Archive - Illinois
Scientists Criticize BP's Claims About How Much Oil It's Siphoning
More scientists are expressing skepticism about BP's claim on how much oil it's recapturing. One said that the estimate that BP is capturing most of the oil "is going to be proven wrong in short order."
Results of Our 2010 Reader Survey
ProPublica readers like our longer stories, are generally happy with what we’re doing, and are a demographic dream, our most recent survey found.
BP's Spill Plans Had Few Ways to Stop a Blowout
None of BP's documents and plans we've been able to find have details on how to deal with stopping a spill, and are limited to phrases like "Stop further pollution at the source," or "Identify and shut off the source as soon as possible, taking safety into account."
At Fort Bliss, Brain Injury Treatments Can Be as Elusive as Diagnosis
Even when traumatic brain injury is diagnosed in soldiers, treatment can be hard to come by. At Fort Bliss, Texas, a building to screen for such injuries remains closed nearly a year after its completion.
BP Refuses to Provide Oil Samples to Scientists Investigating Underwater Plumes
BP has refused to supply samples that would prove -- or disprove -- that underwater oil plumes are from the Deepwater Horizon site. The scientist who requested the sample called the refusal "a little unsettling."
After Our Investigation, Pentagon Puts Its Spin on Brain Injuries
The Pentagon sent out a talking points memo that makes it sound as if it's doing all it can to treat brain injuries, which our investigation says is not the case. Though it's not a direct response to our investigation, it says that the U.S. offers the "world's best TBI medical care for our service members."
As Oil Plumes Are Confirmed, Scientist Calculating Flow Rate Blasts BP
The U.S. has confirmed the existence of giant underwater oil plumes emanating from the BP spill, though at low concentrations, even as scientists remained frustrated at not being able to measure how much oil is still flowing.
Read Documents Showing BP's Pattern of Neglecting Its Own Safety Policies
Documents detailing BP's internal reports on safety problems show how pervasive the problems were in its operations in Alaska, California and Texas.
Years of Internal BP Probes Warned That Neglect Could Lead to Accidents
Internal investigations warned BP for years that the company had created a culture of disregard for safety and environmental rules and risked a serious accident if it did not change its ways. While the investigations focuses on BP's Alaska drilling operations, the lessons apply to the Gulf as well.
Brain Injuries Remain Undiagnosed in Thousands of Soldiers
The military medical system is failing to diagnose brain injuries in tens of thousands of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many of them receive little or no treatment for lingering health problems, despite years of promises, an investigation by NPR and ProPublica has found.
Gulf Judges' Oil Ties May Present Conflicts of Interest
Finding a judge to hear federal cases against BP could be daunting because of conflicts of interest. More than half of the senior judges in the Gulf districts have ties to the oil industry, AP reports.
Four Reasons Why Measuring Flow in BP's Spill Matters
Having a lower estimate for the amount of oil that has flowed into the Gulf could mean BP would be subject to fewer financial penalties, from royalties on the lost oil to fines for spilling it, as well as helping its public image.
Documents Unsealed in Chinese Drywall Lawsuit
Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. LTD, a major Chinese drywall manufacturer, urged one of its main U.S. customers, Banner Supply, to sell thousands of sheets of foul-smelling drywall "overseas" after Banner complained about the tainted product, according to documents and depositions unsealed Friday by a Florida circuit court judge in Miami-Dade County. A Banner executive said the offer was refused.
