March 2018 Archive
Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios’ Defeat Opens the Door to Reform
Democratic primary winner Fritz Kaegi pledged change, but delivering it won’t be easy.
A Political Boss Goes Down
Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, one of the last leaders of the old Democratic machine, loses the Democratic primary to a wealthy political newcomer.
Donald Trump Jr. Pushed ‘Blatantly Illegal’ Project In India, Former Official Says — ‘Trump, Inc.’ Podcast
A Trump project in Mumbai had its permits revoked after investigators found “significant irregularities.” Then Trump Jr. travelled to India to get the decision overruled.
How We Collected Nearly 5,000 Stories of Maternal Harm
Asking if readers knew women who died or almost died in childbirth drew an outpouring that carries lessons for both traditional and engaged journalism.
How Health and Education Journalists Can Turn Privacy Laws to Their Advantage
Government records officers frequently cite privacy restrictions to deny data requests. Here are some tips on how to overcome or sidestep these barriers.
Jacksonville Sheriff Admits Race May Have Played a Role in Ticket Writing
The sheriff says blacks were not targeted for pedestrian tickets but “implicit bias” might have factored into enforcement by officers.
The FBI — ‘Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity’ — Still Working on Diversity
The nation’s top federal law enforcement agency is overwhelmingly white, and its top officials acknowledge that’s “a huge operational risk.”
Getting to Know Illinois — And You
For a Chicago newbie, learning about a city begins with books, buildings and, especially, people. One thing I’ve figured out: I need a snow shovel.
Correction: Trump’s Pick to Head CIA Did Not Oversee Waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah
ProPublica erred when it reported in 2017 that Gina Haspel was in charge of a secret prison in Thailand during the infamous interrogation of an al-Qaida suspect.
Flawed Assessments Caused $2 Billion Shift in Property Taxes, Study Finds
Under Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, assessment system shaved $1 billion from Chicago’s most expensive homes, while owners of lower-valued homes picked up the tab.
New in Nonprofit Explorer: People Search
You can now search for people who work for nonprofit organizations.
‘Walking While Black’ Wins Al Nakkula Award for Police Reporting
A collaboration with the Florida Times Union, the project showed that Jacksonville police use pedestrian tickets in a racially disproportionate way.
Some States No Longer Suspend Driver’s Licenses for Unpaid Fines. Will Illinois Join Them?
Our analysis shows suspensions tied to ticket debt disproportionately affect motorists in largely black sections of Chicago and its suburbs.
‘Trump, Inc.’ Podcast: Where’d Trump’s Record Inauguration Spending Go? ‘It’s Inexplicable’
Another thing we found on this week’s “Trump, Inc.”: Two members of President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee have been convicted of financial crimes, and a third — the committee’s treasurer — was an unindicted co-conspirator in an accounting fraud.
Measuring the Toll of the Opioid Epidemic Is Tougher Than It Seems
One of our editors set out to create an ambitious list of data sources on the opioid epidemic. Much of what he found was out of date, and some data contradicted other data.
How Do We Keep Bias Out of Stories?
We stick with the facts, and several editors read every story.
The Trump Administration’s Campaign to Weaken Civil Service Ramps Up at the VA
Firings surged at the Veterans Affairs Department last year in the wake of a new law. Now the president wants to replicate that legislation across the federal government.
Injured Nuclear Workers Finally Had Support. The Trump Administration Has Mothballed It.
An advisory board of scientists, doctors and worker advocates helped ensure that nuclear workers exposed to toxins received proper compensation. The terms of nearly all board members expired last month — and no new members have been appointed.
We’ve Updated Our Campaign Widget to Better Help You Follow the Money
In the pricey Illinois governor’s race, it’s more important than ever.
ProPublica Wins Five SABEW Awards for Business Journalism
Our work was honored in the health/science, investigative, technology, banking/finance and explanatory categories.
