http://projects.propublica.org/muckreads/ ProPublica's ongoing collection of watchdog reporting en-us Bloomberg -- The government relies on a little-known pool of collection agencies to recoup student loans made by banks and other private lenders. They can counsel a borrower to avoid default, but they receive massive amounts more for collecting defaulted loans– up to 37 percent in borrower fees and taxpayer-funded commissions. Bloomberg Tue, 15 May 2012 16:07:53 +0000 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-15/taxpayers-fund-454-000-pay-for-collector-chasing-student-loans.html 1555 New York Times -- In the past decade, more than 300 oil and gas workers have died in highway crashes--many of them caused by an exemption that lets oil field truckers stay behind the wheel for hours longer than most commercial truckers' limit. New York Times Tue, 15 May 2012 13:57:52 +0000 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/us/for-oil-workers-deadliest-danger-is-driving.html?_r=1 1554 Dallas Morning News -- The Texas teachers' pension fund lost $99 million in high-risk investments that, until the economic lag, were banned. And in a surprise twist, the owners of the casino that went under were Perry donors. Top casino executives deny any connection between the investment and political donations. Dallas Morning News Mon, 14 May 2012 22:45:54 +0000 http://www.dallasnews.com/investigations/headlines/20120512-texas-teachers-pension-fund-invests-in-casinos-loses-99-million.ece 1553 Newsweek -- So now Al Qaeda is trying to evade airport scanners by surgically implanting explosives in potential terrorists' love handles.    Newsweek Mon, 14 May 2012 20:29:03 +0000 http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/13/al-qaeda-s-body-bombs-al-asiri-s-next-threat.html 1552 Denver Post -- When Colorado citizens vote to borrow money to build new schools, a library or a recreation center, the crusader behind the curtain is often the investment banker who gets paid to sell the bonds. Denver Post Mon, 14 May 2012 19:09:25 +0000 http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_20611727?source=commented- 1551 Unknown -- Perry has been accused by government watchdog groups, political opponents and even some TRS board members of attempting to influence investment decisions to benefit cronies. Unknown Mon, 14 May 2012 19:07:11 +0000 http://www.dallasnews.com/investigations/headlines/20120513-vegas-casino-owners-who-got-teacher-fund-investment-are-perry-donors.ece 1550 Village Voice -- Violent fights persist at Riker's Island, as well as the practice of guards getting young inmates to fight one another for privileges. Several years ago, a Corrections Department investigation into violence at Rikers resulted in jail time for two guards, but photos, internal documents, and interviews with officials indicate that little has changed. The Department of Corrections denies that guards are involved in the violence. Village Voice Fri, 11 May 2012 15:18:58 +0000 http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-05-09/news/rikers-violence-out-of-control/ 1548 The Verge -- Inside the business of Internet marketing, behind the "get rich quick" schemes dotting websites and luring in the naive and desperate.  The Verge Fri, 11 May 2012 15:02:25 +0000 http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/10/2984893/scamworld-get-rich-quick-schemes-mutate-into-an-online-monster 1547 Sun Sentinel -- In Florida, banks are failing to maintain foreclosed homes, letting them lapse into disrepair and damaging property values. This three-part series found more than 10,000 code violations in ten Florida cities.  Sun Sentinel Fri, 11 May 2012 14:38:30 +0000 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/bad-neighbor-banks/ 1546 The Washington Post -- A look at the presumed Republican presidential nominee in prep school, complete with slideshow.  The Washington Post Thu, 10 May 2012 20:18:16 +0000 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_story.html 1545