Archive - Illinois
Watchdog Faults FBI for 'Factually Weak' Basis for Investigating Activists
A new report by the Justice Department’s Inspector General noted that individual activists were placed on terrorism watchlists because the FBI unnecessarily classified investigations of minor crimes as terrorism investigations.
BP Says Well Is Sealed, but Oily Gulf and Accountability Questions Remain
BP's ruptured well has been plugged, but the oil’s still out there, the research is just getting started, and officials are still investigating BP and deciding the future of drilling in the Gulf.
Gov't Report Slams Labor Dept. Program to Protect Whistleblowers
Flaws in the Labor Department's whistleblower protection program leave workers unprotected from reprisal, according to a new watchdog report.
For-Profit Schools Donate to Lawmakers Opposing New Financial Aid Rules
House members who signed letters asking for an end to new financial aid regulations covering for-profit schools also received nearly $94,000 from the for-profit college sector in the first seven months of this year.
Congresswoman Calls for Review of Purple Heart Decisions
Rep. Chellie Pingree, a House Armed Services Committee member, says soldiers with concussions should be recognized if they meet the Army’s criteria.
E-Mails Show Treasury Knew Bank Championed by 2 Lawmakers Was Weak
Treasury gave $12 million in bailout money to OneUnited bank, championed by two lawmakers, even though it knew the bank was weak and had a spotty record of lending to low-income homeowners, internal e-mails show.
Regulators Consider Requiring Banks to Disclose More About Debt Levels
The SEC may soon be implementing rules to shed more light on efforts by banks to make their books look better — a practice known as "window dressing."
Gulf Spill Paymaster Defends Progress While Weighing Changes
The paymaster managing the claims in the Gulf oil disaster says that he hopes to speed the payments, but that many claims don't have sufficient documentation. He also said he's thinking about some changes to make things clearer to claimants.
Pa. Governor Apologizes for Tracking Enviro Extremists, but Questions Remain
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said he only learned on Tuesday that a state contractor was listing “environmental extremists” and others as security threats — but we asked his office about the issue last week.
Homeowner Tips for Getting Loan Modifications
Homeowners dealing with the load modification process offer some tips to make sure others can succeed. The most important: Get help, stay organized and don’t give up.
New Global Banking Rules: How Will the US Make It Stick?
U.S. banking agencies have already endorsed the tougher capital requirements, but regulators haven't always followed through with implementing these global accords.
Wyoming Fracking Rules Would Disclose Drilling Chemicals
New rules place Wyoming at the forefront of the national push to disclose chemicals used in <a href="http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national">hydraulic fracturing</a>. Residents in drilling areas have complained about contamination of their wells that they believe is from fracking.
Report: Federal Disaster Response Plans Shortchange Worker Safety
In the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill, a series of health complaints among cleanup workers led to widespread concerns about the adequacy of the safety training, protective equipment and chemical exposure monitoring provided by the government and BP. A new report by the Center for Progressive Reform contends that many of these problems stemmed from insufficient attention to worker safety in the government’s disaster response plans.
