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Execution of unarmed Iraqi draws attention to military pressures

Salon.com's Mark Benjamin and freelance journalist Christopher Weaver investigated the 2007 execution of Genei Nesir Khudair al-Janabi, an unarmed Iraqi prisoner. Three U.S. snipers were charged in the murder. "A review of thousands of pages of documents from the legal proceedings obtained by Salon shows that in the months prior to Khudair's death, the young snipers, already frustrated by guerrilla tactics, were pressed to their physical limits and pushed by officers to stretch the bounds of the laws of war in order to increase the enemy body count."

Finding the Fallen

A series by The Boston Globe explores the efforts of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), a program launched by the Pentagon in 2003 to aid in the recovery of MIAs from foreign wars. During WWII, over 2,000 Americans were lost over Papua New Guinea. The Globe details the work being done there to bring these soldiers home. Borrowing techniques from archeology and forensic criminology, crews from JPAC clear and excavate dense jungle in search of the tiniest shred of material evidence and human bones.

Obscure public agency lines pockets of private businesses

Brian Joseph of the Orange County Register investigated the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, a public agency founded to finance "projects of public value." The agency "issued about $4.2 billion in tax free bonds in 2007, ranking behind only the states of California, Ohio and New York." Analysis of financial documents showed that much of that money has gone to benefit private businesses.

Aged and worn tires compromise school bus safety

An investigative report by Josh Bernstein of KNXV-Phoenix revealed that tires on school buses serving six area districts had major damage — chunks of rubber missing, splitting treads — yet the buses were still in use. Despite claims that tires are changed twice per school year, some buses had tires that were over eight years old. Arizona's minimum safety requirements for school buses do not address the age of tires.

Chains' claims of healthy menu items not always accurate

Eight stations of the Scripps Television Stations Group pooled their efforts to investigate the nutritional value of low-calorie and low-fat menu items at several national restaurant chains. Food purchased from restaurants such as Applebee's and Macaroni Grill was tested at a lab for actual calorie and fat content. "Out of the 23 items tested from various chains, 18 of the items were higher in fat and 16 higher in calories." Al Tompkins, of Poynter, interviewed Lana Durban Scott, director of news strategy at Scripps, to find out how they put this project together.

PAC spends millions on fundraising, little on candidates

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cameron McWhirter and Megan Clarke report that former Congressman Bob Barr's political action committee has raised $4.3 million since 2003 to promote conservative candidates and causes, primarily at the national level. But the PAC gave only $125,200 — about three cents of every dollar raised — to federal candidates and other campaign committees. The fund spent more than $710,000 on administrative costs, including salary for Barr's son Derek, and $3.3 million to raise more money. Barr did not answer questions about claims in his latest fund-raising letter that do not appear to be supported by the committee's records.

District's textbook procurement procedures plagued with problems

An investigation by David Andreatta, of the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.), examined the textbook procurement procedure of the Rochester School District and found a wide range of problems and waste. Issues range from nearly 20,000 book going undistributed eight months into the school year to $1.4 million in secondary school books being lost by both schools and students. Another approximately 70,000 textbooks were discarded despite still being useful for classroom instruction.

Diversity fund lacks oversight

KSTP-Minneapolis investigated Minnesota's School District Integration Revenue, a fund intended to enhance diversity in schools across the state. "Experts say that money has been budgeted with no clear purpose." A line-by-line evaluation of one district's budget revealed questionable spending, such as charges for food and candy amounting to over $24,000 per month.

Education alternatives for disruptive students raise questions

An investigation by Jim Parsons of WTAE-Pittsburgh "exposed a system that allows disruptive students to get the same diploma as other children, even though they only have to put in half the number of hours." Many of the schools attended by these troubled students are run by private nonprofits that do not require certification for their teachers.

Students investigate the suicide of a mentally-ill inmate

A three-month investigation by journalism students at Humboldt State University looked into the suicide of James Lee Peters, a mentally-ill Native American inmate at Humboldt County Jail. With few people willing to talk, the students relied on public records obtained through the California Public Records Act to piece together what happened to Lee, and how the system failed him.

D.C. security breaches

An investigation by WTTG's Rick Yarborough and Tisha Thompson revealed serious security problems in the nation's capital. From the metal detectors that protect city government buildings to the firearms training of the D.C. Protective Service Police, WTTG's undercover and hidden camera investigations found serious security breaches. (Parts one, two, and three.)

Careless Detention: Medical Treatment in Immigrant Prisons

A series by Dana Priest and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post uncovers an alarming level of neglect in immigration centers across the United States. "As tighter immigration policies strain federal agencies, the detainees in their care often pay a heavy cost." In the last 5 years, 83 detainees have died while being held in these facilities. Psychiatric patients "undergo months and sometimes years of undermedication or overmedication, misdiagnosis or no diagnosis." Correspondent Scott Pelley, of 60 Minutes, reported on the issue in conjunction with The Post's investigation.

Schools promote students despite widespread failure

After a 10-month investigtion, The Arizona Daily Star reports that many students in Tucson-area school districts are being socially promoted and not earning the grades they deserve. "In the 2006-07 school year alone, nine in 10 students were moved to the next grade level, but data show that nearly a third of them failed basic courses in English, math, science or social studies."

McCain losing business donors to Democratic nominees

Bloomberg's Jonathan D. Salant reports that John McCain is struggling to connect with the business donors who helped bankroll George W. Bush's candidacy. "Employees from the securities, construction, pharmaceutical and energy industries, who accounted for about a tenth of Bush's money in 2004, are turned off by his record and giving more to his Democratic rivals, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."

Taxpayers foot bill for game warden convention

A North American game wardens conference in St. Paul last year cost taxpayers nearly $400,000, even though it turned a profit for the convention organizers, reported David Shaffer of the Star Tribune. "Some of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' 204 conservation officers also solicited private donations for the conference — a practice one official says was improper — and all were required to attend. Officers were paid, and those from outside the metro area stayed in downtown hotels at state expense." The story has already prompted three state investigations.

Race track deal emerged at great cost to taxpayers

A Charlotte Observer investigation by Adam Bell revealed what happened behind the scenes after a race track owner threatened to move his speedway following a dispute with a community over plans to add a drag strip there. The billionaire owner landed $80 million in taxpayer incentives in exchange for staying in town. A review of more than 1,100 pages of previously confidential documents obtained under the NC Open Records Act, and interviews with more than two dozen people, detailed the lengths to which bickering local officials went to keep the track, including a last-minute decision that cost taxpayers an extra $20 million.

Litigation finance companies skirt usury laws for great profit

Billy Shields of the Daily Business Review exposed the growing business of litigation finance. These companies offer plaintiffs an advance on pending legal settlements, but at great cost. "The debate over litigation finance company begins over whether they are making a loan or investing in cases. Because courts have ruled their advances are not loans, the companies can charge virtually any percentage of a settlement or verdict in exchange for a cash advance without violating usury laws." Usury laws limit the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan, but to not apply to the litigation finance advances. Currently, these finance companies are almost entirely unregulated, leaving litigants vulnerable to excessive fees and charges.

Aging sewer systems continue to pollute rivers, streams

A Gannett News Service analysis by Larry Wheeler and Grant Smith shows that "America's aging sewer systems continue to dump human waste into rivers and streams, despite years of fines and penalties targeting publicly owned agencies responsible for sewage overflows." Wheeler and Smith analyzed enforcement and compliance records gathered by the EPA and state regulators from January 2003 to February 2008 for the report. Enforcement actions taken by federal or state authorities against municipal sewer authorities across the country are available in an online database.

Fatal RV flaws

An investigation into RV safety by Chris Halsne, of KIRO (Seattle, Wash.), found that the government only requires "front-end crash and brake tests for the empty chassis." Data analysis revealed that many fatalities in RV accidents are the result of poorly secured interior elements, braking problems, and the weak structural integrity of the fiberglass and wood frames. In response to the investigation, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association said, "NHTSA (The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) hasn't crash tested finished motor homes because they are fundamentally safe — there simply haven't been enough deaths to warrant the cost of purchasing and testing these types of vehicles."

City repair fund provides scant relief to tenants

In a fourth installment of The Washington Post's Forced Out series, about abusive landlords who drive tenants from rent-controlled apartments, Debbie Cenziper and Sarah Cohen report that D.C. government has widely misused a multi-million dollar fund to repair buildings when landlords refuse to do the work. "In the past three years, the (city) spent $617,000 on repairs at neglected apartment buildings — just four percent of the $16.5 million in the fund — even while its inspectors chronicled rampant code violations at complexes across the city." The city spent three times more repairing privately owned, single-family houses, some valued at $500,000 or more, including one that received a new front porch, 25 windows, fresh paint, roof repairs and a new garage door.

Network of flipping founders in Southwest Florida

An investigation by Michael Braga, Aaron Kessler and Charlie Szymanski of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune used social network analysis and hundreds of land and corporation documents to uncover a web of questionable real estate deals involving a Southwest Florida investor and developer. The subject, Mark Brivik, moved properties back and forth between himself, companies he controlled, and his friends — in the process driving up sales prices and harvesting millions of dollars in questionable mortgages that allegedly funded his lavish lifestyle on the Florida coast. The project includes an interactive network graphic that ties together the major players and their transactions.

Congressional campaign committees peddling access to conventions

Ken Dilanian, of USA TODAY, reports members of the Congressional campaign committees are selling access to this summer's political conventions in return for campaign contributions. This exploits a loophole in the ethics law meant to reduce special interests' influence on members of Congress. "House Democrats are offering a 'premier package' at the Aug. 25-28 Denver convention that includes a ticket to a party honoring Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The ethics law forbids lobbyist-sponsored convention parties honoring one lawmaker — but it doesn't apply to convention events that are fundraisers."

A con-artist's trail of deception

An investigative narrative by Justin Fenton of The Baltimore Sun explores the life and crimes of Cindy McKay who "was convicted in April 2008 of secretly stealing thousands of dollars from her boyfriend and stabbing him to death before his body was found burning along an Anne Arundel County road." A career criminal, McKay stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from employers and family over the course of more than 20 years. Two of McKay's sons were also implicated in the 2006 murder of her boyfriend. Included in the series is a map detailing her exploits throughout the mid-Atlantic region. [Parts one, two, and three of the series.]