Controversies

U.S. Approves Fracking on Federal Land in California

The report acknowledges that there have been many instances of problems in other states, but California is different: “Available data suggests that present day well stimulation practices in California differ significantly from practices used for unconventional shale reservoirs in states such as North Dakota and Texas.” read more

Added Punishment…Prisoners Exposed to Nearby Coal Waste Dump

Seventy-five Fayette prisoners participated in the research. Of the participants: —More than 81% of responding prisoners reported respiratory, throat, and sinus conditions; —68% of responding prisoners experienced gastrointestinal problems; —52% reported experiencing adverse skin conditions, and; —12% of prisoners reported either being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder at SCI Fayette, or having existing thyroid problems exacerbated after transfer to the prison. read more

Reagan Appointee becomes First Federal Judge to Okay Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

In the 15 months since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal law banning same-sex marriage, federal courts across the land have nullified similar bans adopted at the state level. But one federal judge has decided to buck this trend, ruling Louisiana’s statute legalizing only heterosexual unions is constitutional despite what the highest court has said. read more

Montana Woman Charged with Child Endangerment for Taking Drugs While 12 Weeks Pregnant

Authorities in Montana have charged a woman with felony child endangerment for taking illegal drugs even though she was only 12 weeks pregnant when she did so. Activists noted “Dating a pregnancy is very specific, so Allen either told them, the state dated the pregnancy for her, or her doctor reported her to the department of health and human services.” read more

Scientists Predict 4 Million Americans will be “Significantly” Affected by Rising Sea Levels within 6 Years

The Sunshine State has 150 communities totaling 2.7 million individuals that “could be significantly affected by sea-level rise,” Justine Brown wrote at Government Technology. In Louisiana, the numbers are 1.2 million people in 114 towns. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands more Americans in California, New Jersey, North Carolina and other states facing a wet future. read more

Guantánamo Military Lawyer Resigns; Talks of “Show Trial” Tainted by Torture

Not that Mohammed, who could be sentenced to death if found guilty, is likely to receive a fair trial, according to Wright. Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times and subjected to a week of sleep deprivation while being held by the Central Intelligence Agency. Wright further said the tribunal system is set up so if a defendant is “acquitted, they will not be set free.” “That is actually the very definition of a show trial,” Wright said. read more

California Legislature First State to Ban Disposable Plastic Bags

Legislation now awaiting approval from Governor Jerry Brown (D) would prohibit the use of single-use disposable plastic bags in grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and other businesses. When supporters in the state legislature agreed to add to the bill a provision allocating $2 million to help plastic bag makers retool their operations to manufacture reusable bags, this tipped the balance read more

Florida Mayor Ejects Atheist from Public Meeting for Refusing to Stand during Pledge of Allegiance

At a recent meeting of the Winter Garden City Commission, Mayor John Rees ordered a local resident removed from the proceedings (video) after he refused to stand during the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Courts, including one in Florida, have consistently ruled that people can’t be forced to pray, say the pledge or stand during them. read more

Military Weapons Given to Police have Gone Missing

An investigation by Fusion shows that 184 law enforcement agencies have been suspended by the program for losing the equipment and other violations of program guidelines. In some cases, the equipment’s not merely missing, but has been sold by department personnel. Most of the missing items are weaponry, such as M14 and M16 rifles, but some Humvees are also unaccounted for. read more

Pennsylvania Finally Releases List of 243 Cases of Water Contaminated by Oil and Gas Drilling

The list released Thursday by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reveals 243 instances in which drilling contaminated water wells. Some of the causes of contamination were methane gas contamination, spills of wastewater and other pollutants, and wells that went dry or were otherwise undrinkable. read more

Government Printing Office Wins Dubious Title of Federal Agency with Highest Discrimination Complaint Rate

The good news: Complaints about workplace discrimination by federal employees fell in fiscal 2012 by 6.7%. The bad news is that the Government Printing Office (GPO) still led the list of complaints with 1.22% of its workforce filing complaints, according to a report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It was the second year in a row the GPO led the list. read more

Brain-Eating Amoeba Found in Louisiana Drinking Water

CDC officials say ingesting water containing the amoeba is harmless because it cannot infect a person through the digestive system, but the contaminated water can prove fatal if it comes into contact with nasal passages, which is how it travels to the brain. A four-year-old Mississippi boy contracted the amoeba while visiting St. Bernard Parish last year and later died. read more

Justice Dept. Sues Minnesota Village over Refusal to Allow Islamic Center

City officials voted 4-1 in 2012 to prevent the Abu Huraira Islamic Center from using the basement of the St. Anthony Business Center as a worship space while reserving other areas for business, rejecting a recommendation made by the city’s planning commission. The Center was founded by immigrants from Somalia. read more

Shipping of North Dakota Oil Puts a Hold on Grain Distribution

One of the state’s key railroads, Canadian Pacific, says it won’t be able to fulfill nearly 30,000 requests from farmers and others for space on rail cars during September. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), the state’s largest railroad, has a backlog of 1,336 rail cars loaded with grain and other products not going anywhere. read more

States with Medical Marijuana have Lower Rate of Drug Overdoses

Researchers using federal health statistics found a 25% annual reduction in drug overdose mortality rates in states that allow medical marijuana. They also discovered that the reductions tend to occur very shortly after adopting medical marijuana laws and strengthen over time. read more

Federal Election Commission, with 3-3 Votes, Loosens Restrictions on Campaign Funding

The Federal Election Commission (FEC), in reaching yet another 3-3 deadlock due to the Democratic-Republican split among commissioners, has effectively told the Conservative Action Fund that it can receive Bitcoin donations. The most recent deadlock is considered a blow to efforts to improve transparency in elections, due to the untraceable nature of Bitcoins. read more