Black Snow

The Smoke Comes Every Year. Sugar Companies Say the Air Is Safe.

To harvest more than half of America’s cane sugar, billion-dollar companies set fire to fields, a money-saving practice that’s being banned by other countries.

by Lulu Ramadan, The Palm Beach Post, and Ash Ngu and Maya Miller, ProPublica

About the Local Reporting Network

ProPublica is supporting local and regional newsrooms as they work on important investigative projects affecting their communities. Topics include sexual violence, conflicts of interest, housing, and workplace safety. Our partner, the Anchorage Daily News, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for our collaboration.

Black Snow

Testing the Air to Tell a Story: How We Investigated Air Pollution Near Florida’s Sugar Fields

A look at the community engagement and citizen data-collection that made our major investigation in the Florida Glades come to life.

by Logan Jaffe

Black Snow

Sugar Companies Said Our Investigation Is Flawed and Biased. Let’s Dive Into Why That’s Not the Case.

ProPublica and The Palm Beach Post published an investigation into the air quality in Florida’s heartland, where more than half the country’s cane sugar is harvested, often by burning the fields. Sugar companies challenged our reporting. We respond.

by Lulu Ramadan, The Palm Beach Post, and Maya Miller and Ash Ngu, ProPublica

The Untouchables

Facing New Complaint, South Carolina Magistrate Removed as County’s Chief Judge

Magistrate Angel Underwood was removed from her post after court officials sat on a complaint for years. Underwood has been accused of failing to remain impartial toward the local sheriff’s department, which her husband used to run.

by Joseph Cranney and Avery G. Wilks, The Post and Courier

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Distinguished Fellows

These reporters are pursuing a broad range of important investigative projects in partnership with ProPublica over a three-year period.

Partner Newsrooms

These newsrooms and reporters are working with ProPublica on an accountability journalism project.

  • Arizona Republic

    Arizona Republic

    Phoenix, Arizona

    Reporter: Alden Woods

  • KPCC/LAist

    KPCC/LAist

    Los Angeles, California

    Reporter: Emily Elena Dugdale

  • KUCB and CoastAlaska

    KUCB and CoastAlaska

    Unalaska, Alaska

    Reporter: Zoë Sobel

  • Nashville Public Radio

    Nashville Public Radio

    Nashville, Tennessee

    Reporter: Meribah Knight

  • Open Vallejo

    Open Vallejo

    Vallejo, California

    Reporter: Laurence Du Sault

  • Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Portland, Oregon

    Reporter: Tony Schick

  • Outlier Media

    Outlier Media

    Detroit, Michigan

    Reporter: Sarah Alvarez

  • The Palm Beach Post

    The Palm Beach Post

    Palm Beach, Florida

    Reporter: Lulu Ramadan

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA

    The Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA

    Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

    Reporter: Bob Fernandez

  • San Francisco Public Press

    San Francisco Public Press

    San Francisco, California

    Reporter: Nuala Bishari

  • VPM

    VPM

    Richmond, Virginia

    Reporter: Megan Pauly

  • WBEZ

    WBEZ

    Chicago, Illinois

    Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

  • WRKF and WWNO

    WRKF and WWNO

    Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and New Orleans, Louisiana

    Reporter: Richard A. Webster

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