Social issues
California’s most vulnerable not receiving the protection they deserve
“As part of an ongoing investigation, California Watch has detailed how California’s state-run board-and-care institutions’ internal police force, created by the state to protect the vulnerable residents at these state homes, often fails to conduct basic police work when patients are abused and harmed.” “In case after case, detectives and officers have delayed interviews with…
Read MoreReviews of child abuse deaths not always completed in KY
“A Herald-Leader analysis of 41 child fatalities in 2009 and 2010 found at least six cases where the Cabinet for Health and Family Services did not do an internal review even though there were previous reports involving the family before the child died.” “The reviews are supposed to examine the cabinet’s actions in a case…
Read MoreTaking a look at how foreign-trained doctors impact a community
In a three-part series The Bakersfield Californian examines Kern County, California’s high number of foreign-trained doctors and the impact it has on patient care. Using the training she learned at an IRE Boot Camp, Christine Bedell, along with her colleague Kellie Schmitt, were able to make their own database to look at how many foreign-trained…
Read MoreFlorida’s worst TB outbreak in 20 years ignored
“A Palm Beach Post investigation has found that a CDC officer had reported a tuberculosis outbreak in Jacksonville, Fla., one of the worst his group had seen in 20 years, but the report went unseen by key decision makers around the state.” “The outbreak, linked to 13 deaths and 99 illnesses, would require concerted action…
Read MoreWisconsin’s mobile home communities overlooked
“Wisconsin’s patchwork system of regulating mobile home communities often forces communities such as Plymouth to act alone when a park owner won’t make repairs to houses with malfunctioning plumbing, broken heating systems and mold-covered walls, a Gannett Wisconsin Media investigation has found.” “Even though the state has the authority to respond to residents’ complaints and…
Read MoreNational tutoring program rampant with fraud
In a three-part series, the Star Tribune has found that a billion-dollar federal tutoring program is rife with fraud and mismanagement. The program, officially known as Supplemental Educational Services, is one of the lesser known and little scrutinized portions of No Child Left Behind. The investigation found that it has been lightly regulated by the…
Read MoreNarcotic pain medicine use on the rise among seniors
“A Journal Sentinel investigation by John Fauber and Ellen Gabler has found that, increasingly, narcotic drugs have been prescribed for chronic pain, an area where their safety and effectiveness is unproven, especially for older patients.” “Though a growing number of experts believe the drugs may do more harm than good, the country’s aging population has…
Read MoreChildren who skip vaccinations raise threat of dangerous outbreak
An Arizona Star investigation has found that “one in three Arizona schools last year had kindergarten classes with vaccination rates so low children were left vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks such as measles, mumps or pertussis.” It was discovered that “the worst offenders, by far, are charter and private schools, some with vaccination rates as…
Read MoreEmails reveal how University of Montana’s administration handles cases of alleged rape
“Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department announced a first-of-its kind investigation into how rape cases are handled by the University of Montana and its campus police, along with the Missoula Police Department and the Missoula County Attorney’s Office because of a series of investigations by the Missoulian.” “Since December, the paper has been reporting…
Read MoreWhite House sought healthier school lunches, food industry fought back
Duff Wilson and Janet Roberts, for Reuters, report on “how food and beverage companies have dominated policymaking in Washington by doubling their lobbying expenditures during the past three years and defeating government proposals aimed at changing the nation’s diet.” Reuters Investigates TV also produced a video about “how the food industry fought back when the…
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