Posts by hdcoadmin
“Media Tracker” database relaunched
The Center for Public Integrity has relaunched its “Media Tracker” database in an updated and expanded form. The improved features of the online database “detail the scope of the political influence of top communications, entertainment and electronic companies” by including information on political contribuntions and lobbying expenditures. Click here to see their press release.
Read MoreMillions lost is ferry debacle
Steve Orr, of the (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, investigates the failed project for a high-speed ferry intended to operate between Rochester and Toronto. Orr “reveals a troubling trail of political maneuvering, lax oversight and lack of follow-through” – issues that cost state taxpayers $14 million.
Read MoreCardiologist given no-show contracts at New Jersey medical school
Ted Sherman and Josh Margolin of The Star-Ledger cover the details emerging from a “whistle blower lawsuit” against the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In an effort to make their cardiac surgery program seem robust to avoid being shut down, UMDNJ “ paid at least nine local cardiologists in private practice salaries…
Read MorePrince George’s County officials abuse credit card privileges
Cheryl W. Thompson of The Washington Post reports that officials in Prince George’s County charged thousands of dollar in personal purchases to county-issued credit cards. ” The Washington Post reviewed billing statements and other documents covering credit-card use over the past four years for officials in Prince George’s, where there has been a move to…
Read More“House of Lies” continued
In another installment of The Miami Herald‘s House of Lies series, reporter Debbie Cenziper found documents, emails and correspondence that showed Miami-Dade government leaders were warned about serious breakdowns in public housing but failed to take action, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Read More“Blighted Homeland”
In a 4-part series, the Los Angeles Times looks at the lingering results of uranium mining on a Navajo reservation where almost 4 million tons of uranium was mined for over 4 decades. “Navajos inhaled radioactive dust, drank contaminated water and built homes using rock from the mines and mills. Many of the dangers persist…
Read MoreCollege coaches cash in
Jodi Upton and Steve Wieberg of USA Today have taken an extensive look at the contracts of NCAA Division 1-A football coaches. “Head coaches at the NCAA’s top-level schools are making an average of $950,000 this year, not counting benefits, incentives, subsidized housing or any of the perks they routinely receive. At least 42 of…
Read MoreBeyond Sago – a series on mine safety
Ken Ward Jr. of The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette analyzed government reports and data and found that 9 out of every 10 coal mining deaths nationwide over the last 10 years could have been avoided if existing safety rules had been followed. Ward’s report, the first in a series of special investigative stories, appeared in Sunday’s…
Read MoreClocking the Cops
Tisha Thompson of WMAR-Baltimore found that police officers in Baltimore continuously broke speed limits, sometimes by over 10mph, even in the absence of an emergency. The investigation revealed that in an emergency, fifty percent of the police cars drove at more than 10 mph over the speed limit.Armed with hidden cameras, the investigators also found…
Read MoreViolent crime in Houston on the rise
Mark Greenblatt of KHOU-TV looks at a surge in violent crimes in Houston – an increase of 22% in the last 2 years. For the story, Greenblatt used Access, Excel, ArcGIS, and CrimeStat to first look for trends in rise in specific crimes, then mapped them out to find further trends. Included in the report…
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