Michael Grabell

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Michael Grabell covers economic and labor issues for ProPublica. He has produced stories for the New York Times, USA Today, NPR and the CBS Evening News. His investigative work has included stories on the TSA, the Lance Armstrong doping allegations, chemicals stored near schools and neighborhoods, and a bus fire that killed 23 nursing home patients. Before joining ProPublica, Grabell was a reporter at The Dallas Morning News. He is the author of "Money Well Spent?," a book about President Obama’s stimulus package and his efforts to revive the economy from the Great Recession.

Articles (page 3 of 11)

Rampant Fraud, Self-Dealing Alleged in Alaska Native Corporation

Dec. 15, 2010, 7:59 p.m.

Cape Fox Corporation was prey to some of the worst abuses in a system that gives Alaska Native Corporations access to no-bid government contracts of unlimited size. As federal contracting grew, benefits went to non-native consultants instead of providing jobs, dividends to natives.

Revenues for ANCs Skyrocket, but Not Payouts to Natives

Dec. 15, 2010, 7:57 p.m.

Revenues of Alaska Native Corporations have skyrocketed thanks to special privileges that allow them to obtain no-bid contracts of unlimited size. But profits and dividends haven’t kept pace, according to an analysis of ANC annual reports online at ProPublica.

Cape Fox Corporation: Revenue vs. Net Income

Dec. 15, 2010, 11:50 a.m.

ProPublica and PolitiFact Test Obama Claims on Stimulus

Nov. 10, 2010, 9:30 a.m.

President Obama’s assertion about stimulus projects—that most have been completed ahead of schedule and under budget—has some merit. Competition has pushed bids down and several measures suggest projects are being finished on time. But claim that the majority of the work is ahead of schedule is unproven.

Did the White House Meet its Stimulus Goal?

Oct. 1, 2010, 12:06 p.m.

The White House says it met its goal of spending 70 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package, but final numbers aren’t in and five agencies have spent less than a quarter of their funds.

Air Marshal Investigated in Indian Ammunition Case

June 15, 2010, 4:10 p.m.

Off the Radar: Private Planes Hidden From Public View

April 8, 2010, 10:12 p.m.

ProPublica has obtained a list of private planes whose flights are blocked from public tracking sites, and among them are the planes of politicians, business executives, colleges, churches and even news organizations.

PR Firm Behind Propaganda Videos Wins Stimulus Contract

March 30, 2010, 12:26 p.m.

HHS has hired a PR firm to win consumer trust in the privacy of health information systems. But the tactics of the firm, Ketchum, have come under fire in the past.

The Stimulus ‘Loser’ List Loses Some Members

March 25, 2010, 8:27 a.m.

This month a government Web site listed companies that hadn't filed required reports on their stimulus money. Now a watchdog agency says that dozens of those companies should not have been on the list.

New Investigations of Stimulus Waste, Fraud and Abuse

March 22, 2010, 2:32 p.m.

Gov’t Wrongly Labels Some Stimulus Recipients ‘Losers’

March 8, 2010, 9:09 a.m.

The government has listed as "two-time losers" stimulus recipients who didn't file reports. But some of the listed "losers" did file the reports. The list is intended to embarrass the recipients of money who didn't do the paperwork.

Court Upholds Release of Corporate Jets List Sought by ProPublica

Feb. 26, 2010, 7:03 p.m.

Our New List of Stimulus Investigations

Feb. 17, 2010, 9:57 a.m.

DHS Asked to Investigate Air Marshal Allegations

Feb. 3, 2010, 11:56 a.m.

The Transportation Security Administration is looking into reports of discrimination by an "old boys club" of supervisors in field offices of the Federal Air Marshal Service. Now a congressman is calling for an independent inquiry into the matter.

Air Marshals Dogged by Discrimination Complaints in Field Offices

Feb. 1, 2010, 10:39 a.m.

As the administration looks to tighten air security, charges of discrimination and retaliation may distract federal air marshals from their work. Air marshals have long whispered about their complaints, but two recent cases are bringing public attention to the issue.

When Do You Ban a Stimulus Contractor?

Jan. 15, 2010, 11:45 a.m.

White House Changes Stimulus Jobs Count

Jan. 11, 2010, 9:13 a.m.

Counting the jobs created or saved by the stimulus has turned out to be difficult, and the numbers have been much disputed. Now the White House is revising its accounting process, dropping a cumulative tally and expanding the definition of what counts.

Thousands of Stimulus Reports Missing, Resulting in Potential Undercount of Jobs Created

Dec. 9, 2009, 5:59 a.m.

Are the Criticisms of the Gov’s Stimulus Site Legit?

Nov. 19, 2009, 10:24 a.m.

Critics have been vocal about the flaws in the first big release of data on Recovery.gov, the federal stimulus-reporting Web site. But despite gaps in job numbers and the appearance of phantom congressional districts, the error rate in this database isn't so bad.

ProPublica’s FAQ for Recovery.gov

Nov. 9, 2009, 3:52 p.m.

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