Top Stories
Contractors with Criminal Histories Fall Through Government Database Cracks
The Department of Justice has been doing a lousy job of informing other federal agencies about companies that have broken the law and are supposed to be barred from contracting work.
According to the department’s inspector general (IG), the Bu... read more
First Case of Professor Prosecuted for Accidental Death of Research Student
The prosecution of a Southern California college professor could have far-reaching effects on other universities and laboratory faculty.
Professor Patrick Harran and the University of California Regents were charged last year with three counts... read more
Homeland Security Pulls Back Plan to Screen Chemical-Plant Workers for Terrorist Ties to “Cut Down on Paperwork”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pulled its proposed plan to require screening of chemical-plant workers for terrorist ties, a move that followed complaints from industry opponents of the plan.
Under the plan, chemical plants woul... read more
Court Bucks Judicial Trend of Approving Big Pharma’s Anticompetitive Generic Drug Deals
They cost consumers about $3 billion a year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) believes they are illegal, a bipartisan coalition of Senators has introduced legislation to abolish them, and President Barack Obama opposes them, but because federa... read more
Whistleblower Agency Makes a Comeback after Disgraced Bush Appointee Replaced
Things are looking up at the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a federal investigative and prosecutorial agency, following years of poor leadership under the Bush administration.
Responsible for investigating federal whistleblower disclosures a... read more
Judge Rules Official Papers Aren’t Public Although WikiLeaks Published Them
The State Department does not have to release documents already published by WikiLeaks, said a federal judge in a case brought by civil libertarians.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the State Department to force the release of 2... read more
Feds Take Another Crack at Big Solar Projects
Hoping to fare better at nurturing the development of solar energy without enraging environmentalists, antagonizing financial interests and otherwise giving solar a bad name, the Obama administration announced a change in strategy this week.
I... read more
Drug Cartel Money Laundering in U.S. Is Devastating Unless You’re a Bank
Money laundering has been a routine part of global banking giant HSBC for years, according to a Senate investigation that zeroed in on the bank’s U.S. operations.
HSBC Bank USA, N.A., exposed the American financial system to money laundering, ... read more
Most Killers Claiming “Stand Your Ground” Defense in Florida Already Have Criminal Records
Florida’s “stand your ground” law has been a popular defense for convicted, oftentimes-violent criminals who have used it after committing other crimes.
The Tampa Bay Times reviewed more than 100 “stand your ground” cases that involved a fatal... read more
Super-Rich Hide at Least $21 Trillion in Tax Havens
If you combined the economies of the United States and Japan, you would have the dollar equivalent of the amount of money being stashed away by the super-rich of the world in offshore tax havens.
A new report from the Tax Justice Network found... read more
Disconnect: Public Wants Cuts in Defense Spending; Democratic and Republican Leaders Don’t
Americans want a Peace Dividend, but their leaders won’t give it to them. Despite multiple polls showing broad support for cuts in U.S. defense spending, a sort of anti-democratic bipartisanship has emerged in Washington, where both Republicans an... read more
Immigration Arrests Drop to 38-Year Low
Federal law enforcement officers are not apprehending immigrants like they used to do, arresting the lowest total in almost four decades during 2010.
Apprehensions for immigration violations numbered 516,992 two years ago, which was down dra... read more
Drug Cartels Exploit Fracking on Texas-Mexico Border
Texas’ obsession with underground drilling for natural gas has created a giant gap in the federal government’s border patrol defenses against drug smuggling.
Across a large swath of remote land stretching from the border into east Texas, dri... read more
U.S. Leads the World in Cutting CO2 Emissions…With Help from Fracking and Poor Economy
Quietly, the United States has reduced carbon emissions to their lowest levels in six years. But the reasons for this success may be keeping the Obama administration from touting this accomplishment.
Since 2006, the U.S. output of greenhouse... read more
Are “Free” Voter IDs Not Really Free for the Poor and Elderly?
Going to the polls on Election Day and having to pay $20 to cast a ballot may seem outrageous. But that is what thousands of poor Americans are facing due to new voter ID laws.
In 10 states, voters must now show some form of photo identifica... read more
FDA Bans Use of BPA in Baby Bottles, But Not in Containers Used by Adults
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, but will continue to allow its use in plastic bottles used by adults.
The FDA’s decision was less dramatic than it may appear, since manufacturers ... read more