Archive
We Reported on a Nonprofit Hospital System That Sues Poor Patients. It Just Freed Thousands From Debt.
After an investigation by MLK50 and ProPublica, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is erasing debt for unpaid hospital bills owed by more than 6,500 patients. Our reporting found the hospital had profited by aggressively pursuing patients who couldn’t pay.
Companies Are Using a Depression-Era Law to Escape Trump’s Tariffs — and It’s Costing Them
Tariffs are hurting U.S. companies’ bottom lines. Free Trade Zones, a 1930s rule which they can use to shield themselves from those costs, require expensive legal help. One Michigan manufacturer called it “a no-win situation.”
Inside the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency
Internal records from the Bureau of Land Management contradict what its chief told Congress about a plan to ship 200 D.C.-based career staff out West. The plan would weaken the agency, which stands between federal lands and oil, gas and mineral companies.
MIT Media Lab Kept Regulators in the Dark, Dumped Chemicals in Excess of Legal Limit
Documents and interviews show the Media Lab, already under fire for accepting contributions from Jeffrey Epstein, is being investigated for an apparent violation of state environmental regulations. They paused operations after we asked questions.
Here’s What to Expect From Chicago City Council’s Ticket Reform
Chicago became the largest U.S. city to enact major reforms to its system of parking fines and fees. City officials say more changes are coming.
Be Prepared: Find the ER You Want to Go to Before an Emergency Happens
Use our updated emergency room database to find an ER near you, view quality and violations data, learn about wait times before admission, and find out how long patients typically spend before they are sent home.
ER Inspector: Find and Evaluate Every Emergency Room Near You
To get the best care possible, your choice of emergency room matters. Use ER Inspector to look up hospitals ahead of time so you can evaluate where to go in an emergency.
Meet Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager
“Trump, Inc.” examines Brad Parscale, a web designer turned digital strategist turned presidential avatar with a knack for personal invention that rivals that of his boss.
Political Fundraiser Pleads Guilty To Fraud
The subject of a previous ProPublica/Politico story operated multiple PACs for the benefit of himself and associates, court records show.
Chicago City Council Approves Ticket and Debt Collection Reforms to Help Low-Income and Minority Motorists
The measures, which were prompted by a ProPublica Illinois and WBEZ Chicago investigation, are scheduled to take effect by mid-November.
Welcome to the New “Trump, Inc.”
This week, our podcast with WNYC looks at how Trump has taken his way of doing business to the government. We’ll be here every two weeks.
Millions of Americans’ Medical Images and Data Are Available on the Internet. Anyone Can Take a Peek.
Hundreds of computer servers worldwide that store patient X-rays and MRIs are so insecure that anyone with a web browser or a few lines of computer code can view patient records. One expert warned about it for years.
Trump’s NLRB, Trying to Cut Protections for Millions of Temps and Fast-Food Workers, Trips Up Again
The labor-relations board’s attempt to kill an Obama rule protecting third-party employees fizzled once because of a conflict of interest. Now, two representatives charge, there’s a new conflict and it involves the agency’s own use of temps.
Justice Department Will Fund More Prosecutors, Jails and Cops in Rural Alaska
To improve what it calls a public safety emergency, the DOJ detailed how it will spend $10.5 million. Alaska Native advocates want long-term reforms to increase their role in local justice systems as well.
As Students From China Flock to University of Illinois, Lawsuit Alleges Ex-Professor Targeted Female Chinese Students
The allegations came at a time when the flagship campus at Urbana-Champaign was enrolling more Chinese undergraduates during some years than any university in the U.S.
Thousands of Poor Patients Face Lawsuits From Nonprofit Hospitals That Trap Them in Debt
Across the country, low-income patients are overcoming stigmas surrounding poverty to speak out about nonprofit hospitals that sue them. Federal officials are noticing. Help us keep the pressure on.
Report on Election Security Gains Attention, and a Sharp Rebuke
A Virginia cybersecurity company asserted many states were vulnerable to election system intrusions. Critics called the report flawed and questioned whether the company was looking to exploit legitimate anxiety about election security.
Senator Demands Answers From Amazon on Delivery Crashes and Contract Drivers
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, citing a ProPublica investigation, blasts Amazon for “evasive practices and moves to cut regulatory corners.”
The New Target That Enables Ransomware Hackers to Paralyze Dozens of Towns and Businesses at Once
Cybercriminals are zeroing in on the managed service providers that handle computer systems for local governments and medical clinics.
