowstone” on Sunday nights. Some members of the Gophers’ wrestling team also come over to watch.

If the volleyball season ends how the Gophers want, Hanson and Shaffmaster will be able to watch the next episode of the western and look forward to playing in the Sweet 16 on Dec. 12.

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. — History was made Monday after the St. Cloud City Council voted unanimously to appoint Hudda Ibrahim to a vacant seat.

Ibrahim is the first Somali American to be appointed to the council.

The vote was held near the end of the almost four-hour meeting, but supporters remained till the end.

After the six ballots were read by St. Cloud City Clerk Seth Kauffman, the majority of the audience stood up and clapped their hands in support.

Ibrahim will now serve as the Ward 3 representative for the next two years.

“This has been something due for a long time, and Hudda, to be able to unite this entire council on the first ballot is very significant, it shows a lot about your candidacy,” outgoing Mayor Dave Kleis told Ibrahim before swearing her in to the council.

She fills a vacancy left by former Council Member Jake Anderson, who was elected mayor on Nov. 5 to succeed Kleis, who’s retiring after nearly 20 years in the post.

Ibrahim said the vote spoke about the importance of her appointment to the City Council.

“I’m really excited for our city, because if you look at the data right now, 30% of St. Cloud residents happen to be young people, people of color,” she said. “But I’m not just a person of color. I’m also competent and qualified for this, I’m a leader.

“It’s important to have young leaders who do embody those different cultures and identities, However, I have the qualifications,” she said.

Her qualifications include a doctorate in education from St. Mary’s University, a master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor of arts from the College of St. Benedict.

Ibrahim has taught at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, served as executive director of OneCommunity Alliance, and been a board member on the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and Anna Marie’s Alliance. She also is the founder and president of Filsan Talent Partners, a workplace diversity consultancy.

Ibrahim ran for an at-large council position during the 2024 election. She received the highest share of votes among 16 candidates in the primary but fell short in the general election.

She said one of her priorities during her candidacy was public safety — something she will continue to advocate for, she told the council during a 15-minute interview session before the normal meeting.

Ibrahim also stressed the importance of housing and economic development.

“I want to work with everyone so that we can address those issues, those critical issues that we need to address moving forward,” she said.