Tag: government
West explosions draws attention to limited protection around dangerous industrial sites
In West, Texas, residents had no idea how close they were living to potential disaster. But when the fertilizer plant on the edge of town exploded earlier this month, in was all too clear. But West is hardly alone, with dangerous industrial sites lurking in and around all manner of American cities....
EPA raises concerns about State Department's Keystone environmental statement
The U.S. State Department has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement for the pending, and controversial, Keystone XL pipeline that lays the groundwork for the project to go ahead. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, has some issues with what the statement says....
Expansive definition for 'weapon of mass destruction' gives prosecutors the power
A potato gun is a WMD. At least, the strict, plain-English definition of a weapon of mass destruction would include the old-fashioned potato gun. Through changes over the years, the definition of a WMD has been broadened -- and now prosecutors have all the power when it comes to charging people....
Police still looking for evidence as focus shifts to new suspect in ricin letters
For several days, Paul Kevin Curtis was the prime suspect in the investigation into the mailing of letters contaminated with ricin poisoning to the president and Capitol Hill. But now, James Everett Dutschke has come under suspicion, though he too, pleads his innocence....
Evidence mounts, indicating Syria may be using chemical weapons
At least three countries are convinced the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons in his country's ongoing civil war. On Thursday, U.S. officials confirmed they too believed Assad had unleashed sarin gas. But its options are limited....
Boston's memorials to Marathon blast victims grow
As the first funerals were held, public memorials to the victims of last week's Boston Marathon explosion continue to grow. They're biggest along Boylston Street -- the street where racers were supposed to finish their marathon, until the terrorist attacks hit....In West, Texas, a town grieves as it tries to pick up the pieces
Last week, 14 people died and 200 people were injured when a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, exploded. This week, the town is coming to terms with its losses -- and trying to figure out what circumstances conspired so it could go so horribly wrong....
Marking Earth Day with look-back at where it started
Earth Day is today — a history that goes back some 43 years. It all started with an article in a newspaper, when Denis Hayes was inspired by the words of Sen. Gaylord Nelson. The two worked together to coordinate the first Earth Day, in 1970....
Spain had near-miss with terrorism attributed to Chechen group
Last year, Spain foiled what it said was a terrorist plot to fly gliders into the British enclave of Gibraltar. Two Chechens and a Turk were convicted, but later freed when a judge decided there wasn't enough evidence. Various intelligence agencies reportedly were interested in the incidents, because of the ties to Chechnya....Iconic good samaritan from Boston Marathon has personal experience with loss
Carlos Arredondo's story is a sad one. Lost one son in Iraq, lost another son to suicide. On Monday he was at the Boston Marathon, supporting people running in honor of his sons. When the bombs struck, though, he rushed to help the wounded and became iconic for helping a man who lost both his legs, but survived....
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