Archive
Oil Spill Commission Hits Feds on Flow Rate, Dispersant, How Much Oil Is Left
The presidential commission investigating BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster found that a number of public failures undermined public confidence in the federal government.
Q&A: Putting the Foreclosure Paperwork Scandal in Perspective
Robo-signing’s just small component of a larger mess made by servicers, according to consumer advocates and attorneys for homeowners. One expert explains how the process should’ve looked.
Exclusion of Coercion-Tainted Evidence Echoes Other Gitmo Cases
A federal judge's decision Wednesday -- excluding key evidence from the first civilian trial of a Guantanamo detainee -- is the latest, and perhaps most significant, in a series of government losses in Gitmo-related cases that relied on evidence gained during coercive interrogations.
Gov’t Report: 66 Struggling Banks Got Bailout Money Through 'Healthy' Bank Program
Despite getting government funds, many banks that barely qualified for bailout funds are still struggling to survive, according to a recent government watchdog report.
Gulf Compensation Czar Says Claims Will No Longer Face Geographic Test
A decision by Kenneth Feinberg, the Gulf compensation czar, to no longer consider proximity to the spill in claims eligibility is particularly beneficial to hotels and restaurants in southern Florida that claimed a decline in tourism, though oil never arrived on their beaches
In Some States, Incarcerated Kids Get Drugged to Alter Behavior, Despite Risks
Though antipsychotic drugs are generally FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, in some states, they're mostly prescribed to incarcerated youth for mood disorders and aggressive behavior. Those drugs are often labeled as carrying a significant risk, even when used properly.
In School Outreach, BP and NOAA ‘Dispel Myths' About Dispersants, Subsurface Oil
After its five-month-long oil spill saga, BP and the government set out to show children in local schools that “oil floats,” and that Gulf seafood is safe, according to local reports.
Biggest Banks Ensnared as Foreclosure Paperwork Problem Broadens
Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and others have joined GMAC and JPMorgan under the microscope as bank regulators order major servicers to review their foreclosure procedures for robo-signing and flawed documents.
Pa. Homeland Security Head Resigns Amid Controversy Over Tracking of Activists
Pennsylvania’s beleaguered director of Homeland Security is stepping down in the wake of a controversy over his decision to hire an intelligence firm that monitored gas drilling opponents and other activist groups.
Pa. Environmental Agency Butts Heads With Gas Drilling Company Over Town’s Water Woes
Environmental regulators in Pennsylvania say they’ll likely end up in court with a gas drilling company they say has contaminated the drinking water supply for families living in Dimock, Pa.
IRS Offers Tax Break for Homeowners With Defective Drywall
The IRS will allow homeowners to take a deduction for costly replacement of harmful drywall.
New Version of the ProPublica iPhone and iPad App Available
The newest release of our iOS app is available for download on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and includes significant speed improvements and bug fixes.
Did the White House Meet its Stimulus Goal?
The White House says it met its goal of spending 70 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package, but final numbers aren't in and five agencies have spent less than a quarter of their funds.
In Some States, Controversy Flares Over Donations From Political Appointees
Gubernatorial races in Texas and Illinois heat up over questions about the connections between political appointees and campaign cash.
