NewsPolitics, World Sri Lanka Blocks Websites Hours Before Announcement of Poll Results After Google’s announcement that it would stop filtering its search results in China when its email accounts were hacked from within the country, there’s more news on the silencing of information front: Sri Lanka’s main internet service provider blocked access to independent news websites just hours before the expected announcement of poll results. Jayati VoraJanuary 26, 2010
InvestigationPolitics Dallas’s Evil Genius How will Texas billionaire and conservative political donor Harold Simmons make his next billion? By burying hazardous waste in West Texas. Laray PolkD magazineJanuary 25, 2010
InvestigationBusiness, Justice The Promise of Mortgage Relief Women struggling with fallout from the mortgage crisis could get help in 2010 — if the federal government starts analyzing lending data for gender bias. Part three of a series. (See parts 1 and 2.) Molly M. GintyWomensEnewsJanuary 17, 2010
InvestigationBusiness, Justice For Women, Home Ownership Became a Debt Trap Women’s large-scale entry into home ownership coincided with the advent of toxic, high-risk instruments in the mortgage market. From financial security to crushed dreams. Part two of a series. (See parts 1 and 3.) Molly M. GintyWomensEnewsJanuary 15, 2010
InvestigationBusiness, Justice In Subprime Fallout, Women Take a Heavy Hit An extensive analysis of mortgage lending data suggests credit-worthy women were unfairly stuck with subprime “toxic” debt said to be for high-risk borrowers. Part one of a series. (See parts 2 and 3.) Molly M. GintyWomensEnewsJanuary 14, 2010
InvestigationJustice Despite Court Ban, Texas Puts Mentally Retarded to Death A Supreme Court ruling barred the execution of mentally retarded inmates, but allowed each state to set its own definition. Texas chose to grant enormous leeway to psychologists, with troubling results. Renée FeltzDemocracy Now!January 12, 2010
InvestigationJustice Mentally disabled inmates remain on death row The Supreme Court’s Atkins decision struck down executions of the mentally retarded. But dozens of mentally disabled men remain on death row in Texas, with few avenues for appeal. Renée FeltzFree Speech Radio NetworkJanuary 11, 2010
InvestigationJustice Cracked Despite a U.S. Supreme Court ban, Texas has continued to send mentally retarded criminals to death row. Will a Mexican immigrant’s case correct this injustice? Renée FeltzThe Texas ObserverJanuary 8, 2010
InvestigationPolitics Report Card Despite progress on transparency since President Obama took office, there have been plenty of missed opportunities in areas such as state secrets, FOIA requests, White House visitor records, and more. Clint HendlerColumbia Journalism ReviewJanuary 5, 2010
InvestigationWorld A Troubled Peace in Northern Ireland A decade after a brokered peace, some elements of the IRA have morphed into criminal gangs — that prey largely on fellow Catholics J. Malcolm GarciaThe Washington TimesDecember 29, 2009