Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Thunder makes itself heard for changes in law
Rolling Thunder's imprint on Washington goes far beyond the roar of hundreds of thousands of bikes on city streets each Memorial Day weekend. The organization has aggressively pushed a broad legislative agenda, with several of its priorities now the law of the land. Published May 23, 2012
Vets, supporters find solace, camaraderie in Rolling Thunder’s roar
Beyond the sheer size and cachet that the Rolling Thunder rally now carries, there remains at the heart of the gathering a tight-knit community of veterans, family and friends of former POWs and those still missing. Published May 23, 2012
Opponents claim Keystone would boost gas prices
TransCanada's proposed $7.6 billion Keystone XL pipeline, a massive project that would transport Canadian oil to Texas refineries on the Gulf Coast, has been pitched as a way to lower domestic gas prices. But a coalition of environmental groups on Tuesday produced a new study claiming the pipeline would have the opposite effect. Published May 22, 2012
Administration widens scope of ‘Race to the Top’
The Obama administration is taking its signature "Race to the Top" education grant competition to the micro level. Published May 22, 2012
Attack Wright? Wrong. Attack Bain? Refrain
The economy remains the driving issue in the 2012 presidential campaign, but both sides have in recent days taken detours to deal with distractions and ghosts from the past. Published May 20, 2012
Obama adviser Axelrod: Religion not a campaign issue
President Obama's senior adviser on Sunday pledged that the Democratic campaign won't target Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's Mormon faith. Published May 20, 2012
Pennsylvania gets high marks for rein on drilling for gas
Pennsylvania over the past three years has greatly reduced the number of environmental incidents related to natural gas drilling, and state officials appear fully able to oversee the industry without intrusion from the federal government, according to a study released Tuesday. Published May 15, 2012
National curriculum plan may face challenge
An influential group of conservative state lawmakers is on the verge of proposing model legislation to block the Common Core national education standards that have been heavily promoted by the Obama administration. Published May 10, 2012
Conservatives defend fired writer on race
Conservative commentators and think tanks have rushed in recent days to the defense of embattled journalist Naomi Schaefer Riley, who was fired from her job as a blogger with the widely respected Chronicle of Higher Education for questioning the value of black-studies programs. Published May 9, 2012
Georgetown catches flak for Sebelius invite
In what has become an annual tradition, another Catholic university has come under fire for its choice of commencement speaker. Published May 8, 2012
Solar project opens on federal property
Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar on Monday cheered on the opening of the first large-scale solar power project on federal property, just three days after his department rolled out new regulations on oil and gas companies doing business on those very same lands. Published May 7, 2012
Colleges pledge to squelch dangerous rites of hazing
After horrific, firsthand accounts from students and multiple recent deaths, the long-accepted practice of hazing — both in Greek organizations and other university clubs — has been thrust into the spotlight, and a fierce, unprecedented crackdown from college leaders is gaining traction nationwide. Published May 2, 2012
Coal, gas exports meet tough environmental resistance
Global demand for American natural gas and coal is booming, but recent clashes on both U.S. coasts underscore that getting American supplies to eager foreign buyers will be anything but easy. Published May 1, 2012
EPA official resigns over ‘crucify’ remark
Embattled Environmental Protection Agency official Al Armendariz, under fire for 2010 comments bragging that he would "crucify" oil and gas companies in order to send a message to the industry, has resigned. Published April 30, 2012
Obama’s re-election strategists resurrect bin Laden
Osama bin Laden is dead, but that won't stop the 9/11 mastermind from playing a role in the 2012 presidential election. Published April 29, 2012
Boehner: Romney’s success is a model for Americans
While some political analysts speculate that Mitt Romney's massive wealth could hurt him with working-class voters this fall, others think the Republican presidential hopeful's wild success could turn out to be one of his greatest assets. Published April 29, 2012
Gas boom may stop at coast of Maryland
Cove Point in Southern Maryland has become the latest flash point in the fight between the fossil fuels industry and its longtime foes in the environmental movement. Published April 26, 2012
EPA official apologizes for viral ‘crucify’ quip
A top official at the Environmental Protection Agency apologized Thursday after being caught on video bragging that his agency's method of enforcing oil and gas regulations was to find a few bad actors to "crucify" and hold up as examples. Published April 26, 2012
Research says ‘God spot’ does not exist
Turns out the other "G-spot" is a myth. Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that the so-called "God spot," an epicenter of the brain responsible for feelings of spirituality and connection to a higher power, doesn't exist. Published April 25, 2012
Salazar says critics live in ‘fairy tale’ land
Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar on Tuesday blasted the "world of fairy tales" that he thinks most Republicans and some oil and gas industry leaders live in, arguing that the Obama administration remains committed to domestic fossil fuels and any claims to the contrary are patently false. Published April 24, 2012
