Archive for August, 2008

Spending on contractors in Iraq on the rise

Friday, 08/29/08 Posted in Government (federal/state/local), Military

According to federal documents, "This year, spending on contractors, who protect diplomats, civilian facilities and supply convoys, is projected to exceed $1.2 billion," reports Peter Eisler of USA TODAY. ... Read more..

Law and Disorder series

Thursday, 08/28/08 Posted in Justice (courts/crime/law)

A five-part series by The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) explores how the probation and parole system in South Carolina — and many other states — is broken.  Criminals are ... Read more..

Lobbyist money flowing freely at convention in Denver

Wednesday, 08/27/08 Posted in Campaign Finance

Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz and Avni Patel of ABCNews.com report that lobbyist money is flowing freely at the Democratic National Convention despite Barack Obama's position to ban lobbyist and special ... Read more..

Texas schools often used bus firm linked to fatal crash

Tuesday, 08/26/08 Posted in Consumer Safety

According to a report by Matt Stiles and Chase Davis of the Houston Chronicle, "Angel Tours, the charter bus company tied to a deadly North Texas crash this month, also ... Read more..

Insurance companies influencing patient treatment

Monday, 08/25/08 Posted in Health

A Toledo Blade investigation by Steve Eder and Julie M. McKinnon shows doctors nationwide fear that increasingly stringent insurance rules and frequent second-guessing of doctors' orders are eroding the doctor-patient ... Read more..

EPA chemical regulations lax

Monday, 08/25/08 Posted in Environment

Meg Kissinger and Susanne Rust of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel detailed how the Environmental Protection Agency fails to regulate chemicals that are made in excess of one million pounds a ... Read more..

Weak rules hinder appraiser oversight

Wednesday, 08/20/08 Posted in Business, Housing, Real Estate

Mitch Weiss of the Associated Press found that the system set up to protect consumers from rogue appraisers following the savings and loan crisis nearly 20 years ago has failed, ... Read more..

Handling of death investigation riddled with questions

Wednesday, 08/20/08 Posted in Justice (courts/crime/law)

The coroner and police reports from the 2004 death of Kathy Savio raise many questions about how the original investigation was handled, report Erika Slife and Matthew Walberg of the ... Read more..

San Diego redevelopment chief resigns, projects in peril

Wednesday, 08/20/08 Posted in Business, First Amendment & FOIA

A voiceofsandiego.org investigation has led to the resignation of San Diego’s downtown redevelopment chief and put the future of a $409 million hotel and condo project in question. The investigation ... Read more..

Demoted to Private

Wednesday, 08/20/08 Posted in Government (federal/state/local), Military

Seattle Post-Intelligencer investigative reporter Eric Nalder showed that political patronage, the zeal to privatize, and a failure at background checks led to disaster for taxpayers and military families. Three services ... Read more..