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A watchdog report by Justina Wang of the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.) looks at how the latest salmonella contamination exposes vulnerabilities in the protection of U.S. food safety. Despite calls for stricter oversight, the system remains inadequate. The article points out that “federal officials hold little power to force recalls or oversee the daily…
Read MoreWNYC-New York and ProPublica have started a Web site dedicated to providing “documents, data and original reporting to help citizens monitor the progress and effectiveness of the largest domestic spending bill in U.S. history.” The site, called ShovelWatch, can be found at http://www.shovelwatch.org/.
Read MoreIf you’re new to plumbing spreadsheets and databases, it’s likely that you might exhibit some anxiety about your new found skills. But take it from a seasoned professional, Maurice Tamman of The Wall Street Journal, don’t hesitate to share your data and check your work. Even if it means phoning up a competitor to see…
Read MoreOver 200 U.S. citizens have been killed in Mexico since 2004, according to a report by Lise Olsen of the Houston Chronicle. “More U.S. citizens suffered unnatural deaths in Mexico than in any other foreign country — excluding military killed in combat zones — from 2004 to 2007, State Department statistics show.” Mexican Congressman Juan…
Read MoreIn an exclusive story, the Des Moines Register reported that a company had been sending mentally disabled Texans to work at a meat-processing plant in West Liberty, Iowa, for 34 years. The company housed the men in a 106-year-old bunkhouse and deducted from their pay $1,000 per month for room, board and “kind care.” After…
Read MoreBy Phil Williams, IRE Board Member If you read the industry news about the challenges facing journalism today, it’s easy to get discouraged. Positions on investigative teams — in some cases, whole teams — are being cut. Entire news organizations are closing their doors. The list of talented journalists looking for work grows every week.…
Read MoreWhen conducting an interview — or attempting to extract information from public officials who are less than forthright — it’s essential to be fair and upfront about your needs. While Tisha Thompson, a reporter for WTTG in Washington D.C., doesn’t hesitate to sit herself on public officials’ door steps at 6 a.m. to get the…
Read MoreCurious about all the news stories surrounding safety and security at our airports and prompted by Dave Savini’s terrific investigation into safety issues and the lack of tracking of security badges at Chicago airports, I started asking questions about other facets of the industry. I talked with pilots, air traffic controllers and others about what…
Read MoreThis story is part of our ongoing coverage of Chicago’s massive plan to demolish old public housing projects and replace them with new neighborhoods that were supposed integrate public housing residents with wealthier families. Under the plan, more than 13,000 apartments were demolished amid a severe affordable housing shortage in the city. The plan’s backers…
Read MoreGeorgia law requires children to be immunized against certain diseases before they can enroll in school. But many metro Atlanta schools and health officials don’t enforce the law, allowing thousands of children to enroll and remain in school without proof of required vaccinations. Public health officials consider school vaccination laws a cornerstone in wiping out…
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