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Richard A. Webster

Disaster After Disaster

Louisiana to Drop Lawsuits Against Katrina Survivors Over Recovery Grants

Louisiana sued thousands of homeowners for not following the rules in how they spent recovery grants. After a joint news investigation, the governor announced Thursday that the state won’t try to collect the money.

Local Reporting Network

Unwatched

Nearly Half of All Sheriffs in Louisiana Are Violating Public Records Laws

The finding builds on earlier reporting, which found records were destroyed in the case of a 16-year-old boy who died while in custody of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Local Reporting Network

Unwatched

A Sheriff in Louisiana Has Been Destroying Records of Deputies’ Alleged Misconduct for Years

A lawsuit brought by the family of an autistic teen who died while in custody found the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office destroyed the disciplinary records of a deputy involved in the case.

Local Reporting Network

Disaster After Disaster

An Exodus Unlike Any Other: Why Half the People in This Community Moved Away After Hurricane Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina devastated St. Bernard Parish, many residents didn’t receive enough money from the state to rebuild. Nearly half made the difficult decision to start over somewhere else.

Local Reporting Network

Disaster After Disaster

The Federal Program to Rebuild After Hurricane Katrina Shortchanged the Poor. New Data Proves It.

For years, low-income residents of New Orleans have said the state’s Road Home program paid them less to rebuild their homes compared to wealthier residents. They were right.

Local Reporting Network

Disaster After Disaster

Louisiana Sued Hurricane Katrina Survivors for Misusing Recovery Grants. Now It Has Halted Collection Efforts.

Louisiana sued thousands of homeowners for not following the rules in spending grants after Katrina. After a joint news investigation, the state says it hopes a federal agency will approve a settlement that will allow it to drop the lawsuits.

Local Reporting Network

Disaster After Disaster

Katrina Survivors Were Told They Could Use Grant Money to Rebuild. Now They’re Being Sued for It.

After Hurricane Katrina, struggling homeowners said, they were told not to worry about the fine print when they received grants to elevate their homes. Now the state is going after them because they did exactly that.

Local Reporting Network

Disaster After Disaster

Did You Get the Help You Needed After a Hurricane or Tropical Storm? We’re Investigating Disaster Relief.

Catastrophes don’t affect all Americans equally. We want to hear about your experiences applying for aid and paying for flood insurance.

Local Reporting Network

Unwatched

He Was Filming on His Phone. Then a Deputy Attacked Him and Charged Him With Resisting Arrest.

Police can arrest people for “cover charges,” like resisting arrest, to justify their use of excessive force and shield themselves from liability. In Jefferson Parish, 73% of the time someone is arrested on a “cover charge” alone, they’re Black.

Local Reporting Network

Unwatched

The Disappearance of Hispanic Drivers From Traffic Records

In Louisiana, law enforcement agencies have been accused of targeting Hispanic drivers in traffic stops and identifying them as white on tickets. Misidentification makes it impossible to track racial bias, experts say.

Local Reporting Network