Hi Reader,
We deserve leaders who act with honesty, integrity and transparency. But when they fall short, independent journalism is often the first — and sometimes only — line of defense. For generations, investigative reporters have played a critical role in holding the powerful accountable, uncovering corruption, exposing injustices and shining a light on breaches of the public trust. They’ve done the work most of us can’t — digging deep, asking tough questions and revealing the truths that shape our democracy.
Today, that essential work is a struggle. As corporate interests dominate some of the media landscape and many newsrooms are shrinking, fewer reporters are left to scrutinize the halls of power. But here at ProPublica, we’re growing, pressing on and digging deeper, and we won’t stop. At the heart of our mission is a steadfast faith in the power of investigative reporting to spur change and right wrongs.
And it does. Here are some significant developments that came from our reporting:
Illinois Lawmakers Ban Police From Ticketing and Fining Students for Minor Infractions in School
The legislation comes after a ProPublica-Chicago Tribune investigation in 2022 revealed that even though state law bans schools from fining students directly, districts have skirted the law by calling on police to issue citations for violating local ordinances. From the House floor, Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Democrat from Chicago, thanked the news organizations for exposing the practice.
A Tennessee School Agreed to Pay $100,000 to Family of 11-Year-Old Student Arrested Under School Threats Law
A Chattanooga charter school agreed to the sum to settle a federal lawsuit claiming it wrongfully reported a student to police for an alleged threat of mass violence. Under the settlement, the school also agreed to implement training on how to handle threats of mass violence at school, including differentiating between “clearly innocuous statements” and “imminent” violence. ProPublica and WPLN News wrote about the case last October as part of a larger investigation into a new law in Tennessee making threats of mass violence at school a felony. Their coverage of the law was recognized with an Education Writers Association award last week!
Former “We Buy Ugly Houses” Franchise Owner to Plead Guilty in Fraud Scheme That Cost Investors $40 Million
The former operator of one of the largest HomeVestors of America franchises agreed to plead guilty to running what amounted to a Ponzi scheme that ensnared dozens of investors. In a story published last month, ProPublica detailed how Charles Carrier bilked millions of dollars from scores of investors across Texas, including both wealthy businesspeople and older adults of more modest means who depended on the investment income for daily expenses. According to new court documents, losses to individual investors range from $35,000 to $11.6 million. The plea agreement was filed in court two weeks after the article was published.
Connecticut Legislature Passes Bill Overhauling Century-Old Towing Laws
Just last week, the Connecticut Legislature voted to overhaul the state’s antiquated towing laws that hurt many poor people. This swift change was a direct result of our series with The Connecticut Mirror revealing that state towing laws allowed tow truck companies to sell some people’s cars in 15 days, one of the shortest windows in the country. Our reporting included a stunning account of a DMV employee who developed a profitable side hustle selling off towed cars and kept his job even after internal investigators figured out what was happening. (The employee denied investigators’ findings.) “We’ve learned over the years, and particularly over the last year due to some investigative reporting, of some particularly egregious circumstances,” said Sen. Christine Cohen, Transportation Committee co-chair. “This is awesome. It’s great news,” one local resident said. “I wouldn’t have lost my car, and now maybe others won’t either.”
Impact has been at the core of ProPublica’s mission since we launched in 2008, and our newsroom’s track record of holding power to account is unmatched. You can see it all in our impact reports, published three times a year. Our work has proven time and again that people and policymakers, when confronted with difficult truths, will be inspired to push for change. Our reporters dig deep, knowing that rigorous transparency has the power to end harmful policies and practices and strengthen democratic governance.
Our in-depth reporting shines a light on the stories that matter most, but we can’t do it alone because finding the truth is expensive. Every breakthrough investigation is powered by readers like you. Your support can help uncover the facts — make a donation of any amount to drive our work forward.
Thanks so much,
Jill Shepherd
Proud ProPublican
