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Extra! Extra! is a blog devoted to current examples of investigative reporting, including in-depth projects, enterprise and breaking news with impact, use of public documents and Freedom of Information laws, use of data or computer-assisted reporting tools, and other examples of watchdog journalism from all media.

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Archive for June, 2007

Mohamed Atta and 9/11: The Secret FAA Files

Friday, 06/29/07 Posted in First Amendment & FOIA, Terrorism

Eric Longabardi, reporting for "The Enterprise Report" at ERSNews.com, reports on the "secret FAA airmen files" of Mohamed Atta, the lead pilot in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The ... Read more..

Sunshine Laws disregarded by council members

Wednesday, 06/27/07 Posted in First Amendment & FOIA

Beth Kormanik of The (Jacksonville, Fla.) Times-Union evaluated the daily calendars of city council members from June 1, 2005, to Dec. 1, 2006 and found dozens of meetings that violated ... Read more..

Biotech developer scams Florida cities

Tuesday, 06/26/07 Posted in Government (federal/state/local)

A seven-month investigation by Jason Grotto of The Miami Herald reveals how a Boston developer, Dennis Stackhouse, collected millions of dollars for a biotech park. He promised to create ... Read more..

Inspections at the pumps thwart consumer fraud

Monday, 06/25/07 Posted in Transportation

In a time of rising gas prices, Eric Morath of The Detroit News brings some good news: increased inspections have reduced likelihood of consumers being cheated at the pump. ... Read more..

Danger in Tow: An investigation into U-Haul International

Monday, 06/25/07 Posted in Transportation

A year-long investigation by Myron Levin and Alan C. Miller of the Los Angeles Times reveals that practices of U-Haul International, the nation's largest provider of rental trailers, are compromising ... Read more..

Juvenile sex offenders pose problems to schools

Monday, 06/25/07 Posted in Broadcast, Education, Justice (courts/crime/law)

A report by Anna Song of KATU-Portland, Ore. reveals that juvenile sex offenders often go right back to school after being charged.. Due to their status as minors, school ... Read more..

Lead hazards still taint cheap toys

Monday, 06/25/07 Posted in Health

Mary Shedden of The Tampa Tribune reports on the continuing problem of lead turning up in children's toys produced outside the U.S. Using independent testing, her investigation turned up ... Read more..

Mothball fleet polluting Suisun Bay

Friday, 06/22/07 Posted in Environment

An aged maritime fleet located in Suisun Bay off the coast of California is an environmental threat according to an investigation by Thomas Peele of the Contra Costa Times. ... Read more..

Secret Shelters

Thursday, 06/21/07 Posted in Housing, Religion, Social issues

Fred Kelly reports on a two-week investigation by The Charlotte Observer which uncovered an "underground network" of shelters and safe houses, many run by religious ministries, which have sprung ... Read more..

Broken hydrants pepper Chicago suburbs

Thursday, 06/21/07 Posted in Broadcast

Over the last three months the CBS2 Investigators exposed numerous broken fire hydrants throughout Chicago Read more..