Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Drone industry in the spotlight at D.C. convention this week
Under an increasingly bright spotlight, the global drone industry is gathering in Washington this week for its annual convention. Published August 12, 2013
U.K.’s Cameron: Shale gas drilling is safe, will create jobs
As his nation mulls whether to embrace fracking, British Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a full-throated endorsement of the drilling process that's revolutionized the American energy landscape. Published August 12, 2013
!["Right now, there is kind of a generational change. Young Americans do not trust this government. Without trust in government, you can’t do a lot of things. There’s a young generation who believes [NSA leaker Edward Snowden] some kind of Jason Bourne," says Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican. (Associated Press)](https://twt-thumbs-staging.washtimes.com/media-staging.washtimes.com/media/image/2013/08/11/8_112013_mideast-egypt-us-48201_c0-75-1800-1124_s652x380.jpg?7d7e6aefb921993848f95c0fc205a3d186791386)
Obama has done too little, too late to fix surveillance programs, lawmakers say
Lawmakers are taking aim at the White House's perpetual game of catch-up, in which the national security versus privacy debate has been driven not by the administration but by figures such as National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. Published August 11, 2013
‘My son has spoken the truth,’ Edward Snowden’s father says
As he prepares to visit his son in Russia, Lon Snowden on Sunday blasted President Obama and congressional leaders for failing to take real action to curb federal mass surveillance and data-collection efforts. Published August 11, 2013
McCain: Young Americans admire Snowden, see him as ‘some kind of Jason Bourne’
A deep distrust of government has led young Americans to hold up NSA leaker Edward Snowden as a hero, Sen. John McCain said Sunday. Published August 11, 2013
Energy Secretary Moniz leaves dirty work on coal to others
If the Obama administration is indeed waging a "war on coal," as its critics contend, then newly minted Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz aims to build a bridge between the opposing camps. Published August 10, 2013
Grassley’s patience with Delaware wears thin in O’Donnell tax snooping case
Charging that Delaware officials have stopped cooperating with his investigation, Sen. Chuck Grassley has sent a pointed letter to the state's Division of Revenue in which he outlines specific, outstanding questions about the handling of former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell's tax records. Published August 9, 2013
As N.Y. fracking ban drags on, leading energy company backs out
In a possible sign that New York State won't be allowing fracking anytime soon, drilling giant Chesapeake Energy reportedly has abandoned its fight to retain land leases in portions of the state sitting atop vast natural gas reserves. Published August 7, 2013
Drone-hunting permits on hold — Colorado town to let voters decide in November
With its elected leaders deadlocked, the residents of Deer Trail, Colo., now will vote on whether to legalize the nation's first "drone-hunting" statute. Published August 7, 2013
Colo. town poised to declare open season on drones, issue drone-hunting licenses
Deer Trail, Colo., is poised to fire a warning shot at the domestic drone industry. Published August 6, 2013
Report: Racial divide still exists on college admissions
For many American college students, the nation's higher education system increasingly is defined by two distinct paths. The first, taken primarily by white students, leads to the top U.S. institutions, while the other — taken mostly by blacks and Hispanic students — leads to community colleges and less prestigious open-access schools, according to a major study of college enrollment patterns over the past 20 years. Published August 5, 2013
Al Qaeda haunts August as State Dept. issues worldwide travel alert, closes embassies
Citing a potential al Qaeda attack, the State Department on Friday issued a worldwide travel alert and warned American citizens that the terrorist group may be plotting a strike in the Middle East, North Africa or elsewhere. Published August 2, 2013
Energy secretary: Keystone pipeline not my call
Newly minted Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on Thursday downplayed his role in deciding whether the Keystone XL oil pipeline will be built. Published August 1, 2013
House Republicans see pseudo-science in Obama’s ‘cost of carbon’ metrics
House Republicans launched an all-out attack Wednesday on what they say are the secretive, pseudo-scientific "cost of carbon" metrics that the Obama administration is using to justify increasingly harsh environmental regulations. Published July 31, 2013
New EPA chief promises jobs, pulls no punches to fight climate change
In her first speech since taking over the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy came out swinging Tuesday and promised to ramp up the aggressive climate change agenda laid out by President Obama. Published July 30, 2013
New EPA chief promises jobs, pulls no punches in climate change fight
In her first speech since taking over the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy came out swinging Tuesday and promised to ramp up the aggressive climate change agenda laid out by President Obama. Published July 30, 2013
Keystone pipeline supporters slam Obama’s skeptical comments on economic impact
TransCanada, the company proposing the 1,600-mile Keystone XL pipeline, and officials in the U.S. and Canada reacted furiously Monday to skeptical comments from President Obama on the economic impact for jobs and U.S. gas prices from the long-delayed project. Published July 29, 2013
Funding schemes in Congress could ground drones; FAA pressured over privacy
The lagging federal effort to fully integrate drones into U.S. airspace is in danger of falling even further behind schedule. A funding bill now before the Senate essentially would stop the process in its tracks by prohibiting the Federal Aviation Administration from moving forward until it completes a detailed report on drones' potential privacy impact. Published July 28, 2013
House trims EPA’s powers over coal ash
With bipartisan support, the House on Thursday passed legislation giving states the lead role in regulating coal ash and stopping the Environmental Protection Agency from labeling the material as hazardous. Published July 25, 2013
Coons denies knowledge of or involvement with O’Donnell tax breach
As unanswered questions swirl around Christine O'Donnell and the breach of her personal tax records, the other key figure in Delaware's 2010 U.S. Senate race said neither he nor his campaign had anything to do with it. Published July 24, 2013
