Jeremy Kohler
I am a St. Louis-based reporter covering Missouri and the Midwest.
How to Reach Me
I’m interested in tips about abuses of power, political influence, harmful policing and court practices, reproductive rights, public spending, and illegal or unethical business practices in Missouri and the Midwest.
What I Cover
I cover issues that matter to Missouri and the Midwest, including politics, crime, abortion and reproductive rights, policing and incarceration. I also examine how cultural and political shifts are unfolding in a traditionally conservative state, focusing on policies, conflicts and power struggles shaping daily life in a region that is often overlooked.
My Background
At ProPublica, my reporting has focused on government accountability, law enforcement and the influence of money in public policy. I’ve investigated a “clean energy” lending program, exposing how a taxpayer-backed financing tool meant for home improvements has left vulnerable homeowners saddled with debt and the risk of losing their homes. I’ve reported on the tensions between St. Louis police and prosecutors, including efforts by police to undermine prosecutorial reforms. I’ve also examined the rise of private policing in St. Louis, where wealthy business interests fund and influence law enforcement outside of public oversight. In addition, I’ve covered the battle over reproductive rights in Missouri, revealing how state funds support anti-abortion groups beyond its borders and how conservatives in state government are working to reverse a constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights. My work aims to expose abuses of power and the ways public policies impact the people they are supposed to serve.
Before joining ProPublica in 2021, I spent more than 22 years reporting for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, covering government, policing, health care and corruption. Before that, I worked for newspapers in New Jersey, including the Courier-Post, The Trentonian and the Gloucester County Times.
Police Resistance and Politics Undercut the Authority of Prosecutors Trying to Reform the Justice System
After major American cities began electing prosecutors who campaigned on the promise of systemic reform, law enforcement unions labeled these DAs as soft on crime while lawmakers made legal and legislative efforts to remove them from office.
A Detective Sabotaged His Own Cases Because He Didn’t Like the Prosecutor. The Police Department Did Nothing to Stop Him.
Across the country, police have undermined and resisted reform. To protest a prosecutor, one detective was willing to let murder suspects walk free, even if he’d arrested them and believed that they should be behind bars.
Minnesota Lets Nurses Practice While Disciplinary Investigations Drag On. Patients Keep Getting Hurt.
A 2015 state audit found the Minnesota Board of Nursing was slow to act on complaints about nurses, putting the public at risk. The board ramped up its discipline for a few years, but now cases are backing up again.
Some Talk but Little Action on Private Policing in St. Louis
Following a ProPublica investigation, a St. Louis official said the city would review private policing in its wealthier neighborhoods. Three months later, that review has yet to begin.
St. Louis Can Banish People From Entire Neighborhoods. Police Can Arrest Them if They Come Back.
Neighborhood orders of protection in St. Louis are intended to fight petty crime and nuisances but they raise constitutional questions.
Ohio Lawmakers Seek Strict Rules for “Clean Energy” Lending
A statewide clean-energy lending program in Ohio stalled last year before making any loans. Lawmakers want to add consumer protections in case the program resurfaces.
A Private Policing Company in St. Louis Is Staffed With Top Police Department Officers
St. Louis’ largest private policing firm — hired to serve the city’s wealthier and whiter neighborhoods — is a who’s who of city police commanders, supervisors and other officers.
St. Louis’ Private Police Forces Make Security a Luxury of the Rich
Wealthier neighborhoods in St. Louis have armed themselves with private police, giving them a level of service poor areas can’t afford and fueling racial and economic disparities.
Clean Energy Lender Will Stop Making High-Interest PACE Loans in Missouri
A ProPublica investigation revealed how PACE loans hurt homeowners. Ygrene, one top Missouri lender, said reforms made after our investigation were a factor in its decision to stop making loans in the state.
How Missouri Helps Abortion Opponents Divert State Taxes to Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Abortion foes praise the nonprofit centers for supporting women and presenting alternatives to ending pregnancies, but supporters of abortion say the facilities mislead women by appearing to offer clinical services and unbiased advice.