Associated Press: A Republican bill that would scale back local sand mine regulations amounts to an unwarranted attack on small government and could put people who live around the operations at risk, the measure`s opponents told lawmakers Thursday.
Dozens of people packed a public hearing in front of the Senate mining committee, forcing pages to open up two overflow rooms. Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, told the committee her district includes dozens of mines and people who have to live with the operations deserve...