Archive
Dozens of Criminal Registered Nurses Identified by California Regulators
Fingerprint checks of thousands of California nurses not previously subject to background checks have turned up dozens of convictions of crimes ranging from petty theft to murder. The checks are now required in part because of investigations by ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times.
Calif. Registered Nursing Board Follows Up on Our Nurses Stories
The California Board of Registered Nursing has taken actions against nurses featured in a series of stories by ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times. Among the actions were revocations and suspensions of licenses.
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.
