February 2019 Archive
New Jersey Said 10 Years Ago It Would Rank Its Most Contaminated Sites. It Never Did.
The rankings were supposed to ensure that the most dangerous sites remained a priority even as the state gave private companies a bigger role in cleanups. Today, there are nearly 14,000 contamination sites across New Jersey and still no sign of the mandated rankings.
Despite Trump’s Tough Talk About Migrant Smugglers, He’s Undercut Efforts to Stop Them
ICE has shifted manpower and money away from more complex investigations to support the administration’s push to arrest, detain and deport undocumented immigrants.
Cook County Takes Steps to Erase Its Regional Gang Database
Commissioners are set to pass a law banning the database and requiring it to be destroyed.
New Documentary Chronicles the Challenges of New York’s Supported Housing Program for People With Mental Illness
On Feb. 26, the documentary premieres on PBS. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send it to you when it’s live.
How Has the “Crack Cocaine of Gambling” Affected Illinois? The State Hasn’t Bothered to Check.
Since video gambling went live in 2012, more than 30,000 video slot and poker machines have been installed in the state and gamblers have lost more than $5 billion. Yet Illinois has failed to address the issue of gambling addiction in any meaningful way.
Behind the Scenes, Health Insurers Use Cash and Gifts to Sway Which Benefits Employers Choose
The insurance industry gives lucrative commissions and bonuses — from six-figure payouts to a chance to bat against Mariano Rivera — to the independent brokers who advise employers. Critics call the payments a “classic conflict of interest” that drive up costs.
Trump Inauguration Chief Tom Barrack’s “Rules for Success” — “Trump, Inc.” Podcast
Under Barrack’s leadership, the presidential inauguration committee raised a record $107 million and a lot of questions.
House Panel Probes Trump Advisers’ Push for Saudi Nuclear Deal
The administration is pursuing a plan championed by Tom Barrack, Mike Flynn and outside business interests to share nuclear power technology with Saudi Arabia despite security concerns.
The Lucky Ones
Nearly 30 years after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as an undocumented child, a reporting trip brought me back to that very stretch. The memories followed.
Investigation of Disasters Sparks Debate Over Navy’s Readiness and Responsibilities
ProPublica’s examination of the causes behind two fatal collisions in the Pacific has set off an intense conversation among current and former Navy sailors and commanders as well as everyday citizens about the state of the U.S. Navy.
The VA Is Paying for a Top Official’s Cross-Country Commute
Darin Selnick, the architect of the Trump administration’s controversial new policies on private health care for veterans, traveled to Washington from his home in California twice a month at taxpayer expense.
Former Trump Officials Are Supposed to Avoid Lobbying. Except 33 Haven’t.
The former officials — including ex-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke — have found ways to sidestep the administration’s ethics pledge. At least 18 of them are now registered federal lobbyists and the rest work in jobs that closely resemble lobbying.
Large Natural Gas Producer to Pay West Virginia Plaintiffs $53.5 Million to Settle Royalty Dispute
As our investigation detailed, EQT Corp. had been accused of deducting a variety of unacceptable charges from natural gas royalty checks. The company says it wants to “turn over a new leaf” in its relationship with the state’s residents.
HUD’s System for Processing Public Records Requests Died During the Shutdown
The contract for the agency’s electronic system for managing FOIA requests lapsed in early January and hasn’t been renewed. Delays are mounting.
Senate Committee Grills Navy Official Over 2017 Collisions, Seeking Data to Prove Conditions Have Changed
During an Armed Services Committee hearing that referenced ProPublica’s investigation into the deadly mishaps, a senator pressed the top commander in the Pacific to give “real numbers,” “not promises and not good feelings.”
Appeals Court Rules Key Anti-Age Discrimination Protections Don’t Apply to Job Seekers, Only Employees
A federal appeals court in Chicago, mirroring a decision in Atlanta, decided that job applicants are entitled to less protection under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
What Do You Know About County Jails in California? Talk to Us.
ProPublica and The Sacramento Bee are spending the year reporting on resources, safety and crowding in California county jails.
