department of justice

November 9, 2012 - According to an election night survey, 9 percent of white voters had to wait 30 minutes or more to vote, compared to 22 percent of African Americans and 24 percent of Hispanics. In its war on voting, who is the GOP fighting against?

October 31, 2012 - Voting rights advocates have successfully pushed back against state laws that aimed to restrict voter participation -- and that means far fewer people will be disenfranchised this year than feared. But voters in some states still face new restrictions.

October 29, 2012 - The authors of the 1968 Fair Housing Act wanted to reverse decades of government-fostered segregation. But presidents from both parties declined to enforce a law that stirred vehement opposition.

October 26, 2012 - With True the Vote and other tea party-affiliated groups planning a massive poll-watching effort for this election, voting rights advocates are mobilizing in unprecedented numbers to fight back against intimidation.

October 17, 2012 - A large oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico reported by watchdogs as far back as August 2011 has been tied to BP's failed Macondo well. Congressional leaders are demanding answers from the company about the ongoing oil release, and they also want to ensure BP pays fully for the damages caused by its 2010 disaster.

September 24, 2012 - As the boom in oil and gas drilling sends a surge of waste into underground injection wells, safeguards for disposing of these materials are sometimes being ignored or circumvented.

September 14, 2012 - Since Hurricane Isaac, oily tar has washed ashore along the beaches and bayous of the Gulf -- some of it linked to BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster, which locals report is having a lasting impact on their treasured fishing grounds.