The Obama administration’s plan to curb drug coverage for Medicare patients is proving very unpopular with interests who normally don’t see eye-to-eye. Usually in such debates, pharmaceutical manufacturers and patient advocates are battling against one another. But that’s not the case with the call for limiting coverage for certain types of drugs, including some widely used. Specific drugs that could be affected include Wellbutrin, Paxil and Prozac (prescribed for depression).   read more

House Republicans who oversee key scientific matters have hired a lobbyist from one of the nation’s leading oil corporations to serve as a key adviser. The House Science Committee, led by pro-oil Representative Lamar Smith, has brought aboard Stephen Sayle, who lobbied for Chevron, as a senior staff member. During much of 2013, Sayle led a lobbying firm that promoted Chevron’s positions on regulations governing clean pollution, ozone emissions and oil and gas development.   read more

The NRA has lost its first legal battle against the City by the Bay over the banning of high-capacity magazines in city limits. “Although there will be some occasions when a law-abiding citizen needs more than ten rounds to defend himself or his family, the record shows that such occasions are rare,” Judge Alsup wrote in his ruling. He added that citizens would still have the ability to own and use more than one magazine holding 10 bullets each if such a need arose.   read more

The myth that older drivers are more accident prone than other motorists is just that—a myth, according to a new study. A report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows crashes involving older Americans have declined, and that seniors involved in auto accidents are coming out of them with fewer fatalities. “That's likely because vehicles are safer and seniors are generally healthier,” the IIHS reported.   read more

The repeal of Missouri’s law requiring a background check for all handgun purchases contributed to a 16% increase in murders in that state, according to a recent study. That study found there were 55 to 63 more murders each year from 2008 to 2012 than the projected rates for those years had the law not been repealed. “This study provides compelling confirmation that weaknesses in firearm laws lead to deaths from gun violence,” said Daniel Webster, the study's lead author.   read more

On February 14, an alarm sounded at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico--an indication that radiation was escaping into the lower levels of the facility. Personnel were prohibited from entering. “It could be a mess,” said scientist Edwin Lyman. “If there is airborne contamination and it involves plutonium, they are going to need to decontaminate surfaces. If it is in the ventilation system, it could have spread to other areas.”   read more

In another consequence of Washington gridlock, half of federal employees are considering leaving their government jobs for those in the private sector, a new study shows. The online survey showed that the top three reasons for federal employees to consider leaving are the government pay freeze, the political environment, and better salary opportunities in the private sector. These attitudes are likely to have an impact on government’s ability to do its job.   read more

Three anti-nuclear protesters will spend years in prison for breaching security at a key weapons facility. Sister Megan Rice, 84, and two others managed to enter the top-security grounds that houses 400 metric tons of highly enriched uranium used in nuclear warheads. The judge asked prosecutors before handing down the sentences what harm the activists caused. An assistant U.S. attorney responded that the defendants “had destroyed the ‘mystique’ of the ‘Fort Knox of uranium.’”   read more

The administration of Ohio Gov. John Kasich has been accused of covering up its role in a controversial plan to promote fracking in state parks and marginalize organizations opposed to the drilling. Government documents show several state agencies were involved in a PR strategy to help gas companies seeking rights to drill on public lands. A communications plan called for a coordinated effort between the state and industry to push for fracking and attack environmentalists opposed to it.   read more

“It's using these small devices...to get up in the air and get a perspective on a news event," said Matt Waite. "You can think of floods, forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, anything with a large spatial extent.” “They’re starting to see them being used around the world at large protests in Thailand, at the super-typhoon, even in sporting events in Australia. [But] there are a large number of...questions that need to be answered before you will see this being done in a widespread fashion.”   read more

Police in two northeast states will now have to obtain a warrant before tracking a suspect’s cellphone location to monitor their movements. Massachusetts’ Supreme Court ruled this week that individuals enjoy the right to privacy when it comes to their cell phones and for the government to not follow their whereabouts through such technology—unless a court approves this kind of surveillance. The ruling was very similar to one by New Jersey’s highest court.   read more

The Keystone XL pipeline has hit a major snag in Nebraska, where a local judge threw out the governor’s approval for the project to cut through the state and kick landowners off their property. Environmentalists have opposed Keystone, arguing it would transport “dirty oil” that would contribute to global warming, harm wildlife, ruin underground water supplies, and risk the danger of oil spills on U.S. lands.   read more

The plan sparked objections from privacy advocates who feared the program would track the movements of ordinary citizens not suspected of criminal activity. “‘Build it first and worry about privacy and purpose later’—it is the same disease that has infected the NSA and so much of our government," said law professor Fred Cate. "This type of dragnet search is the modern equivalent of the general search that [the Constitution’s] framers were so anxious to guard against.”   read more

A fracking well owned by Chevron blew up last week near a rural Pennsylvania community, terrifying many local residents. For their terror the people of Bobtown got a letter of apology from the billion-dollar oil giant—and a coupon for a free pizza. But Chevron’s generosity did not stop there. The coupon also entitled recipients to a 2-liter bottle of soda.   read more

A dozen different industrial chemicals may each cause brain damage in children, according to new medical research. That research shows exposure to many toxic chemicals can create neurodevelopmental disabilities in kids, including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. “Large numbers of children...are affected by toxic damage to brain development,” said Philippe Grandjean. “They suffer reduced attention span, delayed development and poor school performance."   read more

The bill would allow educators and parents to strike a child up to 10 times on their covered rear end, using hands only. It also permits “reasonable physical force” to restrain a child during the spanking. Bruises that result from this would be allowable under proposed the law. Additionally, the legislation would allow parents to give permission to others to spank their children. In addition to school officials, such people could include caregivers and high school students who are over 18.   read more