Free Republic

A conservative watchdog group is calling on Nevada officials to intervene to ensure SEIU workers who operate one county's voting machines don't skew the results to boost their endorsed candidate, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. A contract between SEIU Local 1107 and Clark County -- where voting glitches were reported Tuesday -- makes the SEIU the sole union representative for, among other professions, voting machine technicians.

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Shares of Progress Energy Inc (PGN.N) were halted briefly on Monday on the New York Stock Exchange after trading triggered a circuit breaker, although more than 100 trades took place after the stock had moved enough to trigger a halt. Nearly 60 erroneous trades have been canceled, according to a Nasdaq representative. The halt occurred from 12:57 p.m. to 1:02 p.m. (1657 to 1702 GMT). The circuit breakers are triggered when a stock moves 10 percent or more within a five-minute period. However, based on Reuters time-and-sales data, the stock hit a threshold that...

HOUSTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - U.S. government inspectors found no leaking oil at Mariner Energy Inc's burned platform in the Gulf of Mexico, officials said late on Friday, allaying fears about more environmental damage after BP's massive spill. "Inspectors have reported no sign of pollution," the Interior Department said after government experts checked out the platform for several hours on Friday. The inspectors confirmed that the safety valves were shut going to the platform's oil and natural wells, pipelines were closed and the platform's tanks and pumps "are secure," the department said.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:DO) today announced that a subsidiary of the Company has entered into a term contract ending June 30, 2011, plus option, with Burullus Gas Company S.A.E. that will immediately mobilize the Ocean Endeavor from the Gulf Of Mexico (GOM) to Egypt. Diamond Offshore President and CEO, Larry Dickerson, noted, “With new contracting severely restricted in the GOM as a result of the uncertainties surrounding the offshore drilling moratorium, we are actively seeking international opportunities to keep our rigs fully employed. This new contract for the Endeavor will help us preserve backlog, and will allow the...