Today's accountability headlines:

• Reports of sexual assault in the military rose 11 percent last year, according to Defense Department numbers reported by McClatchy.
• Congress delays tough regulatory decisions on financial overhaul by continually launching dozens of studies, reports The New York Times.
• The Army refuses to end the practice of burning trash on bases, even though it appears to be sickening soldiers, reports Mother Jones.
• The House took steps to rein in earmarks, but some senators, unashamed of earmarks, aren't so keen on the idea, according to Politico.
• One in four private colleges have business ties with companies affiliated with their own trustees, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Defense News reports that the U.S. gets the least output for every dollar it spends on combat equipment.

These stories are part of our ongoing roundup of investigations from other news outlets. For more, visit our Investigations Elsewhere page.