While the Obama administration has taken public steps to discontinue some of the policies of Bush’s “war on terrorism,” there are signs new president will continue some of his predecessor’s most controversial practices. In addition to arguing that a recent lawsuit should be shut down based on the “state secrets” argument, some of Obama’s nominees have now voiced their support in hearings for such practices as transferring suspects to other countries where they have no legal rights, and indefinitely detaining suspects without trials. (New York Times)
The Army will begin an investigation soon to learn what two 16-year-old girls were doing in a barracks at Fort Lewis, Washington. The two girls, who are not military dependents, were found at 3:30 AM on Sunday, one unconscious and one dead at the scene. The surviving girl is recovering at a local hospital and will soon be ready for interviews with investigators. An autopsy has been complete on the other, although results will not be available for a few more days. (Associated Press)
The federal judge presiding over the trial of five Blackwater security contractors refused to dismiss the case brought against the guards. Defense lawyers had argued that because the men were not working directly for the Department of Defense when 14 civilians were killed in a Baghdad market in September 2007, the government does not have jurisdiction to bring charges against them. The contractors were working instead under a contract with the State Department. (Washington Post)
Environmentalists are finding reason to cheer as the EPA announced it will reconsider regulating carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. The decision goes against the directions of a Bush administration memorandum from December. Efforts to limit emissions from coal plants became a serious point of contention after the Supreme Court ruled in April 2007 that carbon dioxide could be considered a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. (Washington Post)
A former Chicago alderman was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday for taking thousands of dollars in payoffs and campaign money from developers who wanted zoning changes in the city. Arenda Troutman also omitted that money from her tax returns. Troutman pleaded guilty to mail and tax fraud charges last August. (Associated Press)
A Florida-based healthcare company that is under investigation for unfair business practices and suspected fraud is also a significant donor to Republican politicians in the state, MSNBC reports. WellCare Health Plans, a managed-care provider, donated $2.4 million to politicians in the 2004 and 2006 election cycles, 95 percent of it going to Republican candidates. State laws do not limit the amount of money entities can give in party donations. In one instance, the company gave $100,000 to the Republican Party of Florida just days before the state legislature passed legislation that funneled increased medicaid spending through private companies like WellCare. (MSNBC)
