The growth of the private detention industry has long been a subject of scrutiny. A recent eight-part series in the New Orleans Times-Picayune chronicled how more than half of Louisiana's 40,000 inmates are housed in prisons run by sheriffs or private companies as part of a broader financial incentive scheme. The detention business goes beyond just criminal prisoners.

SAN FRANCISCO – As the nation anxiously awaits the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of the health care reform law that guarantees health coverage for all Americans, a study released today shows that California has the highest number of people who die prematurely each year because they do not have health insurance.

(CNN) -- The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday struck down the state law governing how death-penalty inmates are executed by lethal injection.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Reducing the amount struggling homeowners owe on their mortgages is proving to be a more effective way to prevent foreclosures than other methods, such as reducing interest rates or postponing payments, a new report finds.

(CNN) -- The year was 1972. "M*A*S*H," "Sanfordand Son" and "Kung Fu" were reasons to stay home and watch TV. Roberta Flack had the number one song on the radio with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." Don McLean drove his Chevy to the levee and sang goodbye to Miss "American Pie."

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A possible U.S. House vote next week on citing Attorney General Eric Holder for contempt of Congress in connection with the botched Fast and Furious gun-running sting evoked bitter political sniping Thursday between Republicans and Democrats.

(CNN) -- The United States government is seeking to reject a lawsuit demanding information about drone strikes that target suspected terrorists overseas, saying releasing details on the program would have a major effect on counterterrorism efforts.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Broadcast television networks won an important free speech fight Thursday when the Supreme Court said government regulators imposed unfair punishment for isolated profanity and sexual content during evening "prime time" hours.

(CNN) -- If you prefer your meat without antibiotics, you're not alone, according to a new study from Consumers Union -- the group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine.

(CNN) -- The numbers, the costs, the effects are astounding. According to the College Board, 857 students drop out of high school every hour of every school day. But that's only one statistic. Here are some other numbers that drive home the impact of the high school dropout problem in the U.S.