Articles by Ros Krasny and John Gittelsohn

Washington Debates What to Do About Ransomware Payments, Cyber Reporting

More transparency is needed into what kind of cash payments are made after ransomware attacks, a top Democrat said, following a recent spate of cyber-attacks aimed at U.S. companies. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke days after …

Farm Bill Costs Soar Despite Great Harvest

U.S. farmers are about to reap a bumper harvest not just in corn and soybeans but also in new subsidies that could soar to $10 billion, blowing a hole in the government’s promise that its new five-year farm bill would …

Ports Tighten Ship Entry Rules in Response to Ebola Crisis

Brazil, Argentina and the United States have tightened port entry procedures for ships that have sailed from West Africa in a bid to control the potential spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Ebola has killed more than 3,400 people in …

U.S. Sen. Schumer Seeks to Turn Up Heat on Railcar Safety

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer on Monday called for an overhaul of old rail tank cars used to carry crude oil after a spate of explosive derailments over the past year. The New York Democrat joined a growing number of politicians …

Federal Trade Commission Moves Closer to ‘Patent Troll’ Study

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Friday took another step toward a comprehensive study of “patent trolls” – companies in the business of buying and asserting patents – to see if they are hurting competition with abusive litigation. FTC commissioners …

Republican Win in Massachusetts Could Jeopardize Healthcare Bill

In a stunning blow to President Barack Obama, Republican Scott Brown won a bitter U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts Tuesday and promised to be the deciding vote against his sweeping healthcare overhaul. Brown’s win robbed Democrats of the crucial 60th …