Jim McElhatton
Articles by Jim McElhatton
Solyndra won’t talk about its contracts
Officials at failed solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC refused to discuss the company's contracts at a private meeting last month with a bankruptcy analyst for the Justice Department, fueling the push to have a trustee take over the failed company during its bankruptcy, records show. Published October 16, 2011
Energy Secretary Chu to be questioned in Solyndra collapse
The top Republican and Democratic members of a House subcommittee investigating the collapse of bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra LLC after it received more than a half billion dollars in federal loans agreed Friday to seek the testimony of Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Published October 14, 2011
Postal Service’s ‘welcome kit’ raises privacy concerns
Federal agencies aren't allowed to sell or rent personal information such as names and addresses. Published October 12, 2011
Postal Service to continue post-anthrax safeguards
Despite being mired in the worst financial crisis in its history, the U.S. Postal Service has no plans to cut back on any of the bioterrorism preparedness measures that began in the wake of anthrax attacks through the U.S. mail system 10 years ago this month. Published October 9, 2011
House committee to expand probe of Solyndra
Citing concerns that President Obama's "closest confidants" monitored now bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra LLC, leaders of a House committee said Wednesday they were expanding their investigation into the failed company's more than half-billion dollar federal loan package. Published October 5, 2011
Energy official praised Solyndra before FBI bust
A top Department of Energy official insisted Solyndra was "headed in the right direction." Published October 3, 2011
U.S. seeks trustee to oversee Solyndra
A Justice Department office wants an independent trustee to oversee Solyndra in bankruptcy. Published September 30, 2011
Solyndra seeks lawyers in criminal probe
Solyndra is asking a bankruptcy court to pay $525 to $640 per hour for lawyers. Published September 29, 2011
Feds guarantee $1 billion in new solar loans
Days before the expiration of its loan program, the Department of Energy, under fire for backing more than a half-billion dollars in loans to now-bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra LLC, announced Wednesday more than $1 billion in new loan guarantees for other solar projects in Nevada and Arizona. Published September 28, 2011
High-priced law firm gets OK to represent Solyndra
Solyndra was OK'd to auction off assets and retain legal services for government probes. Published September 27, 2011
Solyndra hired Rice consulting firm
Fast running out of money just two years after winning a half-billion dollars in federal loan guarantees, solar panel maker Solyndra LLC this spring looked overseas to India in hopes of finding new business to turn the company around. Published September 26, 2011
California Democratic Party among Solyndra’s creditors
Out of the hundreds of out-of-work employees, vendors, investors and other creditors in the bankruptcy of government-backed solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC, one name stands out: the California Democratic Party. Published September 25, 2011
Solyndra stays mum at hearing on failed loan deal
Solar panel maker Solyndra's chief executive traveled to Washington and met with members of Congress. Published September 23, 2011
Bankruptcy scenario played out before Solyndra collapse
Before solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC went bankrupt, the U.S. Department of Energy — which had signed off on more than a half-billion dollars in loans — approved paying up to $1.1 million for an investment bank's advice on restructuring Solyndra "both in and out of bankruptcy," records show. Published September 22, 2011
Lawyers netted millions in solar loan deal
In the fallout of the collapse of solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC — a company awarded more than a half-billion dollars in federal loans before it went bankrupt late last month — members of Congress are demanding to know how all that money was spent. Published September 21, 2011
Solyndra executives now planning to invoke the 5th
Executives at bankrupt Solyndra, which collapsed last month after receiving more than a half-billion dollars in federal loans, plan to refuse to testify in a congressional hearing Friday now that the FBI is investigating the company. Published September 20, 2011
FBI-targeted solar company Solyndra to put shine on law firm’s wallet
U.S. taxpayers risk losing more than a half-billion dollars from the collapse of solar-panel maker Solyndra Inc., but former Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld and his associates stand to earn a windfall in fees representing the bankrupt company in coming months. Published September 19, 2011
Postal Service seeks drastic cuts
The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service announced plans Thursday to target more than 250 mail-processing facilities for potential closure, including eight in Virginia and Maryland, while allowing itself more time to deliver first-class mail in an effort to save billions of dollars and return to profitability. Published September 15, 2011
Administration grilled on Solyndra loan
Obama administration officials refused to say Wednesday whether anybody would be fired over the decision to award solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra LLC a half-billion dollars in loans before it went bankrupt and saw its headquarters raided by the FBI. Published September 14, 2011
‘Little Madoff’ returned to Maryland after capture in Mexico
Two summers ago, Alma Preciado, once a rising figure in Maryland politics and a successful mortgage broker, was scheduled to be sentenced in Montgomery County after she pleaded guilty to theft in a loan deal that cost a retired couple $350,000. Published September 8, 2011