Hi Reader,

I know that as a reader of ProPublica, you come to us for the kind of well-researched, nonpartisan, investigative journalism that you can’t get anywhere else. A recent example is our deep dive into railroad companies’ decadeslong practice of blocking crossings for hours, even days, on end.

When these freight trains stop on the tracks at crossings, kids risk their lives crawling under or over the stopped trains to get to school. Ambulances and fire trucks, too, are blocked from reaching people in an emergency. Our reporters witnessed dozens of children in Hammond, Indiana, crawling under, climbing over and squeezing between train cars on their way to class. These trains can, and have, started without warning, and there have been documented accidents across the country.

As soon as we published this investigation in late April in collaboration with Gray Television/InvestigateTV, national news outlets began republishing our story, including the images and videos of children making their way through the train cars on their way to school. Within days, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory, Indiana lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation pleading for a change and even Norfolk Southern’s CEO got in touch with Hammond’s mayor. Our journalists are still investigating, even as I write this email to you.

Even at this early stage, this investigation shows how powerful and wide-reaching journalism can be when published in the public interest. Shining a light on the facts, making events as transparent as we can, holding people in power to account — these are at the foundation of everything we do at ProPublica.

Help us continue this urgent and critical work by joining us today with your donation of any amount. Our summer member drive ends this Friday, and we’ve heard from over 1,300 people so far. I’d love to count you as well. Journalism for the people is also powered by the people, and we’re asking you to stand with us.

Thanks so much,
Jill Shepherd
Proud ProPublican