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The University of Illinois is re-evaluating its admissions policies after the Chicago Tribune uncovered a “shadow admissions process” for politically connected applicants. “At a time when it’s more competitive than ever to get into the University of Illinois, some students with subpar academic records are being admitted after interference from state lawmakers and university trustees,”…
Read MoreThe Morning Call in Allentown, Pa., published “Risky Business,” a four-part series on the Bethlehem Area School District’s costly use of variable-rate bonds and swaps to finance hundreds of millions of dollars in school renovations. “While the board approved swap after swap on the advice of the administration and former financial consultant Les Bear, no…
Read MoreAn Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis found that the state of Georgia does not keep track of all of students, which leads to questions about the state’s dropout and graduation rates. According to the article, “Last year, school staff marked more than 25,000 students as transferring to other Georgia public schools, but no school reported them as…
Read MoreWhile schools struggle though a budget crisis and freeze funds, San Diego Unified spent more than $2,000 in federal money for disadvantaged students to send its superintendent to a conference in Washington, D.C. “Deputy Superintendent Chuck Morris, who approved the spending, now says charging the federal fund for the expenses was inappropriate and vowed to…
Read MoreA three-day series by The Columbus Dispatch explored a little-known facet of the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage insurance, which, in addition the helping first-time home buyers obtain loans, insures $56 billion in outstanding loans for developers to build and renovate apartments for people of modest means. “Bad loans, no penalties” examined how developers who have…
Read MoreA story by Michael Jamison of the Missoulian (Missoula, Mont.) shows that the contracting scheme the federal government is employing to award stimulus contracts favors large corporations over small- and medium-sized firms. In an effort to speed up the bidding process, the federal government is using indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, or IDIQ, contracting. “An IDIQ is…
Read MoreHundreds of dedicated investigative reporters and editors will gather for the IRE Conference in Baltimore this week to hear from the industry’s biggest names, to honor the nation’s best investigative journalism and to brainstorm about ways to breathe new life into the profession. Already, more than 700 reporters, editors, journalism educators and students have pre-registered…
Read MoreAn 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…
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