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Jason Method of the Asbury Park Press reported Sunday that a construction official charged in an FBI bribery sting also is under investigation by a state agency for failing to detect several potentially deadly defects at a townhouse complex, such as inadequate fire walls. Residents also complained about other serious defects, including carbon monoxide leaking…
Read MoreSally Kestin, Megan O’Matz and John Maines of the Sun-Sentinel used federal records to show that “the federal government has paid funeral expenses for at least 315 deaths” in the wake of hurricanes in South Florida last year, “including those of a man who shot himself and a stroke victim hospitalized more than a week…
Read MoreDiana Hefley and Scott North of The (Everett) Herald used state and local data to show that “the areas of Snohomish County with the highest potential for wildfires are home to more than 5,500 people, most relatively new arrivals. … Since 2000 an average of 100 new houses and mobile homes have sprouted in the…
Read MoreDina Cappiello and Anne Belli of the Houston Chronicle obtained OSHA data on the British Petroleum refinery that exploded March 23. They found that the refinery had been fined and warned about the ventilation stack and given ideas on how to make it safer in 1992. “To correct the problem, OSHA recommended that Amoco reconfigure…
Read MoreRick Neale of Florida Today analyzed 2004 traffic ticket data from Brevard County, finding that “beachside police ticket at far higher relative frequencies than their mainland counterparts.” The county’s smaller towns write far more tickets per capita than larger cities. “Melbourne Village issues almost eight times more tickets per capita than Brevard’s biggest city, Palm…
Read MoreA team from the Center for Public Integrity released LobbyWatch, an analysis of nearly $13 billion spent on federal lobbying since 1998. One story reveals that more than 19 percent of all filings to the Senate Office of Public Records were late and “49 of the top 50 lobbying firms (in terms of revenue) failed…
Read MoreCarter Strickland of The Oklahoman used the state’s Freedom of Information Act to obtain phone records from Oklahoma University’s men’s basketball program showing improper contact with high school recruits. “Coaches are allowed one phone call a week to recruits, parents or legal guardians. But phone records obtained by The Oklahoman show representatives of the OU…
Read MoreMike Wilkinson and James Drew of The (Toledo) Blade checked out one of Ohio’s government investment instruments: rare coins. “Since 1998, Ohio has invested millions of dollars in the unregulated world of rare coins, buying nickels, dimes, and pennies. Controlling the money for the state? Prominent local Republican and coin dealer Tom Noe, whose firm…
Read MoreMike McIntire of The New York Times has a piece on the most common of New York City political donors – homemakers. “Among the elite group of about 600 people who have contributed the maximum to candidates for citywide offices in the November election, 62 described themselves as homemakers or housewives, an analysis of campaign…
Read MoreSarah Bahari of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reviewed spending data for the city of Southlake, finding that city employees spent about $77,000 in 2004 at Lowe’s and Home Depot stores. “Employees routinely bought inexpensive items — screws, shovels, trash bags and cleaning supplies. They also made pricier purchases — dozens of pieces of plywood, a…
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