Controversies
Tax-Exempt Churches Plan to Engage in Illegal Electioneering
On October 7, 2012, hundreds of conservative political activists will intentionally violate federal law by engaging in illegal electioneering despite the presence of a law on the books since 1954 that forbids them to do so. They believe, apparen... read more
NFL Players Sue League and Helmet Maker over Hidden Brain Injury Test Results
Facing a potentially costly class-action lawsuit, the National Football League stands accused of hiding the dangers of head injuries and long-term health problems associated with them.
More than 2,000 former players are giving up their indiv... read more
Pizza Cartel Fights Calorie Count Disclosure
Many of the nation’s largest pizza chains are fighting Washington over a proposed requirement to disclose how many calories are in the food they sell.
Banding together as the recently formed American Pizza Community, companies including Domi... read more
Montana Gov. Schweitzer Sues U.S. to Keep Fighter Jets for “Domestic Emergencies”
Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana is suing the Department of Defense to stop it from moving a wing of fighter jets—and the hundreds of jobs associated with it—to another state.
As part of a restructuring effort, the U.S. Air Force wants t... read more
Drug Dealer Used “Stand Your Ground” Law to Avoid Murder Charges…Twice
Drug dealers are successfully using Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground law to get away with murder.
The law, which has gained national attention since the Trayvon Martin shooting, was intended to help citizens avoid punishment when de... read more
Judge Rules U. of Cincinnati Anti-Protest Restrictions Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Ohio has ruled that the University of Cincinnati’s anti-protest policy constitutes a violation of the First Amendment’s right to free speech and must be amended.
The university’s chapter of the Ron Paul-inspired Young Amer... read more
Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Man Convicted without Knowing he was on Trial
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of William Fairey, who was convicted by a South Carolina court without him being aware he was on trial.
In 1998 Fairey was charged with obtaining goods and moneys under false pretenses. H... read more
Reform the Department of Commerce? Not Going to Happen Anytime Soon
It’s often said that an election year is never a good time to ask Congress to tackle significant political issues. Between the distraction of running for reelection and the fear of doing anything controversial that might upset voters (or major c... read more
Michigan State Representative Banned from Speaking in Legislature after Using Word “Vagina”
Michigan’s Republican state legislators are apparently very sensitive folks, at least when it comes to words describing female sexual anatomy. Last week, during a debate over a proposed law that would ban all abortions after 20 weeks with no exc... read more
Journalists Prevented by Gag Order from Interviewing Accused Would-Be Presidential Assassin
Reporters covering the trial of a man accused of plotting to blow up George W. Bush cannot interview the alleged assassin, a federal appeals court ruled this week.
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, a Saudi Arabian citizen who had chemical engineering ... read more
Should U.S. Provide Health Care for Illegal Migrant Farm Workers?
The battle over illegal immigration has ensnared federally-funded health clinics that face losing support from Washington, as well as patients too afraid to seek medical help.
In Alabama, operators of local clinics have had to conduct outrea... read more
No Surprise: Diesel Exhaust Causes Cancer
The cancer research wing of the World Health Organization has determined exhaust from diesel engines causes cancer.
The determination by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that diesel fumes are a human carcinogen expands ... read more
Gun Industry Clashes with Police over Stamping of Shell Casings
Gun manufacturers and the National Rifle Association are fighting new laws intended to help police use new technology to more quickly track down the owners of weapons used in crimes.
Known as microstamping, the new technology utilizes lasers... read more
Johnson & Johnson Agrees to Pay $2.2 Billion to Halt Probe of Illegal Marketing of Painkiller
If the deal goes through it would become the government’s second largest settlement with a pharmaceutical company, following the $2.3 billion deal with Pfizer in 2009 over marketing of its painkiller Bextra and other drugs.
“This is a gigant... read more
U.S. Troop Suicides Surge (Again)
Suicides among U.S. troops are up this year, putting 2012 on pace to be the worst year since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began.
During the first 155 days of this year, the military recorded 154 suicides.
At this pace, 2012 is 16% ah... read more
Why Do We Still Pay for Draft Boards if They Can’t Mobilize within 9 Months?
Four decades since it last conscripted young men for warfare, the Department of Defense has allowed its system for a military draft to lapse and become unreliable in the event of an emergency.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently... read more