Archive - Illinois
Experts: Argue All You Want, Mosque Project on Firm Legal Ground
Land-use laws protect the plan for an Islamic center near ground zero, legal experts say.
Lowe's Drywall Settlement Continues to Be Scrutinized; Attorneys Defend Fees
Consumer advocates say the victims of tainted drywall are getting the short end of a class action settlement with Lowe's. Plaintiffs' attorneys say their $2.1 million cut of the deal is appropriate.
Obama Admin: No More Regulatory Shortcuts for Deepwater Drilling Projects
The Interior Department says deepwater drilling won’t get rubber-stamped anymore, ending a policy that allowed many projects in the Gulf of Mexico to skip detailed environmental reviews
BP's Claims Reporting Leaves a Fuzzy Picture
How well claimants are being compensated for oil spill damages is impossible to tell from BP’s numbers. Those who have been paid are all counted the same, regardless of the details.
BP Says It Will Spend $52 Million for Mental Health Care in the Gulf Region
Acknowledging "stress and anxiety" among Gulf Coast residents, BP agrees to help fund mental health services there. The decision comes after a recent study describing physical and mental health problems following the oil spill.
After Michigan Spill, Familiar Concerns Are Raised About Pipeline Regulators
The federal agency overseeing oil and gas pipelines follows industry-written standards, and relies on a small number of inspectors. The agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is led by a former industry executive.
Homeowner Questionnaire Shows Banks Violating Gov't Program Rules
Mortgage servicers regularly make errors and break the government's loan modification rules, including giving no reasons for a loan's rejection, homeowners report to ProPublica.
Loan Mod Profiles: The Runaround
Many who are facing foreclosure say that paperwork errors and other problems are bogging down mortgage modifications.
Judges Reject Interrogation Evidence in Gitmo Cases
The government has lost eight of 15 cases in which Guantánamo inmates have said they or witnesses against them were forcibly interrogated, according to a ProPublica review.
U.S. Bore AIG Bailout Risk, but Foreign Banks Reaped the Rewards, Says Watchdog
A report by a government watchdog says that when the U.S. Treasury bailed out AIG, it may have propped up foreign banks as well, indirectly reaping more than $14 billion.
BP Agrees to Pay $50 Million for Earlier Texas City Problems
BP reaches an agreement to pay part of an OSHA fine for safety problems at its Texas City refinery. Still to be resolved: $30 million in outstanding penalties, plus lawsuits related to a more recent incident.
Data Show Stimulus Isn't Reaching the Nation's Neediest Counties and States
Several analyses of our stimulus data show that on both the county and state levels, stimulus money isn't reaching the communities that need it most.
Proposed Lowe's Drywall Settlement Offers Small Payouts to Victims, Big Fees for Attorneys
A class-action agreement over tainted drywall could pay off plaintiffs with Lowe's gift cards. Lawyers in another large drywall case have attacked the settlement.
Primer: Six Things Happening Right Now With Financial Regulation
How financial reform is actually being implemented. We're tracking how the bill is being put into practice.
MSNBC.com, Time and Others Join Our BP Claims Project
Other news organizations are helping ProPublica reach people who have filed claims in the BP oil spill.
The Reporting Matchmaker Is Looking for More Loan Mod Stories
Homeowners are trying to avoid foreclosure, and journalists want to tell their stories. Here is a chance to get involved.
