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- • HEALTHCARE: 'Insurance Companies Dirty Little Secret' By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-30 09:08
- • IMMIGRATION: Obama Administration Could Bypass Congress on Immigration Reform By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-30 12:48
- • ENVIRONMENT: China Hides Rising Number of Environmental Disasters By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-30 09:16
- • SAFETY: State Regulators and Law Enforcement Failed to Protect Women Against Dangerous Doctors By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-30 09:11
- • INTELLIGENCE: Company Claiming to Predict the Future Finds Backers at CIA and Google By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-29 11:07
- • CREDIT RATERS: Moody's Boss Sold Millions of Stock Just Before Prices Fell By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-29 08:06
- • MONEY AND POLITICS: Coal Companies Plan Big Spending After Citizens United By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-29 08:04
- • MONEY AND POLITICS: Texas Governor Scrutinized for Favoritism in Real Estate Deals By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-28 13:38
- • BP SPILL: Frantic Firefighting Led to Sinking of Rig in Gulf By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-28 08:26
- • AFTER REFORM: Revolving Door Spinning Between Regulators and Lobby Shops By Kevin Liptak, 2010-07-28 08:24
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The Rundown Blog
HEALTHCARE: 'Insurance Companies Dirty Little Secret'
Federal and state investigators are probing insurance companies that take advantage of families who lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prudential--the nation's second largest insurer--told families they would receive their death benefits after the money was placed in an interest-bearing account. But records reveal the money went instead to Prudential's own corporate account, and the company was gaining far higher interest than what was paid to the families. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed surprise the death benefits weren't reaching families, and agencies have vowed to take action.
Story by: David Evans
FROM BLOOMBERG MARKETS MAGAZINE
Story by: Katie Couric
FROM CBS NEWS
IMMIGRATION: Obama Administration Could Bypass Congress on Immigration Reform
With Congress unlikely to pass immigration reform this year, the Obama administration is considering taking actions that don't require congressional approval. In a memo from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, officials detail ways in which the government could grant illegal immigrants permanent resident status and delay deportation without going through Congress. Lawmakers are decrying the memo, saying it represents a plan to circumvent the legislative process and allow amnesty to illegal immigrants. Administration officials say the memo is just a draft that offers no final decision on policy changes.
Story by: Marcus Stern
FROM PROPUBLICA
ENVIRONMENT: China Hides Rising Number of Environmental Disasters
As Americans observe with horror the destruction caused by the BP oil spill, similar disasters in China are happening quietly and without coverage from Chinese or international press. In the past few weeks alone, a plastics factory exploded in Nanjing, expelling black smoke into the air; industrial chemicals used the manufacture of rubber were spotted in the Songhua River; and 1,500 tons of oil spilled into the Yellow Sea from the port city of Dalian. Despite the magnitude and frequency of these and other natural disasters in China, few people even in the country realize they're happening, due to corporations and the government restricting media coverage.
Story by: Austin Ramzy
FROM TIME
SAFETY: State Regulators and Law Enforcement Failed to Protect Women Against Dangerous Doctors
New details are emerging about sex offending doctors in Illinois. An investigation of claims against one particular physician finds law enforcement was slow in their response when women alleged he sexually assaulted them in his exam room. When police did follow up, they failed to alert the state regulatory board that could have revoked the doctor's license. The report is the latest in an ongoing series probing doctors allowed to maintain their licenses after being convicted of sex crimes.
Story by: Megan Twohey
FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
INTELLIGENCE: Company Claiming to Predict the Future Finds Backers at CIA and Google
Investors at the CIA and Google have both identified a company that represents the next phase of intelligence-gathering: Recorded Future monitors the internet for patterns and events that may predict the future. Using data from websites and social networks, the company creates dossiers on people that may be key to intelligence officials. Their algorithms were able to prove Hezbollah was in possession of long-range missiles using a backlog of statements from the group's leader. Experts cite the CIA's investment in the company as indication their technology will be used by US intelligence.
Story by: Noah Shachtman
FROM WIRED
CREDIT RATERS: Moody's Boss Sold Millions of Stock Just Before Prices Fell
The chief executive of Moody's -- a credit rating agency that has come under scrutiny for its role in the financial crisis -- is coming under fire for the timing of his stock sales. Records show Ray McDaniel sold millions of dollars in Moody's stock before the price fell, and unloaded thousands of shares the same day the SEC announced an investigation into the company. Experts see this as a sign McDaniel had access to insider information that influenced his decision to sell.
Story by: Kevin G. Hall
FROM MCCLATCHY
MONEY AND POLITICS: Coal Companies Plan Big Spending After Citizens United
A letter sent to executives at major coal companies reveals plans to organize a political funding nonprofit to defeat incumbent Democrats they view as 'anti-coal.' Their fund would take advantage of a recent Supreme Court decision that allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on efforts to influence elections. One of the companies involved, Massey Energy, is the owner of the Upper Big Branch mine where an explosion killed 29 miners in April.
Story by: John Cheves
FROM THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEDGER
MONEY AND POLITICS: Texas Governor Scrutinized for Favoritism in Real Estate Deals
Gov. Rick Perry has made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling real estate in Texas, but new data indicates he may have received unfair deals from people looking to buy influence or garner political favors. In one instance, Perry bought land for well under the appraised value, and subsequently sold it at a price experts say was too high. The particular plot in question was sold to Perry at a reduced cost by a Texas state senator. The land deals took place in a Texas resort community owned by a prominent family with strong ties to Texas politics, including large donations to Perry's campaign.
Story by: James Drew, Steve McGonigle and Ryan McNeill
FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
BP SPILL: Frantic Firefighting Led to Sinking of Rig in Gulf
A chaotic response in the initial moments after the Deepwater Horizon explosion may have led to its sinking, according to Coast Guard records and interviews with workers aboard the rig. Because the Coast Guard didn't have enough ships in the vicinity immediately following the blast, private vessels rushing to the scene did not have a firefighting expert on the scene to manage the response. The was in violation of the Coast Guard's own rules. Coast Guard officials admit they don't have the expertise to fight an oil rig fire.
Story by: Aaron Mehta and John Solomon
FROM THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY
AFTER REFORM: Revolving Door Spinning Between Regulators and Lobby Shops
As the details of financial reform are finalized at regulatory agencies, former employees of those departments are working overtime to lobby for the financial industry. A review finds 150 lobbyists registering in the past year who used to work at places like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve. In total, nearly 500 workers who used to work at financial agencies are now registered as lobbyists. Financial regulators are responsible for establishing and enacting specific rules laid out in the financial reform bill signed into law this month.
Story by: Eric Lichtblau
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
