January 2022 Archive
What Germany’s Effort to Leave Coal Behind Can Teach the U.S.
The German government agreed to a commitment to transition away from the fossil fuel for environmental reasons. But the obstacles are steep.
EPA Rejects Texas’ More Lenient Standard for Highly Toxic Air Pollutant
In the wake of an investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune into the widely used chemical ethylene oxide, the EPA has moved to reject a less protective standard crafted by Texas regulators and backed by the chemical industry.
Baker College Threatens Legal Action Against Former Teacher Who Talked to Reporters
Jacqueline Tessmer spoke out about students who left school without jobs or degrees, saying Baker “ruined” lives. And she’s not retracting her statements.
A Former Hacker’s Guide to Boosting Your Online Security
More stolen personal data is available online than ever before. A man who once ran a website that prosecutors called the Amazon of stolen identity information offers his tips on the best ways to protect your data.
EPA Takes Action to Combat Industrial Air Pollution
The EPA announced a raft of targeted actions and specific reforms including stepped-up air monitoring and scrutiny of industrial polluters in the wake of ProPublica’s investigation into toxic hot spots.
Despite Decades of Hacking Attacks, Companies Leave Vast Amounts of Sensitive Data Unprotected
A surge in identity theft during the pandemic underscores how easy it has become to obtain people’s private data. As hackers are all too happy to explain, many of them are cashing in on it.
Toxic PCBs Festered at This Public School for Eight Years as Students and Teachers Grew Sicker
The EPA and others warned about potential contamination as far back as 2014. But Washington state law does not require schools or health departments to act on those findings.
Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them
A declassified report concludes that U.S. Marines who began shooting after a Kabul airport suicide bombing were not under fire, contradicting previous accounts. And they did not hit any Afghan civilians.
New Legal Filing Reveals Startling Details of Possible Fraud by Trump Organization
The filing, submitted by New York Attorney General Letitia James, comes several years after a ProPublica investigation revealed conflicting financial details the Trump Organization filed for its downtown Manhattan skyscraper at 40 Wall Street.
How to Pitch Photography Projects to ProPublica
ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, is looking for visual stories. Here’s how to pitch us.
Lawmakers Propose $600 Million to Fix Housing Program for Native Hawaiians
Hawaii legislators are seeking to infuse $600 million into the state’s native land program. The move follows a Star-Advertiser/ProPublica investigation that found that the state wasn’t returning many low-income beneficiaries to their ancestral land.
D.C. Attorney General Sues Customer Service Firm Arise for Stiffing Workers on Pay
The suit alleges that Arise Virtual Solutions, which targets women of color for recruitment and has been used by large companies like Airbnb and Disney, deprived workers of minimum wage, overtime and paid sick leave.
华裔科学家钱卓：无国可归的才情
发现自己受到学校和美国政府的调查后，著名科学家钱卓（Joe Tsien）决定留在中国避风头。他说自己是针对亚裔种族歧视的受害者，但他的故事并非这么简单。
A Visionary Without a Country
Celebrated scientist Joe Tsien retreated to China after his university and the U.S. government began investigating him. He says he’s a victim of anti-Asian discrimination, but key parts of his story don’t add up.
Kidney Failure, Emergency Rooms and Medical Debt. The Unseen Costs of Food Poisoning.
A salmonella outbreak sickened more than 60 people at a funeral reception in Texas. Two years later, some of them are still coping with the financial and medical consequences.
Tennessee Judge Who Illegally Jailed Children Plans to Retire, Will Not Seek Reelection
Since 2000, Judge Donna Scott Davenport has overseen juvenile justice in Rutherford County. Following reporting from Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica, public outcry and a bill seeking to oust the judge, Davenport announced her retirement.
How a Powerful Company Convinced Georgia to Let It Bury Toxic Waste in Groundwater
Documents reveal Georgia Power went to great lengths to advocate for risky waste storage. After a ProPublica investigation exposed this practice, the EPA is trying to block the move.
They Promised Quick and Easy PPP Loans. Often, They Only Delivered Hassle and Heartache.
More than a million government-approved loans ended up being canceled, including some that would have gone to people who needed the loans and applied just as they were told.
