Extra Extra
Are U.S. border agents crossing the line?
“In partnership with the Investigative Fund of the Nation Institute, Need to Know investigates whether U.S. border agents have been using excessive force in an effort to curb illegal immigration.” “The report raises questions about accountability because border agents are part of the Department of Homeland Security and therefore are not subjected to the same…
Read MoreEditor and reporter targeted by a misinformation campaign
“After investigating Pentagon propaganda contractors, A USA TODAY reporter and editor have themselves been subjected to a propaganda campaign of sorts, waged on the Internet through a series of bogus websites.” “Fake Twitter and Facebook accounts have been created in their names, along with a Wikipedia entry and dozens of message board postings and blog…
Read MoreEPA fails to warn families of lead contamination where smelters once stood
“USA Today’s investigative team found the EPA failed to tell people about or take action on hundreds of former lead smelting sites they’d known about for years. Alison Young and Pete Eisler tested the soil around former plants in 13 states and found potentially dangerous levels of lead remain in people’s yards and in parks.”…
Read MoreCEO took $1.1 billion in personal loans from company
“Reuters Enterprise team published, “Special Report: Chesapeake CEO took $1.1 billion in shrouded personal loans,” an investigation into how previously undisclosed loans to Chesapeake Energy Corp’s co-founder Aubrey McClendon could put the company’s CEO and shareholders at odds.”
Read MoreMissing the mark with background checks
An investigation, by Sandy Brundage of The Almanac, has revealed many holes in the process California schools take while checking the background of teachers. “According to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the state maintains a confidential database of complaints against teachers in public schools, but can only publicly disclose “final adverse actions” taken. The…
Read MoreJustice Department fails to inform convicted defendants of flawed forensics
“An investigation by The Washington Post has found that Justice Department officials have known for years that flawed forensic work might have led to the convictions of potentially innocent people, but prosecutors failed to notify defendants or their attorneys even in many cases they knew were troubled.”
Read MoreObama Administration silently diverting funds to IRS to enact Health Care Reform
The Hill has uncovered that the Obama administration has been quietly diverting funds to the IRS in order to implement their new health care reform law- to the tune of around $500 million. The report states that the funds are being provided outside of the normal appropriations process and the $500 million is only part…
Read MoreYearlong investigation leads to the appointment of a special prosecutor
A yearlong Chicago Sun-Times investigation by reporters Tim Novak and Chris Fusco, with Carol Marin, led a judge to agree Friday, April 8 to appoint a special prosecutor to re-examine an 8-year-old homicide case involving a nephew of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley. The special prosecutor will also investigate whether police and prosecutors gave the nephew…
Read MoreHundreds of traffic tickets dismissed by municipal judge
Through a public information request The Monitor has found that a municipal judge, in Hidalgo, Texas, doesn’t mind handing out favors. From January 2010 to April 2011 839 citations were submitted by local politicians and city employees, mostly traffic tickets, to the judge for special consideration. The list obtained, kept by the court administration, revealed…
Read MoreAmazon’s role in Seattle charities
The Seattle Times takes a look, in a four-part series, at how Amazon.com, “one of the Internet’s most-recognized name brands” compares to other big companies in the Seattle area when it comes to local charitable givings. “Last year, amid a troubled economy, United Way of King County said it received record donations from some of…
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