InvestigationBusiness, Politics Chicago Has Been Quietly Intercepting Millions From State Tax Refunds During the Pandemic The Lighfoot administration intercepted at least $27 million in 2020 from residents’ state tax refunds to collect on debt, disproportionately hitting lower income neighborhoods and communities of color. Simon Davis-CohenThe Chicago ReporterSeptember 15, 2020
InvestigationEnvironment, Politics The Trump Team Has a Plan to Not Fight Climate Change It may take decades to see the worst effects of global warming. Yet Jim Reilly, the director of the US Geological Survey, is committed to short-term thinking. Adam FedermanWiredSeptember 15, 2020
InvestigationBusiness, Labor The Immokalee Way: Protecting Farmworkers Amid a Pandemic While some companies do everything to escape accountability, the Fair Food Program proves there’s an alternative. John BoweThe NationSeptember 14, 2020
InvestigationBusiness, Labor, Politics Trump’s National Labor Relations Board Is Sabotaging Its Own Mission The federal agency that’s supposed to protect union rights is instead championing the interests of bosses. Michelle ChenThe NationSeptember 7, 2020
InvestigationBusiness The Fintech Debt Trap Aggressive online lenders are preying on desperate borrowers and could trigger a new consumer financial crisis. Alyssa KatzThe InterceptAugust 30, 2020
ImpactHealth New Program Could Help Parents Keep Custody of Mentally Ill Kids in CT Connecticut’s Voluntary Care Management program provides mental health services for children outside of the states’ child protective agency. Nina Zweig & Juliana Schatz PrestonAugust 25, 2020
InvestigationJustice, Politics Trump Comes Up Empty When Pressed for Evidence of Election Fraud in Court The Trump campaign’s 524-page response to a discovery demand turned up precisely zero instances of mail-in vote fraud. Richard SalameThe InterceptAugust 20, 2020
ImpactJustice Following Investigation, Pennsylvania County Launches Plain Communities Task Force to Address Sexual Abuse Thousands of Amish and Old Order Mennonite residents in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania will have more access to sexual abuse prevention and support. Sarah McClureAugust 19, 2020
InvestigationEnvironment, Health, Politics Fire Drill This Black community can’t escape sugar industry pollution. Even their school district is in on it. Gilda Di CarliGristAugust 19, 2020
InvestigationPolitics Monumental Lies: Update Civil War-era myths are kept alive at Confederate monuments with stories of “benevolent slave owners” and enslaved people “contented with their lot.” Brian Palmer & Seth Freed WesslerRevealAugust 15, 2020