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Palin under investigation for improper use of influence
Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential nominee, “has been deeply involved in alerting state officials to her family’s personal turmoil” according to interviews and documents reviewed by James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy of The Washington Post. She is currently under investigation for the firing of Alaska’s state safety commissioner when he failed…
Read MoreIRE assists in tracking Clinton, McCain donors
A great deal of the news coverage surrounding this week’s Democratic National Convention touched on whether the party could recover from a close primary election between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Articles focused on the desire from the Obama campaign to reach out to Clinton supporters, and whether a rift remained in the party.…
Read MoreSpending on contractors in Iraq on the rise
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. This represents a 13% increase in spending since 2007. The increase is attributed, in part, to the fact that the focus in Iraq has shifted from…
Read MoreLaw and Disorder series
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 being paroled at the expense of innocent people who are being killed, raped or robbed as a result.
Read MoreLobbyist money flowing freely at convention in Denver
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 interest contributions to his campaign. A spokesman for the Obama campaign stated the drawn out primary prevented Senator Obama from making changes to the handling of…
Read MoreTexas schools often used bus firm linked to fatal crash
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 shuttled children and students on dozens of trips since 2006, mostly for extracurricular events paid by local schools and universities.” Records show the Houston Independent…
Read MoreInsurance companies influencing patient treatment
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 relationship — and harming patients. The Blade’s four-part, eight-month investigation included interviews with about 100 physicians in a dozen states and a national online survey…
Read MoreEPA chemical regulations lax
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 year. The EPA vowed to crack down on these types of chemicals years ago but has made little progress – largely because chemical makers can…
Read MoreWeak rules hinder appraiser oversight
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, playing a major role in America’s housing collapse. His six-month investigation showed more than two dozen states and territories are violating federal law by failing…
Read MoreHandling of death investigation riddled with questions
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 Chicago Tribune. “The investigators and experts re-examining her death as a possible murder are now asking how police could have been so quick to overlook…
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