Al Shaw

Senior News Application Developer

Photo of Al Shaw

Al Shaw is a Senior News Application Developer at ProPublica. He uses data and interactive graphics to cover environmental issues, natural disasters and politics.

A year before Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, Shaw was part of a team that produced “Hell and High Water,” which warned of the region's vulnerability to coastal storms. The project won a Peabody Award in 2017. Shaw's project, “Losing Ground,” about the century-long erosion of Louisiana's coast won a Gold Medal from the Society for News Design. His interactive maps surrounding FEMA's response to Hurricane Sandy were honored with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi award. Before joining ProPublica, Shaw was a designer/developer at the political news website Talking Points Memo.

Trump Lawyer Confirms President Can Pull Money From His Businesses Whenever He Wants

Previously unreported changes to President Trump’s trust documents stipulate that the trust “shall distribute net income or principal to Donald J. Trump at his request.”

Trump’s Changing Trust, Annotated

Here’s an annotated look at notable changes to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust’s certification document.

Here Are More Than 400 Officials Trump Has Quietly Deployed Across the Government

ProPublica has obtained a list of more than 400 people hired by the Trump administration to fill key roles across the federal government.

Meet the Hundreds of Officials Trump Has Quietly Installed Across the Government

We have obtained a list of more than 400 Trump administration hires, including dozens of lobbyists and some from far-right media.

Map: Bomb Threats to Jewish Community Centers and Organizations

A timeline of bomb threats against Jewish Community Centers and other organizations

White House Power Player Jared Kushner Is Keeping Parts of His Real-Estate Empire

Given Kushner’s vast portfolio as an adviser to the president, it’s not clear how he’s going to avoid issues that could affect his bank account. The Trump administration has declined to give details.

Alternative School Enrollment and Warning Signs

Which districts have large numbers of students in alternative schools, and where are those schools potentially problematic?

Ivanka Trump Also Promised to Resign From Family Business, And Hasn’t Filed Paperwork

President Trump’s eldest daughter said she’d give up management of her businesses. We checked.

Trump Promised to Resign From His Companies — But There’s No Record He’s Done So

To transfer control of his companies, the president has to submit filings in Florida, Delaware and New York. We spoke to officials in each of those states.

Trump’s 10 Troubling Deals with Foreign Power-Players

The new president’s deals with foreign power players create clear paths for Trump to put his interests ahead of those of the United States.

Boomtown, Flood Town

Climate change will bring more frequent and fierce rainstorms to cities like Houston. But unchecked development remains a priority in the famously un-zoned city, creating short-term economic gains for some while increasing flood risks for everyone.

Boomtown, Flood Town (Full Text)

Climate change will bring more frequent and fierce rainstorms to cities like Houston. But unchecked development remains a priority in the famously un-zoned city, creating short-term economic gains for some while increasing flood risks for everyone.

Hell and High Water

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country. It's home to the nation's largest refining and petrochemical complex, where billions of gallons of oil and dangerous chemicals are stored. And it's a sitting duck for the next big hurricane. Why isn't Texas ready?

Hell and High Water (Full Text)

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country. It's home to the nation's largest refining and petrochemical complex, where billions of gallons of oil and dangerous chemicals are stored. And it's a sitting duck for the next big hurricane. Why isn't Texas ready?

How We Made Hell and High Water

The Color of Debt

The black neighborhoods where collection suits hit hardest

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, While Water Supplies Last

How 40 years of unchecked growth may eventually bust Las Vegas’ water supply.

Killing the Colorado: Explore the River

How the Colorado was turned into a giant plumbing system.

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.

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