Massey, Massey, Massey

• Justice Larry Starcher has dropped his plan to hold a public hearing today to air Massey Energy Co.'s recusal request targeting him in a pending appeal. He cited the court's unanimous (Maynard disq.) rejection of Massey's bid to block the unprecedented hearing. Starcher also said "he now plans to seek further information by sending out written questions rather than holding the public hearing," The Associated Press reports. The Charleston Gazette, the Charleston Daily Mail and MetroNews also have reports.

• The Daily Mail also reports that Massey's federal lawsuit against the Supreme Court, which targets its recusal process, is continuing. The case had been on hold while the Supreme Court's lawyers appeal their denial of a dismissal motion. The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has said "a review at this stage in the case would be premature," the newspaper reported.

• A federal judge has also approved a settlement "that requires Massey Energy to pay a record $20 million in fines to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," The Gazette reports. "The settlement, first announced in January, resolves a lawsuit filed by EPA over thousands of water pollution permit violations at Massey operations in West Virginia and Kentucky."