Crypto ignites conflict
In upstate New York, cryptocurrency mining causes rifts between local businesses and an enterprising corporation.
California regulators drafting emergency rule to combat deadly lung disease
Workplace regulators in California are drafting an emergency rule to address an epidemic of silicosis — a deadly, preventable lung disease — among fabricators of artificial-stone countertops. In December, Public Health Watch, LAist and Univision revealed what’s believed to be the nation’s biggest cluster of the disease, in the Los Angeles area. The news outlets’ …
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Latest chemical plant fire unnerves, infuriates Houston-area residents
A recent investigation by Public Health Watch and The Texas Tribune revealed government negligence before and during a devastating 2019 fire at a tank farm in the Houston suburb of Deer Park. Earlier this month, a public hearing was held for that facility. The next day, another big fire broke out at a plant down the road.
IRW interns contribute to Pulitzer finalists
Reporting, research aids story development The Washington Post was awarded three Pulitzers this week, for national reporting on abortion; for feature writing about post-pandemic America; and for a biography of George Floyd in the category of best general nonfiction. The Post also was honored to have five entries announced as Pulitzer finalists. Former students Vanessa Montalbano, McKenzie Beard, Megan Ruggles and Carley Welch researched hundreds of court cases as part of their …
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New stories, podcast range from health to AI
Latest stories Two-part deep-dive into a toxic cloud in Texas A 10-month investigation by Public Health Watch and The Texas Tribune found that many state and federal scientists documented problems at an ITC chemical-storage facility long before catastrophe struck in 2019. The story, published April 26, details how this accident unfolded in Deer Park, a tight-knit city of 30,000. It is based …
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‘Haunting’ turmoil remains
The Texas Tribune analyzed previously unreported air monitoring data and records from the 2019 ITC chemical disaster near Houston and found that high benzene levels lingered in the air for two weeks after public health measures were lifted. Experts say more shelter-in-place advisories should have been issued.
Data project moves to Center for Public Integrity
The Center for Public Integrity will steward and grow a powerful tool that puts public records at the fingertips of journalists across the country, thanks to support from the Reva and David Logan Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Accountability Project, launched by the Investigative Reporting Workshop in 2019, is …
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Summer intern applications open
Interested in an IRW summer internship? Submit a cover letter and other material between now and Feb. 24 through this online application. IRW interns work as researchers, reporters, data analysts and graphic designers. Preferred majors include journalism, communication, film, public policy, public health, history or economics. IRW publishes in-depth stories about government and corporate accountability on topics ranging …
Environment again in focus as 2022 winds down
We’re closing out 2022 with stories that have been underway for many months with several different partners and some in new areas of coverage — but all tied to our core mission of accountability. Living with proof of pollution In June, Public Health Watch, the Investigative Reporting Workshop and Grist published a year-long investigation about …
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Waiting for water
When Ward Walker moved to the seaside village of Stebbins, Alaska, in 1995, he was told there would be running water within the next five years. The 63-year-old, who recently retired as vice mayor of the village of roughly 650, now says he’ll be happy if it happens before he dies. Stebbins became Walker’s home …
