Posts by hdcoadmin
Section 8 failing to provide adequate housing
Antonio Olivo, John Bebow and Darnell Little of the Chicago Tribune used local data to show that “private landlords are fast taking over government’s traditional role of housing Chicago’s poor. But these subsidized ‘Section 8’ landlords have been failing four out of every 10 inspections” during the last five years. “More than 6,000 landlords failed…
Read MorePolice shooting probes flawed
Gina Barton of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviewed police records to show that in the past 20 years, no police shooting inquest in Milwaukee County has resulted in criminal charges against an officer. “Inquest jurors never hear from the families of the dead or from their attorneys. There’s no cross-examination. The only witnesses are those…
Read MoreFelons registering, voting in Oklahoma
Nolan Clay and John Perry of The Oklahoman used state voter data to show that “about 2,500 felons may be registered to vote. About 1,100 may have voted in last year’s general election. An exact count is difficult — in part because voters sometimes sign the wrong lines in poll books.” The paper found that…
Read MoreSheriff deputized friends, family, supporters
Christine Hanley of the Los Angeles Times reports on an Orange County Sheriff who deputized friends, family and political supporters. “Of the original 86 reserve deputies, 29 had contributed to Carona’s inaugural election campaign in 1998 and his re-election campaign in 2002.” The Times used hundreds of documents received through public records requests and provided…
Read MoreState lobbyists on course towards record earnings
Arthur Kane and Mark P. Couch of The Denver Post used state records to show that “Colorado lobbyists have earned more than $7.5 million so far this year, sending some of the most influential people at the statehouse well on their way to another year of record earnings.” A worker’s compensation measure received the most…
Read MoreFire district underestimates cost of helicopter
Andrew McIntosh of The Sacramento Bee used state public records to show that “the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District spent at least $790,000 to refurbish and equip a military surplus helicopter for firefighting and rescues, more than twice the $300,000 budget its elected board originally approved for the project.” A member of the fire district’s board…
Read MoreMedium home value soars
William M. Hartnett of The Palm Beach Post analyzed ten years’ of housing sales for Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, finding that median home prices have jumped dramatically during that period. In a special section published Sunday, the paper mapped neighborhoods according to median sale value and reported that water access costs more…
Read MoreNew evidence casts doubt on convicted killer’s guilt
Scott Glover and Matt Lait of the Los Angeles Times use scores of documents shedding doubt on the guilt of a man convicted of killing his mother over 20 years ago. Among the evidence discovered was a bloody footprint found at the scene that didn’t match the convicted killer’s shoes and a mysterious phone call…
Read MoreHeavy trucks wearing down roads
Pat Stith of The (Raleigh/Durham, N.C.) News & Observer reports on how the state relaxed laws to allow overweight trucks to destroy roads, while the enforcement of heavy trucks has also declined in the past five years. “… [S]tate lawmakers voted 10 times for bills that benefit trucking interests at the public expense.” Fines for…
Read MoreLarge endowments lead to heavy spending
Justin Pope of the Associated Press used federal data and other documents to show that “forty-seven U.S. colleges and universities now have endowments of $1 billion or more, compared to 17 a decade ago.” Along with rising endowments, many of these schools have also increased tuition: “Despite tripling its wealth over the last decade, the…
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