Investigative Reporting on Debt

A hand clutching a stack of money and a surgical mask.

A Closer Look at Federal COVID Contractors Reveals Inexperience, Fraud Accusations and a Weapons Dealer Operating Out of Someone’s House

by Ryan Gabrielson, Lydia DePillis, J. David McSwane and Derek Willis, ProPublica, and Connor Sheets, AL.com,

May 27, 2020, 10 a.m. EDT

The Billionaire Governor Who’s Been Sued Dozens of Times for Millions in Unpaid Bills

by Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica,

May 27, 2020, 5 a.m. EDT

See Who’s Taken Gov. Jim Justice to Court Over Unpaid Bills

by Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica,

May 27, 2020, 4:49 a.m. EDT

The Financial Catastrophe That Coronavirus Brought to Small Towns

by Lisa Song,

May 26, 2020, 11:58 a.m. EDT

Another Private Jet Company Owned by a Trump Donor Got a Bailout — This One for $20 Million

by Jake Pearson,

May 15, 2020, 5:02 p.m. EDT

The Trump Administration Says a New Bailout Program Will Help 35 Million Americans. It Probably Won’t.

by Justin Elliott, Lydia DePillis and Paul Kiel,

May 14, 2020, 7 a.m. EDT

The Bailout Is Working — for the Rich

by Jesse Eisinger,

May 10, 2020, 5 a.m. EDT

One Thing the Pandemic Hasn’t Stopped: Aggressive Medical-Debt Collection

by Alec MacGillis,

April 28, 2020, 2:05 p.m. EDT

Coronavirus Put Her Out of Work, Then Debt Collectors Froze Her Savings Account

by Kiah Collier and Ren Larson,

April 22, 2020, 1:30 p.m. CDT

For Americans With Bills to Pay, Help Is on the Way. Sort Of.

by Paul Kiel and Jeff Ernsthausen,

April 2, 2020, 10:55 a.m. EDT

Having Trouble With Your Rent, Mortgage or Debts? We Want to Hear From You.

by Paul Kiel and Jeff Ernsthausen,

April 1, 2020, 12:02 p.m. EDT

Chicago Temporarily Halts Some Debt Collections and Ticketing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

March 18, 2020, 4:30 p.m. CDT

Beginner’s Luck: How One Video Gambling Company Worked the Odds and Took Over a State

by Jason Grotto,

March 3, 2020, 4 a.m. CST

A State Senator Had Thousands of Dollars in Ticket Debt. Now She’s Fighting to Make Sure Others Won’t.

by Melissa Sanchez,

Feb. 28, 2020, 4 a.m. CST

Utah Representative Proposes Bill to Stop Payday Lenders From Taking Bail Money from Borrowers

by Anjali Tsui,

Feb. 14, 2020, 5:17 p.m. EST

Tens of Thousands of People Lost Driver’s Licenses Over Unpaid Parking Tickets. Now, They’re Getting Them Back.

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

Jan. 17, 2020, 3:26 p.m. CST

How to File Your State and Federal Taxes for Free in 2020

by Kristen Doerer for ProPublica and Justin Elliott,

Jan. 10, 2020, 2:02 p.m. EST

Our Journalists Stopped Calling People Hard-to-Reach and Listened to Them. Here’s What Worked.

by Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica, with Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Dec. 30, 2019, 1:17 p.m. EST

A Half-Million Chicago Drivers Have Unpaid Sticker Tickets, but Only 11,400 Applied for the City’s Relief Program

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

Dec. 24, 2019, 10 a.m. CST

How People Are Using Our Chicago Parking Ticket Data in Their Research

by Haru Coryne,

Nov. 29, 2019, 4 a.m. CST

When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

by Lizzie Presser,

Oct. 16, 2019, 5 a.m. EDT

Have You Been Sued by a Hospital, Doctor or Other Medical Institution? Tell Us About It.

by Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica, and Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Oct. 16, 2019, 4:59 a.m. EDT

Journalists, We’re Sharing Our Tips From Patients With Medical Debt. Want Them?

by Maya Miller,

Oct. 16, 2019, 4:58 a.m. EDT

Bailout Tracker: See Where More Than $600 Billion Went

by Paul Kiel and Dan Nguyen,

Oct. 3, 2019, 5 a.m. EDT

Hundreds of Thousands of Chicago Motorists Could Receive Debt Relief From Vehicle Sticker Tickets as the City Expands Reform

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

Sept. 27, 2019, 3:08 p.m. CDT

Here’s What to Expect From Chicago City Council’s Ticket Reform

by Melissa Sanchez,

Sept. 20, 2019, 3:59 a.m. CDT

Chicago City Council Approves Ticket and Debt Collection Reforms to Help Low-Income and Minority Motorists

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

Sept. 18, 2019, 1:20 p.m. CDT

Parents Gave Up Custody of Their Children to Help Them Get Financial Aid. Now, Some Are Abandoning That Idea.

by Melissa Sanchez and Jodi S. Cohen,

Aug. 21, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

How a Video Gambling Company Helped Bankroll Local Politicians

by Logan Jaffe,

Aug. 16, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

Inside the Illinois House Hearing on the Financial Aid Scandal

by Melissa Sanchez,

Aug. 9, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

At Hearing on Financial Aid Scandal, Lawmakers Grill Officials and Look to Close a Loophole

by Melissa Sanchez and Jodi S. Cohen,

Aug. 8, 2019, 5:35 p.m. CDT

From Truck Stops to Elections, a River of Gambling Money Is Flooding Waukegan

by Jason Grotto,

Aug. 8, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

El Departamento de Educación federal quiere frenar la “trama fraudulenta de ayuda estudiantil” en que padres ceden la custodia a través de tutelas dudosas

por Jodi S. Cohen, Duaa Eldeib y Melissa Sanchez,

Aug. 6, 2019, 10:51 a.m. CDT

How We Got the Story About Parents Transferring Guardianship of Their Kids to Win Financial Aid They Wouldn’t Otherwise Qualify For

by Jodi S. Cohen,

Aug. 2, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

Illinois Lawmakers Call Hearing to “Demand Answers” and Find Ways to Close a Loophole in College Financial Aid Scandal

by Jodi S. Cohen and Duaa Eldeib,

Aug. 1, 2019, 7:36 p.m. CDT

Padres ceden La custodia de sus hijos para conseguir becas universitarias basadas en necesidad económica

por Jodi S. Cohen y Melissa Sanchez,

Aug. 1, 2019, 4:17 p.m. CDT

U.S. Department of Education Wants to Stop “Student Aid Fraud Scheme” Where Parents Give Up Custody Through Dubious Guardianships

by Jodi S. Cohen, Duaa Eldeib and Melissa Sanchez,

July 30, 2019, 8:05 p.m. CDT

Illinois Parents Are Helping Their Children Get College Financial Aid They Wouldn’t Otherwise Qualify For. Help Us Figure Out How They Do It.

by Logan Jaffe,

July 29, 2019, 4:14 p.m. CDT

Parents Are Giving Up Custody of Their Kids to Get Need-Based College Financial Aid

by Jodi S. Cohen and Melissa Sanchez,

July 29, 2019, 4:07 p.m. CDT

She’s Risked Arrest by Driving With a Suspended License for Seven Years. This Week She Got Some Big News.

by Melissa Sanchez,

July 26, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

Chicago Mayor Proposes Reforms That Would Make Life Easier for Thousands of Black and Low-Income Drivers

by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago,

July 23, 2019, 2:17 p.m. CDT

Hate Getting Parking Tickets in Chicago? Here’s How You Can Start Change-Making Conversations About the City’s Ticketing System.

by Derrick Clifton,

July 17, 2019, 4 a.m. CDT

Nonprofit Christian Hospital Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Over Suing Its Own Employees

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

July 3, 2019, 10:01 a.m. EDT

Chicago Can’t Hold Impounded Vehicles After Drivers File for Bankruptcy, Court Says

by Melissa Sanchez,

July 3, 2019, 3:59 a.m. CDT

Millionaire CEO of Nonprofit Hospital That Sues the Poor Promises Review of Policies

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

July 1, 2019, 6:13 p.m. EDT

Have You Been Sued by a Hospital, Doctor or Other Memphis Institution? Tell Us About It.

by Beena Raghavendran, ProPublica, and Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

June 28, 2019, 6 p.m. EDT

Low-Wage Workers Are Being Sued for Unpaid Medical Bills by a Nonprofit Christian Hospital That Employs Them

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

June 28, 2019, 7 a.m. EDT

The Nonprofit Hospital That Makes Millions, Owns a Collection Agency and Relentlessly Sues the Poor

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

June 27, 2019, 6 a.m. EDT

This Memphis Hospital System Flouts IRS Rules by Not Publicly Posting Financial Assistance Policies

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

June 27, 2019, 5:59 a.m. EDT

How We Tallied Medical Debt Lawsuits and Wage Garnishments in Memphis

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, and Lylla Younes and Doris Burke, ProPublica,

June 27, 2019, 5:59 a.m. EDT