Archive
Despite Tar Balls and Health Complaints, Florida Beaches Stay Open
Beaches near Pensacola, Fla., are still open despite tar balls washing up, reports of illnesses of beachgoers and health warnings. Even the EPA chief says she wouldn’t swim there.
Investment Funds Stir Controversy Over Recruiting by For-Profit Colleges
Investment funds have been supporting opposition to for-profit schools, and even aiding it, possibly in hopes of profiting if those colleges’ stock prices suffer.
CEO of Alaska Pipeline, a Former BP Exec, Steps Down
As lawmakers take a closer look at oil operations in Alaska, the head of the company running BP's Alaska pipeline says he's retiring early. The pipeline has a spotty safety record.
BP's Unusual Alaska Project Gets Closer Scrutiny From Regulators
A BP project to drill on an artificial island off the coast of Alaska will likely be delayed. Several news reports have raised concerns about the plan, and state and federal regulators now want more information.
Identifying Suspicious Short Selling, But Not Who's Behind the Trades
A new study suggests that hedge funds may be trading on insider information about companies they are lending money to. But a lack of regulation of hedge funds and short selling makes it hard to know who is involved in the trades.
For BP, Multimillion-Dollar Fines Amount to a Day's Worth of Profit
OSHA and others have fined BP before, including an $87 million penalty last year for violations in Texas City. But does that punish a company that makes $2.8 million an hour?
BP’s New Illness and Injury Stats, Texas Tarballs, and More
BP's latest update on injuries and illnesses among Gulf cleanup workers shows a big rise in numbers. Meanwhile, help from another oil containment vessel is on the way.
As BP's Oil Changes the Gulf, Gas Seeps Into Economies Elsewhere
As energy companies ramp up drilling, the promise of natural gas has begun affecting economies in Pennsylvania and other states. Colleges are offering courses to prepare students for jobs in the industry.
For Claims of Bodily Injury, No Payments from BP Yet
BP has paid millions in damages from the Gulf oil spill, but nothing yet for claims of injury. A spokesman says the company is still evaluating those claims.
1970s BP-Branded Board Game Turned Offshore Drilling Into Child's Play
BP's Gulf blowout turns an old offshore drilling board game into a coveted novelty item. The game, BP Offshore Oil Strike, has players race for profits, with dangers like damaged rigs and oil slicks in the way.
ProPublica Photographer: I Was Followed by BP Security and Then Detained by Police
Freelance photographer Lance Rosenfield tells the story of being stopped by police and BP security while he was taking pictures for ProPublica’s articles on BP’s Texas City refinery.
Survey: Homeowners Working With Servicers Often Blindsided by Foreclosures
Many housing counselors in California are seeing clients lose their homes while pursuing mortgage modifications. That’s not supposed to happen, but there have been no penalties for the banks involved.
Reality Lags Behind BP's Promises About Oil Skimmers
BP has touted skimmers as a primary strategy for fighting the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but its claims about their potential appears overblown.
BP Shortchanging Safety Even After Deadly Texas Explosion
Since a 2005 disaster that killed 15 people, the culture at BP's Texas City refinery doesn't seem to have changed much. Production and profit have been the priorities, trumping safety and the environment.
Reporters Look Into PSI’s Influence and Problems in Virginia
Psychiatric Solutions Inc., a big donor to governors in Virginia, may have gotten special treatment from state officials. In one case, the state mental-health commissioner blocked an effort to downgrade the license of one facility.
Gulf 'Safety Zones' Could Mean Penalties for Press and Public
New rules from the Coast Guard could restrict the public and the media from coming within 65 feet of cleanup operations and protective boom. Violators could face hefty penalties.
Photographer Briefly Detained by Police Near BP's Texas City Refinery
A photographer taking pictures of a BP Texas refinery for ProPublica was detained by police, a Homeland Security agent and a BP security officer before being released.
Blast at BP Texas Refinery in '05 Foreshadowed Gulf Disaster
A 2005 blast that killed 15 at a Texas BP refinery in 2005 holds many similarities with the Deepwater Horizon blast.
