Archive - Illinois
BP Shortchanging Safety Even After Deadly Texas Explosion
Since a 2005 disaster that killed 15 people, the culture at BP's Texas City refinery doesn't seem to have changed much. Production and profit have been the priorities, trumping safety and the environment.
Reporters Look Into PSI’s Influence and Problems in Virginia
Psychiatric Solutions Inc., a big donor to governors in Virginia, may have gotten special treatment from state officials. In one case, the state mental-health commissioner blocked an effort to downgrade the license of one facility.
Gulf 'Safety Zones' Could Mean Penalties for Press and Public
New rules from the Coast Guard could restrict the public and the media from coming within 65 feet of cleanup operations and protective boom. Violators could face hefty penalties.
Photographer Briefly Detained by Police Near BP's Texas City Refinery
A photographer taking pictures of a BP Texas refinery for ProPublica was detained by police, a Homeland Security agent and a BP security officer before being released.
BP Texas Refinery Had Huge Toxic Release Just Before Gulf Blowout
Two weeks before the Gulf blowout, a BP refinery in Texas spewed tons of toxic chemicals into the air.
Blast at BP Texas Refinery in '05 Foreshadowed Gulf Disaster
A 2005 blast that killed 15 at a Texas BP refinery in 2005 holds many similarities with the Deepwater Horizon blast.
A Fracking First in Pennsylvania: Cattle Quarantine
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued its first livestock quarantine, keeping 28 beef cattle off the market because they may have been exposed to contaminated wastewater from hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Federal Agencies: Some Workers Should Wear Respirators
In a slight switch, two federal agencies have advised Gulf cleanup workers to wear respirators when "potentially excessive exposure" to toxic elements is anticipated or when symptoms are being reported.
Two Weeks Later, New Safety Training for Gulf Workers Has Yet to Begin
BP still has not started a longer, more detailed safety course for oil cleanup workers on boats in the Gulf of Mexico. OSHA says it isn't satisfied with the proposed changes yet.
Texas Mortgage Firm Survives and Thrives Despite Repeat Sanctions
Despite repeated regulatory sanctions across more than a dozen states, Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp. continues to be a major FHA lender. Borrowers in Louisiana, West Virginia allege that Allied brokers misled them and diverted funds.
Head of Allied Home Mortgage Has Had a Bumpy Journey
Jim Hodge started what became one of the biggest mortgage operators the same year his previous savings and loan was seized and sold by the Resolution Trust Corporation.
Govt's Banned Trailers, Unsafe for Housing, Reappear in Gulf
Some formaldehyde-tainted FEMA trailers used after Hurricane Katrina are being resold to oil cleanup workers in the Gulf. Buyers are supposed to be warned that the trailers are not intended for housing, but a report says these rules aren’t always being followed by the middlemen who are selling the trailers.
Warning of Looming Crisis, Louisiana Calls on BP to Fund Mental Health Programs
BP has not responded to a request for $10 million to help Louisiana deal with mental health problems that it blames on the oil spill. The state health department says it is seeing anxiety, excessive drinking and thoughts of suicide in affected communities.
Owners of Ruptured Well Feud Over Blame, Liability
Anadarko Petroleum owns one-fourth of the well spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and approved of the well's designs. But it says BP's recklessness is to blame for the disaster.
Fort Bliss Says It Will Examine Its Handling of Brain Injuries
After soldiers' reports of problems, officials at Fort Bliss tell a congressman that they will review the base's care for traumatic brain injuries. But the base is now providing information that seems to contradict earlier statements.
Grab a Helping of Stimulus Data from Our Latest Recovery Tracker
ProPublica’s updated Recovery Tracker follows the spending of stimulus money down to the local level. It also identifies hundreds of vendors not listed on Recovery.gov.
Habitat for Humanity to Look at Drywall
Habitat for Humanity International has established an internal task force to research defective Chinese drywall after ProPublica and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that a New Orleans branch of the non-profit built more than 200 homes with the drywall and then ignored homeowners’ complaints about it.
