News

Inspector General Faults Medicare for Not Tracking ‘Extreme’ Prescribers

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 11:01pm

by Tracy Weber, Charles Ornstein and Jennifer LaFleur, ProPublica

More than 700 doctors nationwide wrote prescriptions for elderly and disabled patients in highly questionable and potentially harmful ways, according to a critical report of Medicare's drug program released today.

Edward Flattau: False Dichotomy

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 9:56pm

President Obama's environmental legacy is at risk. That became glaringly evident when Obama's new budget director, Sylvia Mathews Burwell recently outlined White House policy. "The Administration seeks to maintain a balance between our obligation to protect the health, welfare, and safety of Americans, and our commitment to promoting economic growth, job creation, competition and, innovation."

Senate Close To Immigration Breakthrough

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 9:46pm

BY DAVID ESPO AND ERICA WERNER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers a path to citizenship to millions living in the country illegally.

Atheist Seeking Citizenship Told She Must First Join Church

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 9:36pm

Margaret Doughty, an atheist and permanent U.S. resident for more than 30 years, was told by immigration authorities this month that she has until Friday to officially join a church that forbids violence or her application for naturalized citizenship will be rejected.

Co-Founder Of Minuteman Group Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 9:23pm

By David Schwartz PHOENIX, June 19 (Reuters) - The co-founder of the Minutemen civilian border patrol group that for several years watched for unauthorized immigrants crossing to Arizona from Mexico, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of molesting three young girls. Chris Simcox, 52, who co-founded the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in 2005, was booked into a Maricopa County jail in connection with the molestation of three girls under the age of 10, said Sergeant Tommy Thompson, a Phoenix police spokesman.

New Jersey Congressional Candidate Endorsed By One-Ninth Of The Wu-Tang Clan

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 9:19pm

If you weren't expecting any exciting news out of the 2014 race for the New Jersey 5th Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives, well, think again! The Hill's Alexandra Jaffe reports that first-time office-seeker Roy Cho, a Democrat looking to take on incumbent Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), has won the most exciting endorsement of his young career -- rapper Ghostface Killah.

Scout, Ph.D.: NIH Takes Important Steps for LGBT Health

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 7:18pm

A year ago I wrote a HuffPost blog post decrying the apparent stall in LGBT research integration at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Now I'm happy to say NIH is moving forward with good speed on this topic.

Michael Hastings' Wife Obliterates New York Times For Dismissive Obituary

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 7:09pm

In the 24 hours since the tragic death of journalist and author Michael Hastings was first reported on Tuesday, those who knew him, worked with him, and covered his work have offered numerous remembrances of the man best known for his Polk Award-winning Rolling Stone piece, “The Runaway General.”

Jindal Signs Contentious Gun Measure

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 7:02pm

By Karen Brooks June 19 (Reuters) - Louisiana's governor signed legislation on Wednesday making it a crime to publish the personal information of concealed handgun permit holders following a wave of outrage by gun owners after a New York newspaper listed such data last year. Louisiana joins a growing number of states that are cutting off access to that information as a national debate rages over gun control after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school last year.

Christopher Hayes: My Tribute to Michael Hastings

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 6:52pm

As the father of an 18-month-old, I sometimes find myself sitting in the sandbox watching my daughter stomp over to some other unsuspecting toddler and doing something breathtakingly anti-social -- snatching a bucket from some boy's hands or yoinking a toy out of the grasp of a kid she towers over. And a big part of parenting is walking over and saying, calmly but firmly, "No. We don't do that."

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