Al Shaw
Al Shaw is a Senior News Application Developer at ProPublica.
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Al Shaw is a Senior News Application Developer at ProPublica. He uses data and interactive graphics to cover environmental issues, natural disasters and politics.
A year before Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, Shaw was part of a team that produced “Hell and High Water,” which warned of the region's vulnerability to coastal storms. The project won a Peabody Award in 2017. Shaw's project, “Losing Ground,” about the century-long erosion of Louisiana's coast won a Gold Medal from the Society for News Design. His interactive maps surrounding FEMA's response to Hurricane Sandy were honored with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi award. Before joining ProPublica, Shaw was a designer/developer at the political news website Talking Points Memo.
Here Are the White House Visitor Records the Trump Administration Didn’t Want You to See
White House Visitor Records the Trump Administration Didn’t Want You to See
Buyouts Won’t Be the Answer for Many Frequent Flooding Victims
Even after Hurricane Harvey, the best efforts by Harris County officials to purchase the most flood-prone homes won’t make a dent in the larger problem — worsening flooding, and a buyout program that can’t keep up.
Everyone Knew Houston’s Reservoirs Would Flood — Except for the People Who Bought Homes Inside Them
Despite concerns about flooding in and around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, government officials prioritized development.
Independent Monitors Found Benzene Levels After Harvey Six Times Higher Than Guidelines
After an oil tank in Houston’s Manchester neighborhood caved in, private monitors found levels that far exceeded California’s health guideline
Where the Government Spends to Keep People in Flood-Prone Houston Neighborhoods
The government has shelled out $265 million for flood claims on 1,155 severe repetitive loss properties in the flood insurance program in Harris County.
Update: Trump’s Secret Appointees
Here’s another shadowy batch of officials the Trump administration has quietly deployed across the government.
Houston’s Dams Won’t Fail. But Many Homes Will Have to Be Flooded to Save Them
The water that goes around the spillways is going to have to leave the reservoir somehow — and enter areas surrounding it.
Why Houston Isn’t Ready for Harvey
Houston faces massive flooding from Harvey. Here’s where it’s flooded in the past.
We Found New Details About the New Trump-Branded Hotels. Now We Want Your Help to Find the Rest.
We’re recruiting local reporters and civically engaged citizens. We have a few ideas on how you can find these deals, who to talk to about them, and what documents to look for.
Help Us Identify the Officials Helping Trump Roll Back Regulations
In February, President Trump ordered federal agencies to form task forces charged with finding regulations to weaken or eliminate. While the names of appointees to executive-agency task forces are typically made public, some agencies are refusing to reveal who is on their panels