As Americans consume more and more products from China and other countries with weaker consumer safety regulations, the case of Rainbow Apparel shows how persistent the problem of lead contamination can be and how, in turn, consumers may never know if their trinkets are safe. READ FULL STORY | MAP | VIDEO | CALIFORNIA WATCH

A Southern California hospital chain known for its aggressive billing practices and cost-cutting is being investigated by state and federal authorities for an unusually high rate of life-threatening infections among its older patients. READ FULL STORY | DOCUMENTS | STORY IN L.A. TIMES