 Black lung disease still affects coal miners to this day and the East Kentucky Coalfield Black Lung Association is here to help. In an upcoming meeting on Tuesday, February 13th, they'll be discussing coal miners benefits and Black Lung medical care. Black Lung organizer Courtney Rhodes-Mulans tells us more. So the Black Lung Association's have been around since about the 60s. They've come in and out in availability or organizing efforts. But as of right now, they've been pretty strong in Eastern Kentucky for over the last 10 years. There's a group that meets in Pytwell and then a group that also meets in Weixberg. And they're open for anyone who is either a retired miner or who might be someone who has Black Lung or looking into process of starting the process of getting benefits for Black Lung. Or someone who's a widow or a wife, someone who might have Black Lung as well as any other family members or concerned citizens that might be interested in this work. The group will also be discussing the Black Lung benefits process and how to apply. Coal miners diagnosed with the disease could potentially receive federal assistance. So the federal Black Lung benefits system was set up many years ago. Anyone who is found to be disabled due to Black Lung, so typically has that complicated Black Lung, which is the more severe form, receives a monthly stipend as well as medical benefits through the federal system or through their company, depending on how their company or the system is set up. You can actually apply. You can contact ACLC to apply or you can visit some of the Black Lung clinics here in the area and any of them would be to help you apply for benefits as well in walking through the process. Reporting from Outantop News, I'm Nick Colum.