Controversies
Lawsuit Challenges Effectiveness of Drug- and Bomb-Sniffing Police Dogs
Canines used by police to sniff out drugs and explosives may not be as reliable as their law enforcement masters claim.
Two Nevada Highway Patrol K-9 troopers and a consultant are suing Las Vegas’ police department, arguing that the dogs’ ha... read more
Court Rules Power of Copyright Royalty Board Members is Unconstitutional
An obscure panel of judges who rule over copyright matters has had their powers curtailed by a federal appellate court.
After hearing a lawsuit from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Inc., which complained about a decision by the Copy... read more
“Monsanto Rider” in Farm Bill Allows Planting of Genetically Modified Crops without Environmental Impact Studies
Genetically-modified seeds could become more prevalent in American fields if legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law allowing farmers to bypass federal environmental protections.
Contained within a large agricultural app... read more
Law Enforcement Demands Cell Phone Details from Telecoms more than 3,500 Times a Day
In between routing calls and text messages, telecom companies spend considerable time each day handling demands from law enforcement seeking phone and other records of customers.
In fact, businesses like AT&T and Sprint collectively received... read more
Pennsylvania Republicans Protect Suburbs from Fracking, but Give Go-Ahead in Rural Counties
In the ongoing fight between the energy companies that want to drill for natural gas via hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” and the environmental activists warning of the technology’s dangers, the Republican-dominated Pennsylvania state legisl... read more
JPMorgan Chase Nightmare Foreclosure Story
JPMorgan Chase has been accused of evicting a family of four just days after their father died of a stress-induced heart attack brought on by the foreclosure, which they were duped into by the bank.
In their lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, t... read more
Marines Clash about Women in Combat
At least one female member of the Marine Corps doesn’t believe women should be serving in combat roles for the nation’s elite fighting force.
Marine Captain Katie Petronio, a combat veteran, wrote in an editorial in the Marine Corps Gazette ... read more
Gunfire Blamed in Dozens of Wildfires
The Western United States is experiencing one of its worst fire seasons ever, and gunfire is partly to blame.
More than 30 wildfires affecting five states have been caused by target shooting or other firearms, according to government officia... read more
General in Charge of Missile Defense Agency Accused of Outlandish Bullying of Staff
To call Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly, head of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), a bully is putting it mildly. The MDA is tasked with developing a viable system for protecting the United States and its interests from ballistic missile atta... read more
Under Pressure, VA Halts Involuntary Job Downgrades
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has decided to halt the involuntary downgrading of jobs, many of which were at VA hospitals, following protests from workers and their union.
The controversy began after the VA launched its “Job Classi... read more
The Outsourcing of Local News
Sending American jobs overseas isn’t just for manufacturing and customer service businesses. Media companies too are figuring out ways to save money by using foreign cheap labor to report on news in the United States.
A pioneer of media outs... read more
Court Fines Louisiana for Post-Katrina Mass Firing of Teachers
Nearly 7,000 teachers were wrongly terminated following Hurricane Katrina, a Louisiana judge has ruled.
Four months after disaster struck New Orleans in August 2005, school board officials decided to fire 7,500 employees who at the time were... read more
Georgia Defies Supreme Court by Closing Courtrooms to the Public
Local judges in Georgia are still closing their courtrooms to the public, despite being told by the nation’s highest court to stop.
The U.S. Supreme Court two years ago vacated a Georgia Supreme Court ruling that had upheld the closure of a ... read more
Federal Judge Halts Florida Law Prohibiting Doctors from Talking about Guns
Florida’s attempt to stop doctors from discussing gun ownership with patients has been blocked by a federal judge.
The legislation, which was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, was directed primarily at pediatricians, who routinely ask new ... read more
War on Crime Will Proceed Without Military Weapons...for Now
The Pentagon is temporarily suspending part of a popular program that allows police departments to buy military weapons after news reports of million-dollar California buying sprees that included a tank. The military wants to conduct an inventor... read more
Justice Dept. Sues Georgia to Ensure Overseas Military Right to Vote
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Georgia over alleged violations of federal law that guarantee the right of overseas military personnel to participate in elections.
Federal attorneys claim that unless something is done, s... read more