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Repair funds not keeping up with aging bridges
In the wake of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Patrick Garmoe of the Duluth News Tribune reported on how age has affected bridges in the St. Louis County area of Minnesota. As the costs of repairing the bridges increased, 11 bridges in St. Louis County have been rated “fracture-critical” and at risk of collapse. The…
Read MoreYouth programs vulnerable to internal theft
San Diego Union-Tribune reporters Leonel Sanchez and Brent Schrotenboer looked into employees stealing money from non-profit organizations taking a cue from the case of Pamela Sue Adams, who was sentenced to a year in jail for embezzling as much as $131,000 from the non-profit Friends of Jamul-Dulzura Schools. The newspaper asked for information on similar…
Read MoreFocus intensifying on Toledo point-shaving scandal
ESPN.com reporters Mike Fish and George J. Tanber investigate the point-shaving scandal involving a University of Toledo football player. Harvey “Scooter” McDougle would have been a senior this season, but his implication in a gambling ring has likely ended his chances at playing football again, college or pro. The report includes a list of four…
Read MoreHotel security linked to Your Black Muslim Bakery
Robert Gammon of East Bay Express investigated the private security officers at the Oakland Marriott and found links between their firm and the Black Muslim clan believed to be responsible for the murder of Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey. Despite initial denials from the Mariott’s spokesman, public records revealed a history of connections between UD…
Read MoreOne in five taxis cited in state inspection
The Arizona Republic‘s M.B. Pell reports that one out of every five taxis in Arizona failed state inspections in the past year. Inspectors from the Department of Weights and Measures “conducted nearly 1,570 field inspections of cabs, citing 120 taxis and limousines for having improperly sealed, calibrated or installed meters. Among other citations, 126 vehicles…
Read MoreFugative fundraiser has been hiding in plain sight
Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields of the Los Angeles Times report that Norman Hsu, a fugitive for over a decade, has been hiding in plain sight as a prominent Democratic fundraiser. Fifteen years ago, Hsu pleaded no contest to charges of grand theft agreeing to serve up to three years in prison. His identity was…
Read MoreDisability coverage fails workers in North Carolina
In North Carolina, access to federal disability insurance eludes those who need it most. Fred Kelly of The Charlotte Observer found bureaucratic snags hold up disability payments. “The disability program is supposed to provide a safety net for workers who become injured or mentally ill, but an Observer investigation found the system is flawed for…
Read MoreNo prosecution for prison guards accused of sexual misconduct
Ruth Teichroeb of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports on sexual misconduct by employees at the SeaTac Federal Detention Center. “At least 20 sex-related incidents involving correctional staff and inmates have been reported at the prison in the past five years, according to Department of Justice records obtained through public disclosure. The allegations ranged from groping during…
Read MoreElectric co-op to energy conglomerate
Margret Newkirk of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on Georgia’s Cobb EMC, one of the largest electric co-ops in the nation and described as “an aggressively expanding conglomerate.” “While most co-ops reimburse that invested money to customers over time, Cobb EMC hasn’t returned a nickel of it in more than 30 years: It was sitting on…
Read MorePrescription pain med use nearly doubles
An investigation by Frank Bass of the Associated Press shows that the use of pain medication has nearly doubled in the U.S. over the past eight years. According to the latest figures from the Drug Enforcement Adminstration, “More than 200,000 pounds of codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and meperidine were purchased at retail stores…enough to give…
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