Posted inHigh Courts, High Stakes

‘Lose the courts, lose the war’: The battle over voting in North Carolina

Republicans seized the state Supreme Court after changing how judges are elected. The political implications — and ramifications for everyday life — are huge. This story also appeared in USA TODAY NEW BERN, N.C. — As the daylight faded on April 12, 2018, a Craven County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a white pickup. Heather French […]

Posted inHigh Courts, High Stakes

State high courts get limited attention. Here’s how to change that.

State supreme courts have the final word on interpreting state constitutions. Their decisions have massive implications for abortion access, taxes, LGBTQ+ rights, labor, policing and other issues that affect people’s lives. So why do these courts fly under the radar? That’s partly by design. Justices rarely seek public attention, preferring to let their opinions do […]

Posted inCriminalizing kids

Fighting back against racial bias in school policing

Two U.S. agencies are urging school districts “to confront the issue of race discrimination in student discipline,” releasing a report highlighting federal investigations that found evidence of bias in school policing over the past decade. “Discrimination in student discipline forecloses opportunities for students, pushing them out of the classroom and diverting them from a path […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

‘American Whitelash’: Lowery examines how white grievance drives violence

The election of America’s first Black president was expected to begin a post-racial period where communities would work together to address systemic racism and ensure that racial prejudice became a social problem of the past.  But that never happened. Barack Obama’s election became a trigger for white grievance and violence over Black progress. In his […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Public Integrity’s ‘The Heist’ wins Excellence in Financial Journalism award

The Center for Public Integrity has won the 2023 Excellence in Financial Journalism Award for best audio reporting for Season 2 of its podcast, “The Heist.” “The Wealth Vortex,” produced in partnership with Transmitter Media, follows Iowa entrepreneur ReShonda Young as she tries to start a Black-owned bank to help address the racial wealth gap […]

Posted inLive Events

What is home? Public Integrity will host event featuring disabled storytellers

Join the Center for Public Integrity, USC Annenberg’s Center for Health Journalism and State of Mind, a partnership between Slate and Arizona State University, on July 26 at 7 p.m. Eastern for a unique storytelling event and panel. The discussion will be lead by Amy Silverman, whose award-winning reporting for the Center for Public Integrity […]

Posted inEnvironment

Planning for environmental justice for all

This story was published as a partnership between the Center for Public Integrity and Fresnoland When Arlin Benavides Jr. set out to hear residents’ environmental concerns in one of the most marginalized parts of a region facing water scarcity, groundwater contamination, extreme heat and other woes, he wasn’t sure if people would open their doors, […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Data journalism pioneers join IRE’s Ring of Honor

The impact of two data journalism pioneers, including a former Center for Public Integrity data editor, will be honored at the Investigative Reporters & Editors annual conference in Orlando June 24. The late David Donald and Tom Torok will be inducted into IRE’s Ring of Honor, “celebrating members who have made a significant contribution to […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Dateline Awards honor Public Integrity stories on homelessness, disabilities

Investigations by the Center for Public Integrity into student homelessness and community-based care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were recognized with 2023 Dateline Awards by the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Wednesday. With “Institution of One,” which was named best online non-breaking news story, reporter Amy Silverman painted a […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Public Integrity’s collaborative investigation model featured at conference

The Center for Public Integrity’s model for working with local newsrooms on investigative reporting projects will be featured at the national Collaborative Journalism Summit June 6-7 in Washington, D.C. Public Integrity Director of Audience Lisa Yanick Litwiller and Audience Engagement Editor Ashley Clarke will give a keynote address on how the organization has improved the […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Public Integrity staff share insights on investigating inequality

Journalists from the Center for Public Integrity will offer advice and training on investigative reporting and data journalism that confronts inequality at the annual Investigative Reporters & Editors conference June 22-25 in Orlando. In addition to its own national investigations, one of the organization’s priorities is to build investigative reporting capacity and expertise at local […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Public Integrity voting inequity investigation wins National Headliner Award

Public Integrity’s investigation into inequality in access to voting and political representation ahead of the 2022 elections has won a National Headliner Award. “Who Counts?” won first place for best beat coverage in the annual awards program, sponsored by the Press Club of Atlantic City. Judges called the project “a detailed report on voting issues, […]

Posted inInside Public Integrity

Public Integrity report wins award for mental health coverage

The Center for Public Integrity was recognized Tuesday with a Mental Health America 2023 media award for Christine Herman’s reporting about the challenges families face accessing mental health care. The story was published in partnership with Side Effects Public Media as part of the national Mental Health Parity Collaborative led by the Carter Center’s Rosalynn […]

Posted inInequality

Pondering state reparations for tribes, a council documents history of harms

It started with a formal apology. “California Native American peoples suffered violence, discrimination and exploitation sanctioned by state government throughout its history,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a 2019 statement. “We can never undo the wrongs inflicted on the peoples who have lived on this land that we now call California since time immemorial, […]

Posted inUnequal Risk

The EPA wants to broaden a ban on a deadly chemical on store shelves

Many toxic substances harm people slowly, causing serious illnesses years after repeated exposure. But methylene chloride’s fumes are so dangerous, the chemical can kill you in a matter of minutes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned consumer sales of paint strippers with this ingredient in 2019 after an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity […]