From a rubber plantation in Southeast Asia to a repair shop in Mississippi, the story of a tire highlights the turmoil of the post-pandemic economy and its uncertain future.

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The Big Story
Wed. May 3, 2023

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Overinflated: The Journey of a Humble Tire Reveals Why Prices Are Still So High <[link removed]> From a rubber plantation in Southeast Asia to a repair shop in Mississippi, the story of a tire highlights the turmoil of the post-pandemic economy and its uncertain future. by Michael Grabell

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The Hidden Fees Making Your Bananas, and Everything Else, Cost More <[link removed]> A cadre of ocean carriers are charging exorbitant, potentially illegal, fees on shipping containers stuck because of congestion at ports. Sellers of furniture, coconut water, even kids’ potties say the fees are inflating costs. by Michael Grabell, photography by John Francis Peters for ProPublica <[link removed]>

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Blocked Crossings Crisis Draws Local and National Calls for Action <[link removed]> After seeing images of kids crawling under trains, regulators ask companies to address blocked crossings, lawmakers demand consequences, residents clamor for solutions and Norfolk Southern’s CEO calls a mayor to work out a fix. by Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz <[link removed]>

“A Courtroom Is a Really Lousy Place to Decide Science” <[link removed]> As states move to continue lethal injections, judges are tasked with weighing the credibility of medical experts and complex scientific testimony. Some experts say jurists are not always equipped to make these evaluations. by Lauren Gill and Daniel Moritz-Rabson <[link removed]>

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Tennessee’s Governor Calls for Expanding a Gun Dispossession System Already Failing Domestic Violence Victims <[link removed]> After the Covenant School shooting, Gov. Bill Lee went beyond state Republicans in calling for reform. But the system he is embracing already allows violent people to hold on to their weapons. by Paige Pfleger, WPLN/Nashville Public Radio <[link removed]>

How South Carolina Ended Up With an All-Male Supreme Court <[link removed]> An abortion ban struck down. The lone female justice retiring. And a majority-male legislature rallying behind the one male candidate to replace her. This is how South Carolina ended up with an all-male Supreme Court as new abortion legislation looms. by Jennifer Berry Hawes <[link removed]>

Focus of 9/11 Families’ Lawsuit Against Saudi Arabia Turns to a Saudi Student Who May Have Been a Spy <[link removed]> Twenty years after the Sept. 11 attacks, declassified FBI documents have changed a big piece of the story about possible Saudi government help to the hijackers. Families of the victims want more information. by Tim Golden <[link removed]>

This Man’s Conviction Was Overturned After Two Years in Prison. But the City Said He Didn’t Deserve a Dime. <[link removed]> A jury found New York City liable for NYPD rights violations in a case city lawyers fought for years. Critics say the hardball approach helps perpetuate a cycle of police misconduct. by Jake Pearson, ProPublica, and Mike Hayes for ProPublica <[link removed]>

As Rail Profits Soar, Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School <[link removed]> When crossings are blocked for hours, kids risk their lives to get to school by crawling through trains that could start at any moment. Ambulances and fire trucks can’t get through. The problem has existed for decades. But it’s getting worse. by Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz, ProPublica, and Joce Sterman, Gray Television/InvestigateTV; Video by Scotty Smith, Gray Television/InvestigateTV; Photography by Jamie Kelter Davis for ProPublica <[link removed]>

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