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Hundreds of Texas racehorses fatally injured
John Tedesco of the San Antonio Express-News examined the Texas Racing Commission’s database of horse injuries, which never had been analyzed by outsiders, and found that “at the state’s five licensed tracks, Marsh and other veterinarians with the Texas Racing Commission have euthanized or documented the deaths of 300 horses in the past five years,…
Read MoreSleepy truckers cause crashes, don’t get ticketed
Nancy Amons of WSMV-Nashville analyzed truck accident reports statewide over the past five years and found that “64 crashes where a trucker who was listed as ‘apparently asleep’ injured or killed someone. In 70 percent of those cases, the trucker never got a ticket.” Analysis of another database of Department of Safety inspection reports found…
Read MoreHigh-interest payday loans increase in N.H.
Karen Spiller of The (Nashua, N.H.) Telegraph found that payday loans with high interest rates — as high as 500 percent or more — are increasing in New Hampshire, the only state in New England not to regulate them. “Last year alone, more than 100,000 payday loans were written in the state for an average…
Read MorePrisoners paroled early despite lifetime sentences
Robert Patrick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch used court records and Department of Corrections data to show that prisoners who were sentenced to prison terms of double their lifetimes or more have been quietly released after doing only a fraction of their time in Missouri and Illinois. “In all, at least 189 murderers and 40…
Read MoreN.J. funds schools that manage money poorly
Jean Rimbach and Kathleen Carroll of The (Hackensack, N.J.) Record analyzed audits of more than 100 state-funded preschools in New Jersey’s poorest communities, reviewed tax returns, financial documents and contracts and interviewed dozens of state and local officials, owners and teachers to show that seven years after New Jersey launched its landmark program for disadvantaged…
Read MoreFighting eminent domain mostly a losing battle
Steve Kemme and Gregory Korte of The Cincinnati Enquirer analyzed real-estate sales records and found that those who sold their homes for an urban renewal project in suburban Norwood made more than twice what their homes were worth — while those who had their properties taken by eminent domain made three times their appraised value.…
Read MoreLegal claims, retirements paid by taxpayers
In a continuation of the “Conduct Unbecoming” series, Lewis Kamb of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer examined “state pension and payroll records of eight King County sheriff’s deputies and found example after example of how such problem officers continued drawing salaries and earning service credits for years.” The investigation also found that “taxpayers have paid hundreds of…
Read MoreCampaign finance reform plan lacks scope
Kevin Begos and Doug Stanley of The Tampa Tribune analyzed records to show that the campaign finance reform legislation backed by Senate President Tom Lee would have a serious effect on only about 5 percent of soft money groups in the state, leaving vast loopholes in other places. “Of the 816 soft money committees listed…
Read MoreAnalysis paints picture of killers, victims
Jo Craven McGinty of The New York Times analyzed homicide records over the past three years to provide a detailed description of New York killers and their victims. From 2003 through 2005, 1,662 murders were committed in New York. With crimes that were solved, men and boys were responsible for 93 percent of the murders.…
Read MoreTaxpayers subsidize college athletics
Mark Alesia of The Indianapolis Star finds that “athletic departments at taxpayer-funded universities nationwide receive more than $1 billion in student fees and general school funds and services.” The investigation analyzed the 2004-05 athletic budgets of 164 of the nation’s 215 biggest public schools. The Star compiled and put online what is says is the…
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