The Secret Money Project, a joint endeavor by the Center for Investigative Reporting and NPR, tracks the influence of hidden money from independent groups funding advertising campaigns during the 2008 elections.
Archive for September, 2008
Posted in 
Army missteps handling chemical weapon disposal plant
September 29th, 2008 
Beth Matthew D. LaPlante of The Salt Lake Tribune found that the U.S. Army made several errors in its attempts to dispose of Utah’s stockpile of lewisite, a now-illegal agent similar to mustard gas used in chemical warfare.
Central Ohio fire departments missing the national response standard
September 29th, 2008 Beth The National Fire Protection Association says that firefighters should get to a site within 6 minutes, 90 percent of the time. Using state fire-run data, Doug Caruso, Martin Rozenman and Jim Woods of the Columbus Dispatch discovered that only two of 84 fire districts in central Ohio meet that national standard.
Sewage cleanup plan not enough to repair polluted waterway
September 29th, 2008 Beth A special report by the Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) looks at Beargrass Creek, a polluted waterway that runs through Louisville, Kentucky, and finds that an $800 million sewage cleanup plan won’t be enough to solve its many problems.
Indianapolis city employees are abusing parking placards
September 25th, 2008 Beth An investigation by Tom Spalding and Heather Gillers of the Indianapolis Star has led to a policy change regarding special parking placards in Indianapolis. Some have been using the special permits, intended to help city employees complete quick downtown tasks, to park for hours at no charge.
St. Louis towing lot illegally sold impounded cars
September 25th, 2008 Beth Reporters Joe Mahr, David Hunnand and Jeremy Kohler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have uncovered a scandal involving St. Louis police and a private towing contractor.
“Mitchell Report” for NFL shows history of drug use
September 24th, 2008 Beth Using media reports, archives, public records and interviews with players and personnel, Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune compiled a “Mitchell Report” for the NFL. The list identifies 185 players linked to abuse of performance-enhancing drugs dating back to 1962.
Head of McCain’s transition team lobbied for Freddie Mac
September 24th, 2008 Beth Newly released Congressional documents show that the lobbying firm of William Timmons Sr., who Republicans say has been tapped to lead Sen. John McCain’s transition committee, receive $260,000 this year from Feddie Mac prior to the government’s takeover of the mortgage company, report Jonathan D. Salant and Timothy J. Burger of Bloomberg.
NY state misappropriating fees collected from cell phone tax
September 22nd, 2008 Beth An investigation by Michelle Breidenbach of The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y) shows that a $1.20 cell phone tax intended for upgrades to 911 technology is being misappropriated.
Cluster of foreclosures linked to loose lending practices
September 22nd, 2008 Beth Cary Spivak and Daniel Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel identified the four inner city neighborhoods hit the hardest by the mortgage meltdown in Milwaukee and zeroed in on the lending practices.
