Archive - Illinois
Underused Drilling Practices Could Avoid Pollution
Innovative industry "best practices" that may make it easier to exploit U.S. gas reserves with less water and air pollution are used inconsistently across the 31 states where natural gas is drilled. Rarely required by state or federal regulations, they are usually put in place only when drilling companies are forced to by cost or regulatory concerns.
Bailout Breakdown: Losses Likely to Be Larger Than Treasury Estimates
Yes, TARP will cost less than originally envisioned. But how much less is still unknown. The latest estimate accounts for only the first year of spending, and the TARP’s spending isn’t done.
The Rise and Fall of ‘Notorious’ San Francisco Landlords
The Lembi family went on a "five-year apartment-buying binge" of rental properties in San Francisco at the height of the housing market. But a magazine reports that they reportedly strong-armed longtime tenants out of their apartments and raised rents across the city. Now their empire is in decline.
Gov’t Agency Helps Risky Lenders Keep Lending
The Government National Mortgage Association -- Ginnie Mae -- has gotten little attention during the financial crisis, but a new report says the agency has helped some reckless mortgage companies by providing taxpayer backing for their risky lending.
FDA Advised to Tighten Restrictions on GE and Covidien MRI Drugs
After a daylong hearing, an FDA advisory panel recommends effectively banning the use of GE’s Omniscan and Covidien’s Optimark in patients with severe kidney disease. The MRI contrast agents have been linked to a rare but often crippling disease, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
School Kids - And the Rest of Us - Fed Meat That Fast-Food Joints Wouldn’t Touch
Because federal standards have not caught up with those of the fast-food industry, the National School Lunch Program has become the meat industry's "market of last resort," according to USA Today. So children sometimes wind up eating meat that otherwise might become pet food.
