In Monday's environmental law news, the US Senate could vote tonight on a proposal that would set aside the Environmental Protection Agency cap on mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants. The agency's rule , which was finalized in March, sets a nationwide cap on mercury emissions and puts a ceiling on allowable pollution for each [...]

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Leading Monday's states brief, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled today that an illegal immigrant, suffering from severe pain and diagnosed with acute leukemia, was entitled to Medicaid because he suffered from an emergency medical condition. The court overturned a lower court decision upholding the denial of Medicaid benefits to the illegal immigrant by finding that [...]

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As US Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings commenced Monday for nominee John Roberts , Democrats and Republicans sparred over the appropriateness of questioning Roberts about controversial issues such as privacy rights and abortion. Roberts, who was nominated by President Bush to serve as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States in the wake of [...]

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AP is reporting that FEMA Director Michael Brown has resigned from the agency after being replaced last week as the on-site head of federal Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts. 5:15 PM ET – President Bush has named R. David Paulison , head of FEMA's emergency preparedness force, Administrator of the US Fire Administration and [...]

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The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice released a report Monday revealing that federal agents frequently violate the FBI's guidelines for dealing with confidential informants. After assessing 120 confidential informant files from FBI offices around the country, Inspector General Glenn A. Fine said the investigation revealed that 87 percent of cases [...]

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