Archive - Illinois
Treasury's 'Point Man' on AIG Bailout That Benefited Goldman, Owned Goldman Stock
According to the New York Times, the Treasury's 'point man' on the AIG bailout, which resulted in billions of dollars for Goldman, also owned stock in the investment bank. He was also Goldman's former CFO.
Pentagon Shifts Its Story About Departure of Leader of Brain Injury Center
The Pentagon now says that a general who led the military’s effort to handle brain injuries was asked to step down. A spokeswoman for the general had earlier said that the reassignment was routine.
EPA's Initial Testing Finds Dispersants Roughly Equal, But Raises Questions
Tests by the EPA don't show significant differences in the toxicity of dispersants, but how they mix with oil is uncertain. An agency official says the regulation of the products may need to be reviewed after the BP disaster in the Gulf.
BP Fined $5.2 Million for False Reporting
BP America has been fined by the government for “false, inaccurate, or misleading” reports about energy production on tribal lands in Colorado. It is the first enforcement action taken by the revamped successor to the Minerals Management Service.
Health Effects After Exxon Valdez Went Unstudied
The Exxon Valdez disaster was a missed opportunity for answering questions about worker health now being asked in the Gulf. Both Exxon and the government say they haven't done research on long-term health problems among that spill's cleanup workers.
After 3 Weeks, BP Handed Over Samples Requested By Scientists
After first refusing, BP finally provided researchers at the University of South Florida with oil samples from the Gulf of Mexico. But the company came through only after getting pressure from lawmakers.
Take a Look at the New ProPublica.org
We have redesigned our website to make it more usable, put things in better context and to make it cleaner and easier to navigate.
Pentagon Issues New Policy for Diagnosing and Treating Brain Injuries
The new rules address weaknesses in the handling of mild traumatic brain injuries, requiring rest periods and enhanced tracking for soldiers exposed to blasts.
Gulf Disaster Changes Landscape for Scientists Eager to Do Research
BP has pledged millions for research on its oil spill in the Gulf, but scientists worry about how well the money will be spent. A report says Gulf Coast governors are demanding that the money be given to universities in their own states.
Scientists Predict Larger ‘Dead Zones' in Gulf
Federally-funded scientists predicted a "larger than average" dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico this year. It's unclear whether the oil spill is contributing to it.
Gulf Cleanup, Foreign Assistance, and Jones Act Confusion
Contrary to some claims, the Jones Act of 1920 hasn't kept foreign vessels from helping clean up the Gulf oil spill. Fifteen foreign vessels are already helping, said Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen.
Relief Wells Getting Close, But Could Take a Few Tries
The relief wells that BP is drilling in the Gulf of Mexico are nearing the ruptured Macondo well, but intercepting the oil flow is unlikely to happen on the first try. The Ixtoc spill in 1979 and the Montara spill last year, both in much shallower water, demonstrate the difficulty involved.
Q & A: Former SEC Chairman Sees Financial Reform as Changes on the Margins
Arthur Levitt, the former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, discusses his view that Congress’ financial reform legislation does little to protect investors. And he says consumer protection measures are not as strong as they should be.
BP Document: Big Plans for Deepwater Drilling
A BP document shows the oil company had big plans to push deepwater drilling.
California Eyes Discipline for 2,000 Nurses Sanctioned by Other States
After ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times found hundreds of California nurses had been sanctioned elsewhere for neglect, drug use and criminal conduct, the state’s nursing board ran checks that uncovered thousands of similar cases.
Is Chinese Drywall Making Habitat for Humanity's Houses Uninhabitable?
For more than a year, the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity has insisted there were no defects in the Chinese drywall it used to build nearly 200 houses for victims of Hurricane Katrina. But a house-by-house canvas by reporters from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and ProPublica found several homeowners who reported serious problems.
