McCloy Moved Out of ICU

Here's an update for you on Randal McCloy Jr. for Tuesday, January 17, 2006... The sole survivor of the Sago Mine tragedy was transferred to a step-down hospital unit with less intensive monitoring because his condition has become more stable. He has yet to regain consciousness. McCloy's doctor says that his patient's heart and liver functions were recovering slowly, but he remains on dialysis because of kidney damage. McCloy remains in serious condition.

On another quadrant of this story, state and federal investigators began interviewing the first in a long list of witnesses at a federal courthouse in Clarksburg. The meetings are conducted in private, with officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the state Office of Miner's Health Safety and Training. It is not known how many people have been subpoenaed. Public hearings will take place later, probably in March. Investigators still do not know when the Sago Mine will be safe enough to re-enter.