Archive - Illinois
Gulf Compensation Czar Says Claims Will No Longer Face Geographic Test
A decision by Kenneth Feinberg, the Gulf compensation czar, to no longer consider proximity to the spill in claims eligibility is particularly beneficial to hotels and restaurants in southern Florida that claimed a decline in tourism, though oil never arrived on their beaches
In Some States, Incarcerated Kids Get Drugged to Alter Behavior, Despite Risks
Though antipsychotic drugs are generally FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, in some states, they're mostly prescribed to incarcerated youth for mood disorders and aggressive behavior. Those drugs are often labeled as carrying a significant risk, even when used properly.
In School Outreach, BP and NOAA ‘Dispel Myths' About Dispersants, Subsurface Oil
After its five-month-long oil spill saga, BP and the government set out to show children in local schools that “oil floats,” and that Gulf seafood is safe, according to local reports.
Biggest Banks Ensnared as Foreclosure Paperwork Problem Broadens
Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and others have joined GMAC and JPMorgan under the microscope as bank regulators order major servicers to review their foreclosure procedures for robo-signing and flawed documents.
Pa. Homeland Security Head Resigns Amid Controversy Over Tracking of Activists
Pennsylvania’s beleaguered director of Homeland Security is stepping down in the wake of a controversy over his decision to hire an intelligence firm that monitored gas drilling opponents and other activist groups.
Pa. Environmental Agency Butts Heads With Gas Drilling Company Over Town’s Water Woes
Environmental regulators in Pennsylvania say they’ll likely end up in court with a gas drilling company they say has contaminated the drinking water supply for families living in Dimock, Pa.
IRS Offers Tax Break for Homeowners With Defective Drywall
The IRS will allow homeowners to take a deduction for costly replacement of harmful drywall.
New Version of the ProPublica iPhone and iPad App Available
The newest release of our iOS app is available for download on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and includes significant speed improvements and bug fixes.
Did the White House Meet its Stimulus Goal?
The White House says it met its goal of spending 70 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package, but final numbers aren't in and five agencies have spent less than a quarter of their funds.
In Some States, Controversy Flares Over Donations From Political Appointees
Gubernatorial races in Texas and Illinois heat up over questions about the connections between political appointees and campaign cash.
The Bailout Yearbook: The Stars and the Slackers
With the bailout set to expire this weekend, here are the recipients that have shined -- and here are the ones that have flopped.
‘Lack of Leadership’ by Regulators Put Miners at Risk, Gov’t Report Says
A government investigation following a deadly mine explosion that killed 29 workers has found serious problems with the program used by mine safety regulators to take enforcement action against mines with a history of repeated violations.
Read: Not-so-Secret ‘Secrets’ the Pentagon Paid Thousands to Destroy
The Defense Department paid thousands to destroy copies of a war memoir before it was redacted. But unredacted copies still exist--read a few pages to see the "secrets" that lie within.
GMAC's 'Robo-Signers' Draw Concerns About Faulty Process, Mistaken Foreclosures
“Robo-signers,” employees at mortgage servicers that sign thousands of foreclosure documents without review, have brought attention to long-running problems with the foreclosure process.
PA State Police: Intelligence Bulletins Were ‘Unsubstantiated,’ Work of 'Amateurs’
For months, leaders in the Pennsylvania State Police raised concerns about state intelligence bulletins, which flagged an array of activist groups — and opponents of gas drilling — as potential threats to state infrastructure.
Gulf Spill Paymaster Says He Has Eliminated Claims Backlog – While Claimants Disagree
Gulf spill claims czar Kenneth Feinberg says his operation has eliminated backlog of older claims, but claimants still report problems.
