Industry news
Extra Extra Monday: informants allowed to commit crimes, programs covered up, travel rules bent at UCLA
UCLA officials bend travel rules with first-class flights, luxury hotels | The Center for Investigative ReportingOver the past several years, six of 17 academic deans at the Westwood campus routinely have submitted doctors’ notes stating they have a medical need to fly in a class other than economy, costing the university $234,000 more than it…
Read MoreMany Texas plants lack safety inspections despite risks
“Twenty-two percent of plants in Texas that regulators say pose a risk of explosion or toxic release have never have been inspected for emergency preparedness, federal data shows. Another 10 percent were inspected, but not by federal, state or even local governments. Instead, those facilities reported inspections by their own contractors, insurance companies or employees,…
Read MoreThe Curse of Fertilizer
“Runaway nitrogen is suffocating wildlife in lakes and estuaries, contaminating groundwater, and even warming the globe’s climate. As a hungry world looks ahead to billions more mouths needing nitrogen-rich protein, how much clean water and air will survive our demand for fertile fields?” Read National Geographic’s full investigation here.
Read MoreCoal-backed studies evoke controversy
“Company-backed reports are pointing out some potential flaws in earlier research. They also are generating questions of their own, in part because industry’s role in funding the work has not been clearly disclosed,” according to an investigation by the Gazette-Mail.
Read MoreBeef’s Raw Edges
“The Kansas City Star, in a yearlong investigation, found that the beef industry is increasingly relying on a mechanical process to tenderize meat, exposing Americans to higher risk of E. coli poisoning. The industry then resists labeling such products, leaving consumers in the dark. The result: Beef in America is plentiful and affordable, spun out in…
Read MoreWill other states follow CA and suspend sunshine laws to save money?
OMB Watch reports that “the California legislature, as part of its Budget Act of 2012 (passed in June), suspended the state’s open meetings law for the next three years in an effort to cut state expenditures.“
Read MoreAP Style Guide For US Elections
“The Associated Press has compiled a list of U.S. political terms, phrases and definitions to assist in coverage of the 2012 national elections. The guidance encompasses the Democratic and Republican conventions to nominate presidential candidates; terminology for presidential races; campaign rhetoric; and elections for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Many of the…
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 MoreIRE Members Win Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards
Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent for ABC News’ 20/20, received the award for his investigation into the failure of USA Swimming, the national governing board assigned to protect young female swimmers. Other members of the news team were Megan Chuchmach, producer; Avni Patel, producer; Tom Marcyes, Jack Pyle, editors; Rhonda Schwartz, chief investigative producer; David…
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