Archive
Rare Interrogator Testimony Defeats Gitmo Torture Claim in Civilian Court
A newly declassified opinion in a Guantanamo prisoner lawsuit gives the most detailed picture yet of how U.S. authorities might overcome allegations that torture taints key evidence.
Federal Agency, Under Questioning, Clarifies Its Rosy Gulf Report
Just how much of the oil spilled in the Gulf is still there? Depends on what the meaning of "is" is. NOAA is hedging some of its estimates, and not in a good way.
Alleging Securities Fraud, SEC Orders New Jersey to Cease and Desist
The SEC and New Jersey have settled charges that the state didn't properly disclose its financial health when it sold $26 billion in municipal bonds. New Jersey was the first state to be so charged, but it probably won't be the last.
Paths to Final Fix for BP Well Are Still Under Debate
As part of the permanent Deepwater Horizon fix, a new blowout preventer will be swapped out for the failed blowout preventer. But even the new equipment has had problems in the past.
Courts Fault Feds, SEC for Going Easy on Banks
Federal judges are balking at what they consider lenient penalties for big banks accused of wrongdoing. Two deals this week, with Barclays and Citigroup, are the latest to come under scrutiny.
Scientists Dispute Government Stance on the Lingering Effects of Gulf Oil
The government says Gulf seafood is safe and most of the spilled oil is gone, but a triple-whammy of reports raises doubts. Significant risks remain, researchers say.
Loan Mod Profiles: Delayed Then Denied, Often Mistakenly
Homeowners rejected for mortgage modifications tell of errors by their loan servicers.
Experts: Argue All You Want, Mosque Project on Firm Legal Ground
Land-use laws protect the plan for an Islamic center near ground zero, legal experts say.
Lowe's Drywall Settlement Continues to Be Scrutinized; Attorneys Defend Fees
Consumer advocates say the victims of tainted drywall are getting the short end of a class action settlement with Lowe's. Plaintiffs' attorneys say their $2.1 million cut of the deal is appropriate.
Obama Admin: No More Regulatory Shortcuts for Deepwater Drilling Projects
The Interior Department says deepwater drilling won’t get rubber-stamped anymore, ending a policy that allowed many projects in the Gulf of Mexico to skip detailed environmental reviews
BP's Claims Reporting Leaves a Fuzzy Picture
How well claimants are being compensated for oil spill damages is impossible to tell from BP’s numbers. Those who have been paid are all counted the same, regardless of the details.
BP Says It Will Spend $52 Million for Mental Health Care in the Gulf Region
Acknowledging "stress and anxiety" among Gulf Coast residents, BP agrees to help fund mental health services there. The decision comes after a recent study describing physical and mental health problems following the oil spill.
After Michigan Spill, Familiar Concerns Are Raised About Pipeline Regulators
The federal agency overseeing oil and gas pipelines follows industry-written standards, and relies on a small number of inspectors. The agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is led by a former industry executive.
Homeowner Questionnaire Shows Banks Violating Gov't Program Rules
Mortgage servicers regularly make errors and break the government's loan modification rules, including giving no reasons for a loan's rejection, homeowners report to ProPublica.
Loan Mod Profiles: The Runaround
Many who are facing foreclosure say that paperwork errors and other problems are bogging down mortgage modifications.
Judges Reject Interrogation Evidence in Gitmo Cases
The government has lost eight of 15 cases in which Guantánamo inmates have said they or witnesses against them were forcibly interrogated, according to a ProPublica review.
U.S. Bore AIG Bailout Risk, but Foreign Banks Reaped the Rewards, Says Watchdog
A report by a government watchdog says that when the U.S. Treasury bailed out AIG, it may have propped up foreign banks as well, indirectly reaping more than $14 billion.
BP Agrees to Pay $50 Million for Earlier Texas City Problems
BP reaches an agreement to pay part of an OSHA fine for safety problems at its Texas City refinery. Still to be resolved: $30 million in outstanding penalties, plus lawsuits related to a more recent incident.
