His duty to keep the rails safe from disaster conflicted with his employer’s desire to keep its trains running as fast and as frequently as possible.

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The Big Story
Sat. Nov 18, 2023

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Union Pacific Fired Him Rather Than Heed His Warnings of Dangerous Rail Conditions <[link removed]> Time and again, Johnny Taylor’s duty to keep the rails safe from disaster conflicted with his employer’s desire to keep its trains running as fast and as frequently as possible, putting his career and family in peril. by Danelle Morton and Topher Sanders, with additional reporting by Jessica Lussenhop

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Train Country

“Do Your Job.” How the Railroad Industry Intimidates Employees Into Putting Speed Before Safety <[link removed]> Railroad companies have penalized workers for taking the time to make needed repairs and created a culture in which supervisors threaten and fire the very people hired to keep trains running safely. Regulators say they can’t stop this intimidation. by Topher Sanders, Jessica Lussenhop, Dan Schwartz, Danelle Morton and Gabriel Sandoval <[link removed]>

The True Dangers of Long Trains <[link removed]> Trains are getting longer. Railroads are getting richer. But these “monster trains” are jumping off of tracks across America and regulators are doing little to curb the risk. by Dan Schwartz and Topher Sanders, with additional reporting by Gabriel Sandoval and Danelle Morton, graphics by Haisam Hussein <[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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Wisconsin’s Legislative Maps Are Bizarre, but Are They Illegal? <[link removed]> Wisconsin’s gerrymandering case has garnered national attention. But a little-explored aspect of the suit — the pervasive presence of “Swiss cheese” districts — could have huge ramifications for the outcome. by Megan O’Matz, graphics by Lucas Waldron

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This Youth Detention Center Superintendent Illegally Locks Kids Alone in Cells. No One Has Forced Him to Stop. <[link removed]> The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center has been punishing kids with seclusion more than any other facility in Tennessee. And as the laws and rules on how to treat kids changed, the facility failed to keep up. by Paige Pfleger, WPLN/Nashville Public Radio <[link removed]>

Appeals Court Sides With Author Sued Over ProPublica Article <[link removed]> A New York state appeals court issued a quick and decisive ruling in a case stemming from an article that chronicled the downfall of a Fortune 500 CEO. by ProPublica <[link removed]>

Columbia University to Set Up $100 Million Fund for Patients of Predator OB-GYN <[link removed]> After ProPublica and New York Magazine revealed how the school ignored warnings about Robert Hadden, Columbia announced a number of major initiatives, including a settlement fund for survivors and an independent investigation. by Bianca Fortis <[link removed]>

The Supreme Court Has Adopted a Conduct Code, but Who Will Enforce It? <[link removed]> Experts say it is unclear if the new rules, which come after reporting by ProPublica and others revealed that justices had repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel from wealthy donors, would address the issues raised by the recent revelations. by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, Brett Murphy and Alex Mierjeski <[link removed]>

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