Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Coach barely escapes deadly tornadoes — twice
Until Monday, the closest brush Marcus Moeller had had with a killer tornado came when he moved out of Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011 — just hours before a twister ripped through the city, claiming 161 lives. Published May 22, 2013
Oklahoma destruction hard to fathom even for Tornado Alley
As search and rescue teams combed Moore, Okla., for survivors of Monday's deadly twister, officials struggled to describe devastation that, even for a town in the heart of "Tornado Alley," is almost unimaginable. Published May 21, 2013
Sen. John Cornyn: ‘Past time’ for Eric Holder to go
Americans have lost faith in U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., and he must be replaced, a top GOP senator said Sunday. Published May 19, 2013
White House aide: ‘Nothing that suggests’ IRS official at center of scandal ‘did anything wrong’
A besieged White House dug in its heels Sunday and defended figures at the center of the unfolding Internal Revenue Service scandal while reiterating that President Obama knew nothing of the misdeeds inside the agency. Published May 19, 2013
Obama administration approves natural gas export site
In a key development that will help the U.S. export its vast energy resources, the Department of Energy on Friday approved an application for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Texas. Published May 17, 2013
Congress seeks to regulate drone use, looks for bipartisan ground
States already have begun to tackle the sticky issue of drones and their effect on personal privacy. Published May 17, 2013
Official at center of IRS scandal got promotion, now runs ‘Obamacare’ division
The woman who ran the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt organizations division has been promoted, and now heads the agency's health care office, ABC news reported. Published May 17, 2013
John Edwards re-emerges, begins public comeback
Mark Sanford is now a member of Congress two years after he stepped down as governor of South Carolina following a highly publicized extramarital affair. Perhaps, then, it should be no surprise to learn that disgraced former presidential candidate and North Carolina senator John Edwards is plotting his own comeback. Published May 17, 2013
Gina McCarthy, Obama’s EPA pick, advances on party-line vote
On a party-line vote, a key Senate committee on Thursday approved the nomination of Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a significant step forward for the controversial nominee and one that ends, at least temporarily, a bitter fight between Republicans and Democrats. Published May 16, 2013
Perez, McCarthy pass hurdle to confirmation
Two of President Obama's second-term personnel picks that have attracted conservative and business opposition moved a step closer to confirmation Thursday. Published May 16, 2013
Boardwalk diplomacy: Potential presidential candidate Christie doubles as Prince Harry’s tour guide
Chris Christie's first foray into diplomacy has come at an unlikely place: the Jersey Shore boardwalk. The New Jersey governor and rumored 2016 presidential candidate doubled as a tour guide this week as he showed Britain's Prince Harry the damage done by Hurricane Sandy. Published May 16, 2013
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s note says U.S. ‘attack’ on Muslims drove Boston bombing
As police closed in on the boat he was hiding in, suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev scribbled a chilling note to police. Published May 16, 2013
Support grows for journalist shield law after Justice Dept. snoops on The Associated Press
With journalists now justifiably fearful that the federal government could examine their telephone logs and dig up other information, support is growing in Congress for a measure to help reporters keep their sources confidential. Published May 16, 2013
Howard Dean: Republicans blowing ‘hot air’ over IRS scandal
A top Democrat on Thursday said that as long as the unfolding Internal Revenue Service scandal doesn't implicate President Obama, there's no reason for the administration to panic. Published May 16, 2013
GOP leaders hit Obama for lack of accountability amid scandals
While congressional Republicans gear up to investigate numerous White House scandals, party leaders are making the rounds on cable news and pushing their new narrative: President Obama won't take responsibility for anything. Published May 15, 2013
Axelrod: I don’t even know anyone at the IRS
President Obama has pleaded ignorance and said he knew nothing about the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups during the 2012 election season until news reports surfaced last Friday. Published May 15, 2013
Jon Stewart blasts Obama over AP, IRS scandals
President Obama is taking heat from all sides, including late-night satirist Jon Stewart. Published May 15, 2013
Attorney General Holder defends Justice Department subpoena power against news media
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday defended the Justice Department's use of its subpoena power to monitor the telephone records of editors and reporters at The Associated Press in a leak investigation, but said he was unaware of the details because he had recused himself from the leak case. Published May 14, 2013
Congress to grill Attorney General Holder over search of Associated Press phone records
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle were asking questions Wednesday about the Justice Department’s subpoena of telephone records involving editors and reporters at The Associated Press, with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. expected to be asked about the matter during an long-scheduled hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Published May 14, 2013
Tea party leader: Heads must roll over IRS scandal
The head of Tea Party Patriots, one group reportedly singled out by the Obama administration, says officials at the Internal Revenue Service need to be fired immediately. Published May 14, 2013
