Posts by hdcoadmin
Danger in Tow: An investigation into U-Haul International
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 safety on the road. The three-part series explores how U-Haul policies increase likelihood of accidents; spotty maintenance practices; and how, when sued, U-Haul has a…
Read MoreInspections at the pumps thwart consumer fraud
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. In 2006, there were more inspections of Michigan pumps than the previous three years combined, leading to detection of 1,358 faulty meters and $250,000 in fines.
Read MoreMothball fleet polluting Suisun Bay
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. Over 21 tons of toxic metals have shed off the decaying ships into the water creating a significant environmental risk, significantly greater than Maritime Administration office…
Read MoreFlorida migration patterns show boom has slowed
Through analysis of IRS data from 1999-2000 and 2004-05, St. Petersburg Times reporters James Thorner and Dana Oppenheim looked at the huge migration of people and income to Florida from other states in the first half of the decade, mapping the myriad locations from which people arrived. The analysis found that surprisingly, hot spots for…
Read MoreSecret Shelters
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 up as official shelters face issues of overcrowding. Exact numbers on how many of these make-shift shelters exist are unknown, but The Observer located 17 in…
Read MoreMental health care less than adequate at Walter Reed
In their continuing coverage of the issues surrounding Walter Reed, The Washington Post‘s most recent installment deals with soldiers who are returning home with mental health issues – namely Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – only to be met with an inadequate mental health system.
Read MoreInvestigation leads to arrest of tow truck operators
An investigation by the Gilroy (Calif.) Dispatch led to the arrest of a father and son who operated a tow truck company. The two had filed more than 2,000 small claims lawsuits against people from all over California and were arrested last week for allegedly abusing the small claims court system. Previous Dispatch investigations revealed…
Read MoreCheating on standardized tests rampant in some Texas schools
The Dallas Morning News worked with a Canadian professor and found that test scores of more than 50,000 students over two years show evidence of cheating. Joshua Benton and Holly K. Hacker report that their in-depth data analysis contradicts claims by the Texas Education Agency which said cheating was “extraordinarily rare and that the agency…
Read MoreParis Hilton: The true Hollywood CAR story
The Los Angeles Times found that, if hotel heiress Paris Hilton serves 23 days out of a 45 day sentence for her DUI-related charges, she’ll do more time than 80 percent of people convicted of similar offenses. In L.A. County, such offenders are routinely released early due to overcrowded jails. “Because of the high media…
Read MoreMiami’s city housing program riddled with problems
After a year of exposing corruption and breakdowns in the Miami-Dade County housing agency, The Miami Herald‘s Debbie Cenziper, Larry Lebowitz and Oscar Corral reveal similar problems in the city of Miami’s housing programs, including millions of dollars loaned to developers who never produced the projects they promised — and never returned the money.
Read More