The U.S. Forest Service signed off on exploration for copper, gold and other minerals on 900 federal acres that lie just outside the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Southwest Washington.

As China's economy cools, U.S. exporters are increasingly feeling the chill.

Covered barges that will transport coal between two Oregon ports for shipment to Asia are closer to reality after the Morrow Pacific coal export project signed letters of intent with two Portland manufacturing firms.

New Zealand's Labour Department filed 25 criminal charges Thursday over safety and health violations at a coal mine where an explosion last year killed 29 miners.