December 2014 Archive
Liberia’s Ebola Crisis: ‘I Keep Praying For My Country’
We’re using the chat platform WhatsApp to give readers a direct line to the reporter behind “Firestone and the Warlord.” Here’s what they are saying.
Obama Issues 12 Pardons. That’s Still Far Fewer Than Predecessors
The president’s 18 commutations put him ahead of recent presidents but his use of pardons still lags behind Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Inside the Firewall: Tracking the News That China Blocks
Every day since Nov. 17, 2014, ProPublica has been testing whether the homepages of international news organizations are accessible to browsers inside China. Of the 18 in our test, 0 are currently blocked. Below are the results. To test, we use GreatFire.org, a censorship monitoring service in China that launched in 2011.
New York State Bans Fracking
After years of delays and debate, Gov. Andrew Cuomo decides risks outweigh rewards.
NY State Official Raises Alarm on Charter Schools — And Gets Ignored
A top official in the New York State Comptroller's Office has urged regulators to require more transparency on charter-school finances. The response has been, well, nonexistent.
As Controlled Substance Use Rises in Medicare, Prolific Prescribers Face More Scrutiny
Despite warnings about abuse, Medicare covered more prescriptions for potent controlled substances in 2012 than it did in 2011. The program's top prescribers often have faced disciplinary action or criminal charges related to their medical practices.
When The Tomatoes are Treated Better Than The Humans (MuckReads Weekly)
Some of the best #MuckReads we read this week. Want to receive these by email? <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/when-tomatoes-are-treated-better-than-humans-and-more-in-muckreads-weekly#signup">Sign up</a> to get this briefing delivered to your inbox every weekend.
Top Fed Policy Group Brought Up Leak to Private Newsletter
Answering a ProPublica records request, the Federal Reserve acknowledged a leak of Federal Open Market Committee information but declined to release the committee's transcripts on the matter.
How Fear Of Occupy Wall Street Undermined the Red Cross' Sandy Relief Effort
Red Cross responders say there was a ban on working with the widely praised Occupy Sandy relief group because it was seen as politically unpalatable.
The Wall Street Takeover of Charity
The rise of donor-advised funds is helping financial firms but hurting society.
Reparations, Labor Rights and More in WhatsApp Chat on ‘Firestone and the Warlord’
We’re using the chat platform WhatsApp to give readers a direct line to the reporter behind “Firestone and the Warlord.” Here’s what they are saying.
Timeline: The Tortured History of the Senate’s Torture Report
It has been more than five years since the Senate began investigating the CIA’s detainee program, a period marked by White House indecisiveness, Republican opposition, and what we now know was CIA snooping.
When Charter Schools Are Nonprofit in Name Only
Some charters pass along nearly all their money to for-profit companies hired to manage the schools. It's an arrangement that's raising eyebrows.
Louisiana’s Moon Shot
The state hopes to save its rapidly disappearing coastline with a 50-year, $50 billion plan based on science that’s never been tested and money it doesn’t have. What could go wrong?
Reporting From the Youngest Land in the World
How we got aerial photographs for our project on Louisiana’s effort to save its southeastern coast.
$1 Spent on Politics = $760 Gained from Federal Gov’t and More in MuckReads Weekly
Some of the best #MuckReads we read this week. Want to receive these by email? <a href="1-spent-on-politics-760-gained-from-federal-govt-and-more-in-muckreads-week#signup">Sign up</a> to get this briefing delivered to your inbox every weekend.
