Illinois’ VIP College Applicants and GIs’ Alcohol Abuse

by Christopher Flavelle
ProPublica, June 19, 2009, 7:50 a.m.

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Here are our editors’ picks from today’s roundup of investigative stories around the Web. Was there a story we missed? Please keep sending us your picks or include them in the comments section below.

Relatives of elected officials and of donors to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got into the University of Illinois despite poor grades, reports the Chicago Tribune. They’re among 800 politically connected applicants given special consideration in the last five years, the Tribune‘s ongoing investigation has found. The university’s president has promised to correct the problem, and the feds are investigating Blago’s role.

Also, the percentage of soldiers diagnosed with alcohol abuse has nearly doubled since 2003, reports USA Today. In response, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the paper that there are probably many contributing factors but that he’s sure eight years of combat is “taking a toll.”