ending April 6
A polar bear in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
File photo © US FWS.
As the furor over Secretary of Interior Gale Norton's reorganization of Indian trust dies down, she faces trouble in federal court. The federal judge overseeing the Individual Indian Money (IIM) class action has issued a number of rulings affecting outstanding issues in the case. Most involve disputes dating Norton's arrival at the Department of Interior but the expected renewal of the court monitor speaks to future problems she may face. One current problem is the Internet shutdown. Now in its fourth month, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies remain shut off from e-mail, web servers and other technology. Get the Story:
Government punished for stonewalling on trust fund (4/1)
Fees awarded to trust fund plaintiffs (4/1)
Interior holding back security documents (4/2)
Trust fund checks haven't gone out (4/2)
Indian beneficiaries being denied millions (4/3)
Trust fund judge considering sanctions for 'attack' (4/4)
Judge wants court monitor for another year (4/4)
BIA still shut down (4/4)
Norton faces more scrutiny on trust fund (4/5) Arctic drilling report in dispute
A scientific report detailing problems associated with oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge got the shrift from the Bush administration this week. Under orders from Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, the research summaries were being reevaluted as soon as they were released. Department scientists cited damage to wildlife if development was to occur but officials said the report was based on unlikely scenarios. Get the Story:
Bush discounting drilling report (4/1)
Drilling report was held back (4/1)
Abraham pushes domestic drilling (4/4)
New ANWR analysis questioned (4/5) more stories
There's still more to read in the recap of the top stories.