Controversies
Cities Challenge Law by Seizing Cars at DUI Checkpoints
Seizing someone’s car just because the driver doesn’t possess a license was ruled illegal five years ago by a federal court, but that hasn’t stopped cities in California from continuing to impound vehicles at sobriety checkpoints. A story by the I... read more
Bank of America Forecloses on Houses without Mortgages
No home is safe from foreclosure, even the ones already paid for. Bank of America decided last year to seize a home in Spring Hill, Florida, owned by Charlie and Maria Cardoso of Massachusetts. The Cardosos had purchased the home with cash in 2005... read more
War Widows Fight to Collect Deceased Spouse’s Benefits
For many Americans who lose their spouse, they at least have the consolation of receiving pensions and benefits from their husband’s or wife’s employer. That’s not the case for spouses of military personnel who have been denied survivors benefits ... read more
Unions Claim Health Insurers Make Record Profits While 2.7 Million Lose Coverage
A labor-backed healthcare reform group is accusing insurance companies of dumping millions of Americans from health plans in 2009 in order to raise their profits. Healthcare for America Now, an organization financed by unions, released a report st... read more
Hurricane Expert Claims He was Fired by LSU for Speaking Out About Blame for Katrina Flooding
Ivor van Heerden made no secret following Hurricane Katrina who he believed was at fault for the flooding of New Orleans. In numerous interviews he gave to the media, the university hurricane expert blamed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which b... read more
Army Agrees Not to Court-Martial Single Mother
Avoiding what legal experts said could have been a first-of-its-kind case, the U.S. Army agreed this week not to court-martial a young female soldier who refused deployment because she had no one to care for her child. Instead of trying Specialist... read more
CBS Bans Marijuana Legalization Ad in Times Square
In another move demonstrating a rightward title in its advertising choices, CBS has rejected a video billboard ad for Times Square that advocated for the legalization of marijuana.
The NORML Foundation, part of the National Organization for th... read more
Obama Administration to Try Canadian Child Soldier Before Military Commission
The first military trial of a Guantánamo detainee under President Barack Obama is likely to feature a young Canadian who was only 15 when captured in Afghanistan in 2002. Omar Khadr was seized by U.S. Special Forces following an attack on an Afgha... read more
CVS Accused of Charging Federal Employees Extra for Generic Drugs
Federal employees, who enjoy a variety of benefits as government workers, are not getting a deal on generic drugs from the CVS chain of pharmacies if they belong to Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans. A review of drug pricing by a group... read more
U.S. POW, Overlooked in Jessica Lynch Story, Describes Her Experience
The story of Shoshana Johnson differs markedly from that of Jessica Lynch, the Army POW whose rescue in Iraq received great fanfare in the media back in 2003. Contrary to how the Bush administration and the media at that time portrayed the inciden... read more
If Corporate Election Financing is Free Speech, Why Not Workers Seeking Jobs on the Street?
Corporations now can give more than ever to political campaigns, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that businesses’ donations are a protected form of free speech. But day laborers in California are arguing they deserve the same kind of leg... read more
Can Google Protect its Users while Working with the NSA?
Shaken by a massive cyberattack in December that originated in China, Google is turning to the government’s top electronic spying operation, the National Security Agency (NSA), for help. The Internet search-engine giant has declined to reveal the ... read more
Fire Departments Charging Victims to Put Out House Fires
Unable to get by on tax revenues alone, fire departments across the country have turned to charging people who need their help. ABC News reported one instance in which a woman who lost her home to fire suffered the added misery of getting billed $... read more
Fox News Incorrectly Says North Carolina Schools May Cut Out Part of U.S. History
Educators in North Carolina want to restructure the teaching of American history, provoking outrage among some parents and conservative organizations fearful of revisionism.
To give high school students the opportunity to delve deeper into 20t... read more
Indie Bands Lose Lawsuit against Rolling Stone over Camel Cigarette Ad Placement
Indie rock bands were happy to be featured in a 2007 issue of Rolling Stone magazine—until they found out with whom they would be sharing the glossy pages. Entwined with a five-page feature about the “Indie Rock Universe” about 100 bands was a fou... read more
Gays in the Military No Big Deal…in 30 Other Countries
While the United States sets off on what is expected to be a year-long debate over ending the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military, advocates of eliminating don’t-ask-don’t-tell point to the fact there are 30 countries that already al... read more