Controversies
Bradley Manning Protests Spread to London
Support for Army Private Bradley Manning, accused of giving government secrets to WikiLeaks, has manifested into protests on both sides of the Atlantic.
Demonstrators from Wales, where Manning attended school as a teenager and his mother sti... read more
Alabama Town Apologizes to 91-Year-Old for World War II-Era Rape
Officials of the small town of Abbeville, Alabama, have publicly apologized to a 91-year-old African-American woman for not prosecuting the white men who raped her in 1944.
Recy Taylor, then 24, was married, a mother and living in Henry Coun... read more
Vermont House Passes Single-Payer Health Care
Vermont has moved a step closer to becoming the first state in the nation to adopt a government-run, universal health care system, following the passage, by a 92-49 vote, of legislation in the state House of Representatives.
Under the propos... read more
Obama Administration Says Miranda Warning Doesn’t Count for Terror Suspects
In a move that likely will please conservatives, the Obama administration is moving ahead with its plan to expand the government’s power to hold terrorism suspects longer without issuing a Miranda warning.
Law enforcement is required to imme... read more
Buyers’ Remorse: Approval Nosedives for Many 2010 Election Winners
Barely two months into their administrations, several newly-elected politicians have seen their approval ratings plummet due to early missteps or controversial policies.
For several Republican governors embarked on tough budget-cutting bluep... read more
Japan, Ignoring Warnings, Extended Approval for Fukushima Reactor a Month before Disaster
Only weeks before the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, government regulators approved another 10-year lease for the oldest nuclear reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant—even though warnings existed about the safety of the 40-year-old facili... read more
More than 100 Cyberattacks against Federal Agencies…Each Day
Computer attacks against the federal government continue to rise, according to new figures released by the Office of Management and Budget. Last year, federal agencies reported 41,776 cyber incidents, compared to about 30,000 attacks in 2009. Th... read more
Texas Judge Challenges Right of Schools to Search Student Cell Phones
School officials may not enjoy qualified immunity in all cases of searching the cell phones of students, based on a recent court ruling out of Texas.
Judge Nancy K. Johnson found in the case of Alexis Mendoza that an assistant principal, Ste... read more
Boehner Violates Promise to Make Bills Public for 72 Hours before Consideration
In rushing through legislation that cut off funding to National Public Radio (NPR), House Speaker John Boehner has violated his own pledge to give the public at least three days to review a bill before taking it up.
On Tuesday, legislation w... read more
Guantánamo Military Lawyers Protest Harsh Limits Imposed by Pentagon
The Department of Defense wants military lawyers representing Guantánamo detainees to abide by strict rules before representing their clients at military tribunals. But the head of the military lawyers is protesting the move, saying the conditio... read more
Shareholders Sue Murdoch over Purchase of his Daughter’s Company
Rupert Murdoch is being sued by News Corp. shareholders over his proposed acquisition of the Shine Group, a television production company owned by his daughter, Elisabeth Murdoch, for $675 million.
The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, Amalgama... read more
Seroquel is So Profitable, AstraZeneca is Glad to Pay Millions in Penalties
Paying nearly $600 million as a result of lawsuits really isn’t that bad when the product that supposedly got you into trouble earns billions of dollars each year.
That’s the reality for pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca, maker of the ... read more
Duke Energy Gives Democratic National Convention $10 Million Line of Credit
In accepting a substantial credit line from Duke Energy for its 2012 convention, the Democratic Party finds itself accused of two double standards.
First, party officials promised to not accept any donations, from corporations or individuals... read more
Obama Administration Steps Up Anti-Marijuana Battle
Through the IRS and the Department of Justice, the Obama administration is signaling a much tougher position towards medical marijuana dispensaries.
In Northern California, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana has been told by IRS offici... read more
Two U.S. Marshals Killed Pursuing Non-Federal Suspects
After going nearly 20 years without having one of its own shot to death in the line of duty, the U.S. Marshals Service has had two killed so far this year.
Both marshals who died in 2010 were assisting local law enforcement apprehend non-fed... read more
Lawsuit Lenders Fight Usury Laws
Investors fueling personal injury lawsuits against businesses by loaning money to plaintiffs are pushing for legal protections in several states.
These lawsuit lenders, which include banks and hedge funds, argue that their efforts should not... read more