Archive - Illinois
New York City Calls for Drilling Ban in Watershed, Rejects State Study
ew York City officials have called for a ban on natural gas drilling within the city’s 2,000-square-mile upstate watershed and urged Albany to withdraw its controversial draft environmental review for drilling across the state.
The Clock Ticks Slowest at Gitmo: Why It’s Taking so Long to Close the Prison
Nearly a year after taking office, the Obama administration isn’t as close to closing the prison at Guantanamo as it had hoped it would be by now. The reasons are legal, political and bureaucratic.
A Fracking Mischaracterization
An Investor’s Business Daily editorial repeats some canards about ProPublica’s coverage of the environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing.
Schools Have Trouble Tapping Stimulus Funds
The stimulus program included $11 billion in bonds intended to let school districts raise capital through interest-free bonds to fund repairs and construction, but red tape and other roadblocks have prevented many school districts from taking advantage.
Stimulus Money Paid Out Now Exceeds Money in the Pipeline
The spending of stimulus funds is finally outpacing the commitment to spend it. About $153 billion has been spent, with another $152 billion pledged but not yet spent. Another $267 billion isn’t yet allocated.
Washington to Reduce Funding for U.S. Contractors in Pakistan
The U.S. is planning to shift more of the aid money it spends in Pakistan to Pakistani NGOs and contractors, a move that has raised concerns about tracking how it's spent. Development groups say the money increases the opportunities for corruption, and note that Pakistani accounting firms, which would track the funds, have been criticized for not meeting standards.
What Health Care Reform Means for: ‘Young Invincibles’
Young people often forgo insurance coverage. Reform bills would no longer allow that, but what insurance they could get and how differ in each proposal.
Loan Mod Program Delays Even Worse for Those Struggling Not to Fall Behind
The troubles of a Florida homeowner show how the loan modification program isn’t working as it should for people who are struggling to pay their mortgages but have not fallen behind. Servicers are concentrating on those in default, and say they don’t have clear guidance on how to screen borrowers who are not yet in default.
Rationing Medical Care: Health Officials Struggle With Setting Standards
Some states have begun to grapple with a serious public health issue: Which patients should be given access to lifesaving treatments if more people need it than the system can handle? The issue of effectively deciding who should live and who should die is anathema to physicians whose main job is to save lives.
GE Suit Hushes Scientist Critical of Omniscan
GE is suing a radiologist for defamation in England, citing his descriptions of adverse reactions to GE's MRI drug Omniscan, which has been linked to serious injuries to patients with kidney disease. The suit is fueling a debate over British libel laws, which have been seen as draconian toscientists.
Citing ProPublica Investigation Into University of Phoenix, Congressman Calls for Hearings
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., calls for hearings into the recruiting practices of for-profit schools, citing an investigation by ProPublica and Marketplace. "To find that for-profit institutions allegedly drew students in with disingenuous claims and sometimes outright fabrication, subjected them to onerous loans, and left them with often unusable 'credits,' is inexcusable," he said.
Foreign Interpreters Hurt in Battle Find U.S. Insurance Benefits Wanting
An insurance program funded by American taxpayers was supposed to provide a safety net for Iraqi interpreters and their families in the event of injury or death. Yet for many, the benefits have fallen painfully short of what was promised, an investigation by the Los Angeles Times and ProPublica found.
Lost in Limbo: Injured Afghan Translators Struggle to Survive
Afghan translators injured while working for the U.S. often face lack of medical benefits and uncertain futures, even if they can come to the U.S. Promises of benefits and financial support often go unfulfilled.
