An investigation by KCRA in Sacramento has exposed a world of clandestine, illegal horse races in California’s Central Valley. The report, which also uncovered drug deals, prostitution and other forms of illegal gambling has spurred a new investigation by the local sheriff and forced legislators to push the Department of Justice to make racing a top priority.

After a year-long investigation, Mother Jones uncovers the disturbing realities of  "The Greatest Show on Earth".  Using DocumentCloud, Deborah Nelson, "shows that Ringling elephants spend most of their long lives either in chains or on trains. They are lame from balancing their 8,000-pound frames on tiny tubs and from being confined in cramped spaces, sometimes for days at a time. They are afflicted with tuberculosis and herpes, potentially deadly diseases rare in the wild and linked to captivity."