This week at progressive state blogs is designed specifically to focus attention on the writing and analysis of people focused on their home turf. Let me know via comments or Kosmail if you have a favorite state- or city-based blog you think I should be watching. Here is last Saturday's edition. Inclusion of a blog post does not necessarily indicate my agreement or endorsement of its contents. At The Wheeling Alternative of Virginia, waner writes—News from the war on coal and coal miners: Last month, the New Republic's Emma Foehringer Merchant asked "Is It Game Over for Coal?" The article began by noting that the state of Oregon recently became the first state to phase out the use of coal for electricity generation (by 2035).