The battle over coalThe battle for public opinion is well under way this week concerning whether to build two 700-megawatt coal-fired plants in western Kansas.A legislative committee appointed by supporters of the proposed project meets today.And opponents of the project, including representatives of health, religious, rural development and environmental groups, will hold a news conference tomorrow at the Capitol.Sunflower Electric Power Corp. applied for permits to build the plants near Holcomb. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has said it will announce a decision on the permits this month.Rules for internsThe Legislative Coordinating Council, which is composed of Republican and Democratic legislative leaders, will meet tomorrow to consider several changes to the Legislature’s intern program.Under the program, college students accepted to be interns work for no pay for legislators during the legislative session.House Speaker Pro Tem Don Dahl, R-Hillsboro, whose office oversees the program, said he wants to tighten down some of the restrictions in the program, including making sure that interns are not working on any campaign-related activities while on the job.