Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Alternate Realities Roundup 6/18
Posted By Eric S. Peterson on June 18, 2013, 11:09 AM
Former Bank of America employees have alleged in court filings that company employees regularly lied to customers, denied applications for bogus reasons and were rewarded for sending homeowners into foreclosure.---
Top of the Alty World
“Bank of America Lied to Homeowners and Rewarded Foreclosures, Employees Say”--ProPublica
While the U.S. has made talk of helping support Syrian rebels, the movement’s leader says he’s heard nothing of new support from the U.S.—The Daily Beast
Rolling Stone provides a snapshot of life at Guantanamo Bay after receiving a tour this month prior to a detainee’s pretrial hearing.—Rolling Stone
A congresswoman and the NSA can’t keep their story straight about whether citizen’s phone records are in a “lockbox.”—Slate
Top of Alty Utah
A new poll by Utah Data Points shows, among other findings, that Attorney General John Swallow’s approval rating is incredibly low—12 percent—and a majority of Utahns --72 percent -- want the Legislature to begin the impeachment process.—Utah Data Points
While AG Swallow has, through his attorneys, told the Legislature it would be illegal to impeach him if he hasn’t committed a crime, a Utah Supreme Court ruling says otherwise.—Utah Political Capitol
Provo, one of the most conservative cities in one of the most conservative counties in one of the most conservative states in the nation, will have its first LGBT Pride Festival in the fall.—Provo Buzz
Bryan Schott looks at the challenge that backers of the caucus/convention system will have in staving off reform to Utah’s electoral process.—Salt Lake City Weekly
Rantosphere
Daniel Burton calls on Swallow to put his money where his mouth is and return any campaign donations from companies that his office may end up prosecuting.
“Returning the donations that cause the conflict of interest would not only demonstrate a commitment to the interests of justice that heretofore Swallow has failed to show, but it would go a long way toward removing the cloud of corruption that has shrouded his administration from the very beginning. Given that 83% of his donations come from groups that may fall under this category, it could be expensive, but, hey, it’s worth it.”—Publius Online
The Long View Filmmaker Josh Fox talks about the dangers of fracking and how the oil & gas industry has ruthlessly pursued the controversial development tactic against rural landowners.
“The industry got caught hiring PSYOPS (psychological operations) officers -- people who’d just come from Iraq and Afghanistan, who were trained in PSYOPS -- and they were employing those techniques against landowners fighting the industry in Pennsylvania. They got caught doing that. They were tape-recorded at their own teleconference, describing landowners fighting for their basic human rights in Pennsylvania as ‘insurgents.’ This industry has pursued a line of disinformation, of deceit.”—Salt Lake City Weekly
More by Eric S. Peterson
-
Did Moab's police chief fully disclose his history of leaving departments while under investigation for misconduct?
Getting Around
- Oct 30, 2024
-
New data tool allows journalists and the public to track 'wandering cops' in Utah
Patrolling Misconduct
- Sep 18, 2024
-
FLASHBACK 2009: A muckraker's guide to Utah
How to Keep Tabs on the Man
- Sep 2, 2024
- More »
Latest in Buzz Blog
