Archive
As BP's Oil Changes the Gulf, Gas Seeps Into Economies Elsewhere
As energy companies ramp up drilling, the promise of natural gas has begun affecting economies in Pennsylvania and other states. Colleges are offering courses to prepare students for jobs in the industry.
For Claims of Bodily Injury, No Payments from BP Yet
BP has paid millions in damages from the Gulf oil spill, but nothing yet for claims of injury. A spokesman says the company is still evaluating those claims.
1970s BP-Branded Board Game Turned Offshore Drilling Into Child's Play
BP's Gulf blowout turns an old offshore drilling board game into a coveted novelty item. The game, BP Offshore Oil Strike, has players race for profits, with dangers like damaged rigs and oil slicks in the way.
ProPublica Photographer: I Was Followed by BP Security and Then Detained by Police
Freelance photographer Lance Rosenfield tells the story of being stopped by police and BP security while he was taking pictures for ProPublica’s articles on BP’s Texas City refinery.
Survey: Homeowners Working With Servicers Often Blindsided by Foreclosures
Many housing counselors in California are seeing clients lose their homes while pursuing mortgage modifications. That’s not supposed to happen, but there have been no penalties for the banks involved.
Reality Lags Behind BP's Promises About Oil Skimmers
BP has touted skimmers as a primary strategy for fighting the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but its claims about their potential appears overblown.
BP Shortchanging Safety Even After Deadly Texas Explosion
Since a 2005 disaster that killed 15 people, the culture at BP's Texas City refinery doesn't seem to have changed much. Production and profit have been the priorities, trumping safety and the environment.
Reporters Look Into PSI’s Influence and Problems in Virginia
Psychiatric Solutions Inc., a big donor to governors in Virginia, may have gotten special treatment from state officials. In one case, the state mental-health commissioner blocked an effort to downgrade the license of one facility.
Gulf 'Safety Zones' Could Mean Penalties for Press and Public
New rules from the Coast Guard could restrict the public and the media from coming within 65 feet of cleanup operations and protective boom. Violators could face hefty penalties.
Photographer Briefly Detained by Police Near BP's Texas City Refinery
A photographer taking pictures of a BP Texas refinery for ProPublica was detained by police, a Homeland Security agent and a BP security officer before being released.
BP Texas Refinery Had Huge Toxic Release Just Before Gulf Blowout
Two weeks before the Gulf blowout, a BP refinery in Texas spewed tons of toxic chemicals into the air.
Blast at BP Texas Refinery in '05 Foreshadowed Gulf Disaster
A 2005 blast that killed 15 at a Texas BP refinery in 2005 holds many similarities with the Deepwater Horizon blast.
A Fracking First in Pennsylvania: Cattle Quarantine
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued its first livestock quarantine, keeping 28 beef cattle off the market because they may have been exposed to contaminated wastewater from hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Federal Agencies: Some Workers Should Wear Respirators
In a slight switch, two federal agencies have advised Gulf cleanup workers to wear respirators when "potentially excessive exposure" to toxic elements is anticipated or when symptoms are being reported.
Two Weeks Later, New Safety Training for Gulf Workers Has Yet to Begin
BP still has not started a longer, more detailed safety course for oil cleanup workers on boats in the Gulf of Mexico. OSHA says it isn't satisfied with the proposed changes yet.
Texas Mortgage Firm Survives and Thrives Despite Repeat Sanctions
Despite repeated regulatory sanctions across more than a dozen states, Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp. continues to be a major FHA lender. Borrowers in Louisiana, West Virginia allege that Allied brokers misled them and diverted funds.
