U.S. and the World
Appeals Court Affirms Federal Power to Spy without a Warrant
A federal appeals court this week threw out an Islamic foundation’s million-dollar judgment against the federal government for illegally spying on it.
The Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation was awarded $2.5 million in 2010 by Judge Vaughn Walker, ... read more
Secret Boy Scout Predator Files Released
After decades of covering up the identities and accounts of pedophiles in their organization, the Boy Scouts of America is being forced to disclose thousands of older files detailing abuses of young boys by scoutmasters.
The organization insis... read more
Judge Begrudgingly OKs Morgan Stanley Derivatives Price-Fixing Settlement
Morgan Stanley got off easy, according to consumer advocates, when a federal judge reluctantly approved a $4.8 million settlement involving price fixing in the electricity market.
The agreement resolved accusations that Morgan Stanley had gott... read more
Debit Card Company Sued for Anti-Deaf Discrimination
AccountNow, a California-based debit card company, is being sued by a deaf man who claims the company insisted he communicate with their customer service representatives by phone.
Richard Halavais, who cannot hear because of a stroke, tried nu... read more
Insurance Company Sues Trayvon Martin’s Mother over Liability
The mother of shooting victim Trayvon Martin is being sued by an insurance company seeking to avoid paying any damages related to the controversial “stand your ground” killing that took place in Florida earlier this year.
Martin was killed by ... read more
$2 Billion a Year Industry: Housing Illegal Immigrants
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), one of the nation’s largest private prison operators, was on the verge of going bankrupt 12 years ago. Today, CCA along with other companies are raking in federal tax dollars by housing thousands of illega... read more
Leading Billboard Company Avoids Criminal Charges in Tree-Cutting Controversy
One of the nation’s largest advertising billboard companies will not face criminal prosecution for killing thousands of trees in Florida.
Lamar Advertising Co. avoided going to trial after the State Attorney’s office in Tallahassee decided not... read more
Navy Veteran Deported after 40 Years in U.S.
Four decades after he legally immigrated to the U.S., Navy veteran Hilario Rivas-Melendrez was deported to Mexico for a crime he committed in 1980.
Rivas-Melendrez settled in the U.S. in 1970. About 10 years later, he was convicted of statutor... read more
Obama Administration Fights against UN Global Warming Restrictions
Calling for “flexibility” in the battle against global warming, the Obama administration is fighting a proposed international goal for limiting increases in global temperatures.
At issue is a target established at the 2010 United Nations’ clim... read more
Surprise: Doctors on Drug Company Payroll More Likely to Prescribe Company’s Drugs
A doctor’s recommendation for a certain type of prescription drug may have more to it than just the medication’s efficacy.
About 40% of prescribing physicians were paid money or benefits by pharmaceutical companies that manufactured the drugs ... read more
Next Biofuel Source: Willow
Corn and sugarcane could have competition in the growing industry of biofuels, now that the federal government has decided to fund research into willow plants.
A $1.37 million grant from the Department of Energy and the Department of Agricultu... read more
Harvard Study Concludes that Fluoridated Water Is Associated with Lower IQs in Children
Researchers at Harvard and in China have concluded that fluoride in water may impair children’s mental development.
After examining the results of 27 Chinese-based studies, experts from the Harvard School of Public Health and China Medical Uni... read more
Federal Court Approves Doctors Telling Patients that Abortion Can Lead to Suicide
A federal appeals court has upheld a controversial South Dakota law that requires doctors to tell patients considering an abortion that the procedure can lead to increased risks of suicide.
Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit challenging the 20... read more
“Pop-Up” Campaign Finance Groups Dance Rings Around the IRS and FEC
“Justice delayed is justice denied.” This legal maxim describes the fundamental legal principle that when the legal system moves too slowly its remedies can become meaningless and people’s rights will suffer. “Pop-up” groups that falsely claim to ... read more
Trillion-Dollar Cybercrime Number Pulled Out of Thin Cyberspace
It is a big, scary number—$1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion dollars)—that politicians, including President Obama, military leaders and anti-virus software companies allege is the annual cost of cybercrime. And it is a number that is very likely wro... read more
Romney’s New Bain Troubleshooter Is Ex-BP Publicist/Fannie Mae Lobbyist/Iraq War Strategist
Mitt Romney has tapped a leading public relations expert with a long resume of controversial work to help deflect attack ads targeting the Republican candidate’s years at Bain Capital.
Michele Davis, currently a partner at the Brunswick Group,... read more