Archive for October 2009
Bureaucratic failings put childrens’ lives at risk
In their continuing series on child welfare in Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Gina Barton and Crocker Stephenson focused on the case of Will Robert Johnson who died at five months of age. After reviewing hundreds of pages of documents about the case — many of which are not public and were obtained from outside…
Read MoreLoans brokered by nonprofits contributed to housing crisis
A review of government and court records by the Huffington Post Investigation Fund shows that two nonprofit groups worked closely with some of the nation’s biggest home builders to broker tens of billions of dollars in no-money-down mortgages. Now these loans are defaulting at up to three times the rate of other FHA loans, one…
Read MoreA love note to NICAR-L
Editor’s note: This post appeared on NICAR-L, an IRE listserv dedicated to computer-assisted reporting techniques. The NICAR list has helped hundreds of journalists tackle technical issues large and small. Be sure to check out this list and its archives as well as all of the other listservs that IRE has to offer. By Jamie Smith…
Read MoreNonprofit CEO waived some pay after compensation criticized
A recent investigation by The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer into Franklin Graham’s soaring compensation prompted the evangelist to give up much of his pay at the two Christian charities he leads. As president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, Graham received total compensation of $1.2 million last year. He was paid more than…
Read MoreSuite deal on stadium boxes for city officials
Cincinnati’s mayor and Hamilton County commissioners are among those who have taken advantage of an obscure provision in stadium lease agreements with the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals allowing them free use of a luxury box. The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gregory Korte reported that politicians have used the seats — often for free, and with free food…
Read MoreEarmark spending falls slightly but exceeds desired limits
While slightly down, earmark spending is still well above the levels deemed acceptable by Obama, according to an analysis by USA Today. “The Senate included $12.6 billion for earmarks in the 12 annual spending bills for 2010, while the House versions contain $9.1 billion, the analysis shows. That’s down 9% in the Senate and 13%…
Read MorePainkillers unregulated in college football programs
Pain is part of football. According to a series by The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.), so are painkiller injections on game days at college programs all over the country. Despite concerns about the possibility of increased risk of prescription painkiller addiction, the otherwise meticulous NCAA has virtually no oversight or policy regarding painkiller injections…
Read MoreSocial service agency failed to protect children
After facing roadblocks from the state-run Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, reporters Gina Barton and Crocker Stephenson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gathered thousands of pages of public records to create their own database of deaths within the system. They found that 22 children had died despite the bureau having clear warning signs that they…
Read MoreA push for investigative reporting in Bolivia
By Tracey Eaton, Flagler College Some reporters wanted to explore eastern Bolivia, where hundreds of Guaraní Indian families live in a state of semi-slavery. Others proposed investigating women’s rights and sexuality. No doubt, Bolivian reporters are eager to dig into all kinds of difficult and intriguing issues. Mexican journalist Pedro Enrique Armendares and I found…
Read MoreCongressmen opposed stimulus, yet pleaded for funds
Thomas Burr and Matt Canham of The Salt Lake Tribune report that while Sen. Bob Bennett vocally opposed the stimulus bill, he simultaneously asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu “to pay special attention to several Utah projects as he doled out billions in stimulus money.” All four of Utah’s Republican Congressmen voted against the stimulus, yet…
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