An investigation co-published by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica reveals that the Food and Drug Administration failed to prevent the distribution of tainted syringes linked to several deaths and serious illnesses. “Three months before the pre-filled syringes were shipped in October 2007, an FDA inspector visited the plant in North Carolina where they were made.…
Read MoreA USA Today analysis shows lobbyists paid $35.8 million in 2008 to honor 534 current and former lawmakers, almost 250 other federal officials and more than 100 groups, many of which count lawmakers among their members. “Despite a ban on gifts to lawmakers and limits on campaign contributions, lobbyists and groups that employ them can…
Read MoreSan Diego’s First 5, a social service program focused on early childhood development, is under scrutiny for the disproportionate allocation of grant money to organizations linked to its advisers. “The county’s First 5 Commission has awarded at least $67 million in the past three years to nonprofits and other groups that employ people who serve…
Read MoreA running investigation by The Fresno (Calif.) Bee found that Fresno County had millions of dollars worth of contracts with Genesis Family Center, a nonprofit social-service agency headed by two sisters who had been convicted of embezzling the agency’s money. Even after the convictions, the agency continued to engage in questionable spending practices, such as…
Read MorePresident Obama has nominated several top campaign contributors for ambassadorships, according to a report by Jonathan D. Salant and Julianna Goldman of Bloomberg.com. “Even with his pledges to change government, Obama is following the tradition of his predecessors by offering some ambassadorships to top campaign backers, including four of the 12 nominations this week. The…
Read MorePaul Sloth, a reporter with The Journal Times in Racine, Wis., proved that a little hands-on CAR training can go a long way. Less than a month after attending the optional CAR training at a Better Watchdog Workshop in Madison, he’s already completed two spreadsheet-based stories. After only a few hours of training in Excel,…
Read More“The Pentagon spent more than $2.7 billion on ‘miscellaneous items’ in 2008 for which the contractor was listed as ‘not available’ — a rare omission for Defense Department documentation — according to an Aerospace Daily analysis of an independent national database of government contracting data,” according to a report by Michael Fabey of Aerospace Daily…
Read MoreA six-month Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch investigation found that a 35-year-old federal law created to protect academic records is being used at some schools to shield athletics-related documents including NCAA violations. Reporters Todd Jones and Jill Riepenhoff sent public-record requests to all 119 colleges in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1-A) to gauge their openness…
Read MoreAn investigation by CNN’s Abbie Boudreau and Scott Zamost led to a major policy change in how much the U.S. Postal Service will pay for an employee’s home. The investigation also prompted an inspector general’s review that criticized how much the agency spends to relocate employees. CNN revealed how the agency was buying homes costing…
Read MoreWhile early-bird registration has ended, you have not missed your opportunity to attend this great training event. On-site registrations will be accepted beginning Wednesday evening from 4-6 p.m. and will continue Thursday – Saturday during the conference, being held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna Street. Learn from the best in the business, including…
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