Michael Rubinkam

$This May 22, 2009 picture shows John Fenton, a farmer who lives near Pavillion in central Wyoming, near a tank used in natural gas extraction, in background. Fenton and some of his neighbors blame hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a common technique used in drilling new oil and gas wells, for fouling their well water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday Dec. 8, 2011 in Wyoming, for the first time that fracking may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution. The EPA also emphasized that the findings are specific to the Pavillion area. The agency said the fracking that occurred in Pavillion differed from fracking methods used elsewhere in regions with different geological characteristics. (AP Photo/Bob Moen, File)$

Federal agency cancels water delivery to Pa. town

Michael Rubinkam The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 4:44pm

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has abruptly changed its mind about delivering fresh water to residents of a northeastern Pennsylvania village where residential wells were tainted from natural gas drilling operations.

Natural gas, Water, Environmental Protection Agency, National Read more Comments

Pa. police accused of cover-up face abuse suits

Michael Rubinkam The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 1:03pm

SHENANDOAH, Pa. -- A police chief charged with trying to cover up the fatal beating of a Mexican immigrant by white teenagers was named in a 2006 civil suit that made a startling claim: Borough police beat to death a Hispanic teenager, then hung him from the bars of his holding cell to make it appear a suicide.

Crime, Immigration Read more Comments