Firefighters who worked at Ground Zero have a 19% greater chance of contracting cancer than those who did not, a landmark new medical study found.

The report out Thursday argues it is "biologically plausible" to link exposure to the smoldering World Trade Center site to cancer - a finding that could open the door to changing the federal ruling that denied Zadroga Act benefits to cancer-stricken responders.

The number of Americans who say the government should do whatever it takes to protect its citizens against terrorism —even if it means violating civil liberties — has dropped almost in half since the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

In January 2002, 47% of respondents said they were willing to have the government violate their "basic civil liberties" in order to prevent additional acts of terrorism. When asked last month, only 25% said they favored such a trade-off.

Amid the chaos of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, emergency responders found they could not communicate with each other. That problem persists 10 years later, according to a review of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

A National Preparedness Group report released Wednesday concludes that the recommendation that a nationwide broadband network for emergency responders be created "continues to languish."

Thousands more Downtown residents may now receive compensation for their 9/11-related illnesses, after the federal government agreed to allow those who live as far north as Canal Street to apply.

Sheila Birnbaum, the special master overseeing the new $2.8 billion Victim Compensation Fund, initially proposed to only cover those who lived south of Reade Street.
But after examining photographs and hearing from many residents north of Reade Street who are sick, Birnbaum decided to expand the coverage area roughly 10 blocks north.