Dallas Woman Dies In Rollercoaster Accident: Is Texas Conservatism To Blame?

The death of Rosy Esparza at Six Flags Over Texas has called attention to the state of industrial regulations in Texas.

Frederick Reese
By Frederick Reese

The death of Rosy Esparza on Friday on a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas has called attention to the state of industrial regulations in Texas. While Six Flags initially stated that it will be “working with authorities” to determine what happened, it was later revealed that Six Flags will be heading the investigation itself, as there are no

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Lac-Mégantic Victims Challenge Industries Behind Deadly Explosion

Death toll climbs to 42 as the environmental costs of the train-derailment disaster continue to mount.

Lauren McCauley
By Lauren McCauley

Two residents of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec have filed a class action lawsuit against the corporations behind the July 6 train derailment and explosion which killed nearly fifty people and devastated the small Canadian town. Yannick Gagne and Guy Ouellet, who together own the Musi-Cafe — a bar that was crowded with people the night it was destroyed by

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America’s Farmworkers Demand Protections From Toxic Pesticides

A 20-year delay on updating EPA rules is leaving millions at risk.

Andrea Germanos
By Andrea Germanos

Farmworkers and their advocates from across the nation descended on Washington, D.C. this week to demand better protection from the pesticides they're exposed to while picking the nation's produce. Their specific target, the Center for Public Integrity reports, is The Worker Protection Standard, a set of EPA rules meant to reduce the risk of

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Officials Investigating Texas Chemical Plant Explosion Find Lax Regulations

A federal agency investigating an explosion at a fertilizer plant reported outdated rules that are far weaker than those of other countries.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

HOUSTON — A federal agency investigating a deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant told a Senate committee Thursday that regulation of the dangerous chemicals used in the industry fall under a "patchwork" of standards that are decades old and are far weaker than rules used by other countries. The U.S Chemical Safety Board is the first

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San Onofre Nuclear Plant To Close After Bitter Fight

The announcement triggered a celebration among critics of the nuclear power industry who argued the plant was too damaged to operate safely.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The demise of California's San Onofre nuclear power plant began with an attempt to fix it. A $670 million equipment swap in 2009 and 2010 went haywire, leaving Southern California Edison on Friday with two idle reactors, more than $500 million in bills and a federal decision on a possible restart nowhere in sight. The company

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Drone Schools Suggest Inevitability Of Drones In Everyday Life

This week, the United States Navy launched its drone prototype, the X-47B, from the deck of the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush off the coast of Maryland. The X-47B is the first drone that has proven successful in launching from and landing on an aircraft carrier, giving the military the capability of launching drone strikes without […]

Frederick Reese
By Frederick Reese

This week, the United States Navy launched its drone prototype, the X-47B, from the deck of the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush off the coast of Maryland. The X-47B is the first drone that has proven successful in launching from and landing on an aircraft carrier, giving the military the capability of launching drone strikes without first setting up a

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