Archive
Drilling Industry and Gubernatorial Candidates Move to Weaken Some State Regulations
The gas and oil industry is quietly trying to weaken state regulations for drilling on land, focusing on Colorado and New Mexico, which recently tightened their rules. They're getting help from some of the gubernatorial candidates.
Despite Internal Concerns About Rig Safety, Transocean Says It’s Shielded By Contract
Documents show Transocean knew of safety problems aboard its Gulf rigs before the Deepwater Horizon blast, but does its contract protect it from liability?
New York Senate Passes Temporary Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing
The New York Senate passes a bill intended to temporarily ban hydraulic fracturing. But it might also end up temporarily banning most gas and oil drilling in the state.
Dispersant Hearing Focuses on Agencies’ Flimsy Approval Process
A Senate panel examines why no one besides the manufacturers of dispersants had tested the products before BP was allowed to dump them into the Gulf. The EPA says it is reforming its approval process for such chemicals.
ProPublica’s A.C. Thompson on NPR’s 'Fresh Air'
In an appearance on “Fresh Air,” A.C. Thompson will discuss the police shootings in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
For-Profit Colleges Encouraged Fraud And Used Deceptive Marketing, Watchdog Says
An undercover investigation by a government watchdog uncovers unsavory recruiting practices at several for-profit colleges.
Newsrooms Join ProPublica in Examining BP Claims Process: More Welcome
Examining the handling of 140,000 claims filed for damages from the BP oil spill is a job too big for any one newsroom.
Read the Ethics Findings for Rep. Maxine Waters
An independent ethics panel found that Rep. Maxine Waters of California may have improperly stepped in on behalf of a bank in which her husband, Sidney Williams, had a financial stake.
Stimulus Spending Likely to Make Administration's Goal
The federal government, which disputes that it isn't spending Recovery Act money fast enough, is on pace to have 70 percent of the stimulus package out the door by the end of September.
New Flow Rate Estimates Match an Earlier, Unpublicized Number Used by BP
New flow rate estimates make the Gulf oil spill the largest unintentional spill in history. The new estimates also match a number BP cited to the Coast Guard in early July.
BP Confirms That Thousands of Claims Decisions Will Be Deferred
BP acknowledges its decision to hold off paying many claims -- and will wait for Kenneth Feinberg, the independent administrator, to take over.
BP Leaves Many Damage Claims Waiting in Limbo
BP is lagging on deciding the validity of many damage claims, and claimants may have to wait until after the special administrator takes over later this month.
After Further Testing, EPA Says Use of Dispersants Was 'Wise Decision'
Testing shows dispersant and oil, in combination, are moderately toxic, and on par with the toxicity of oil alone. The EPA says the use of the dispersants was a "wise decision."
Why Gas Leaks Matter in the Hydraulic Fracturing Debate
Methane contamination is a bellwether issue in discussion of the safety of hydraulic fracturing, because where methane goes, other chemicals can go, too.
Two Million Gallons Later, BP's Dispersant Exemptions Are (Finally) Questioned
BP got many exemptions and spread two million gallons of dispersants in the Gulf. So why are we surprised that the oil is "disappearing"? And why were so many exemptions granted?
ProPublica's New Tumblr: Officials Say the Darndest Things
Officials say the darndest things, and we're writing them down.
BP Keeps Up Its Negligence Denials Despite Texas Officials' Insistence
BP expands its explanation of a lawyer's "negligence" comment, but Texas officials stand by their account.
How WikiLeaks Could Change the Way Reporters Deal With Secrets
Journalists often consulted with sources on whether to release sensitive information, but the WkiLeaks case changes all that.
Obama Administration Considers Bypassing Congress on Immigration Reform
Leaked memo shows that the Obama administration is considering bypassing Congress to get immigration reforms that would give permanent resident status to tens of thousands of people currently in the country illegally.
