News bites: Pro-Romney coal giant under scrutiny, Iraq’s oil boom, and more

Ohio Democrats want prosecutors to probe whether coal producer Murray Energy Corp. illegally forced employees to contribute to Mitt Romney and other Republicans, The Toledo Blade reports.

A spokesman for Romney called the Democratic allegations an “ineffective and pathetic attempt to distract voters” from what Republicans call anti-coal White House policies.

The New York Times reports that a growing array of organizations – such as anti-hunger and habitat-protection groups – are putting resources into battling climate change.

The Wall Street Journal reports that California’s skyrocketing gasoline prices are expected to ease soon.

Iraq’s oil production is expected to more than double by 2020, according to the International Energy Agency. Reuters has more.

Reuters also looks at a study on coal-plant closures in coming years.