Business
Companies failed to create jobs after receiving tax-payer funded grants
“A three-month investigation by The Tampa Tribune shows at least four in every 10 companies that receive grants from the state’s jobs incentive fund have failed to meet their obligations — some slightly, others by wide margins.” “However, Enterprise Florida, the state’s chief economic development agency, paints a rosier picture, concluding Florida is exceeding its…
Read MoreGas company giants plotted to suppress land prices
“A Reuters investigation has found that under the direction of CEO Aubrey McClendon, Chesapeake Energy Corp. plotted with its top competitor to suppress land prices in one of America’s most promising oil and gas plays.” “In emails between Chesapeake and Encana Corp, Canada’s largest natural gas company, the rivals repeatedly discussed how to avoid bidding…
Read MoreFlame retardants and the big business behind them
A Chicago Tribune investigation has found that the flame retardants that are packed into couches, chairs and many other products are not working as promised. Furthermore, two powerful industries–Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers have waged a deceptive campaign that led to the proliferation of these chemicals. Sam Roe, Patricia Callahan and Michael Hawthorne utilized DocumentCloud…
Read MoreCredit-reporting agencies fail to correct mistakes
“Mistakes on credit reports can inflict widespread damage. And because there are insufficient rules on how credit-reporting agencies must correct them, Americans are left virtually powerless to erase the mistakes.” Jill Riepenhoff and Mike Wagner of The Columbus Dispatch “documented the plight of thousands who, through no fault of their own, have been denied the…
Read MoreFormer UTSW Medical Center president used taxpayer money on lavish lifestyle
“Reese Dunklin and Sue Goetinck Ambrose of The Dallas Morning News document how former UT Southwestern Medical Center president Kern Wildenthal used public money to build wine cellars, pay for his opera interests and travel to paradises around the world.” “The investigation details a collapse in controls over taxpayer dollars and triggered a University of Texas system…
Read MoreWal-Mart de Mexico bribery case silenced by top executives
A New York Times investigation into Wal-Mart has revealed that top Wal-Mart executives may be focusing more on damage control when they should be rooting out wrongdoing. “In 2005, after a senior Wal-Mart lawyer learned that the company’s largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico, had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance, Wal-Mart…
Read MoreCEO took $1.1 billion in personal loans from company
“Reuters Enterprise team published, “Special Report: Chesapeake CEO took $1.1 billion in shrouded personal loans,” an investigation into how previously undisclosed loans to Chesapeake Energy Corp’s co-founder Aubrey McClendon could put the company’s CEO and shareholders at odds.”
Read MoreAmazon’s role in Seattle charities
The Seattle Times takes a look, in a four-part series, at how Amazon.com, “one of the Internet’s most-recognized name brands” compares to other big companies in the Seattle area when it comes to local charitable givings. “Last year, amid a troubled economy, United Way of King County said it received record donations from some of…
Read MoreOhio businesses abusing disabled vet funds
“A Dayton Daily News examination has found that federal agencies have awarded tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts to businesses operating in Ohio that claimed to be owned and controlled by military veterans with service-related disabilities, only to conclude the companies lied to the government when they said a disabled veteran was in…
Read More“Fracking” draws little oversight in California
Michael J. Mishak, Los Angeles Time, reports that “energy companies across California are injecting a mysterious mix of chemicals into the ground to tap oil deposits while frustrating attempts to regulate the controversial process, known as hydraulic fracturing.” “So far, nine states require energy companies to disclose what they put into the ground but the…
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