The early bird deadline for 
The 2025 Freelance Fellowship Recipients
Chris Halsne of KIRO-Seattle reports on why many criminals with outstanding misdemeanor warrants don’t have to worry about going to jail. The KIRO-Seattle investigative team analyzed 145,000 active misdemeanor warrants in Washington. They found “a growing number of cities and counties … don’t want to pay for the cost of jail time or transportation of…
Read MoreAmanda J. Crawford and Ryan Konig of The Arizona Republic analyzed state records on clemency, finding that “the number of inmates recommended to the governor for shortened prison terms by the Board of Executive Clemency has skyrocketed” during the past 10 years. “But in the vast majority of cases, even in those where the trial…
Read MoreGina 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 MoreNolan 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 MoreChristine 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 MoreArthur 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 MoreAndrew 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 MoreWilliam 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 MoreScott 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…
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