To the Point
West Virginia Water Crisis Throws Spotlight on Water Safety
Charleston, West Virginia's been nearly shut down by a chemical leak in the water supply. Scarier than what's known about the danger to public health is what's not known.
Charleston, the capital city of West Virginia, has been virtually shut down because of a chemical leak in the water supply. As the chemical is being flushed from the system, the scariest thing isn't what’s known about the danger to public health but what’s not known. Are regulators doing their best to find out? Also, Egyptians go to the polls to vote on a military-backed constitution, and a court ruling may lead to higher costs for Google, Facebook, Netflix or other services. Could the FCC help consumers without stirring up a political firestorm?
Banner image: Water is distributed to residents at the South Charleston Community Center in Charleston, January 10, 2014. President Obama has issued an emergency declaration for the state of West Virginia, ordering federal aid in the aftermath of a chemical spill that has left up to 300,000 people without tap water. Photo: Lisa Hechesky/Reuters
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3 storiesEgyptians Vote on Military-Backed Constitution
For the third time in three years, more than 52 million Egyptian voters have been asked to approve a new constitution. Polling stations are closing as we go on the air. David Kirkpatrick is Cairo Bureau Chief for the New York Times .
Read the story8 minIs West Virginia's Water Crisis a Wake-up Call?
Last Thursday, water from West Virginia's Elk River began to smell like licorice. The trouble was traced to a leak of methylcyclohexylmethanol from a one-inch hole in a storage tank just upstream from the plant treating water for 300,000 people, including those living in Charleston, the capital city.
Read the story34 minFederal Court Strikes Down 'Net Neutrality'
Yesterday, a federal appeals court struck down the Federal Communications Commissions' rules on "net neutrality," the requirement that telecoms charge the same rate to all content providers. Is there a way back for the FCC without an all-out battle in Congress?
Read the story9 min