Local Matters

A free weekly newsletter, spotlighting the best in U.S. local journalism. By four journalists: @joey_cranney, @BrettMmurphy, @BetsBarnes, @luluramadan.

[Local Matters @LMattersNews]

Local Matters is 5 years old! Our passion project has one goal: Give too-often ignored local reporters their proper due. People like @EricEyre, who exposed criminal drug firms fueling the overdose epidemic. And journos like @wendi_c_thomas @barbaralaker @wendyruderman.

[Allie Gross @Allie_Elisabeth]

Sexual assaults, cruelty towards residents, people being left outside for hours in the cold, and filthy living situations — all are examples of incidents the state investigated and deemed "Ds" — Not even a slap on the wrist — a flick on the wrist.

[Allie Gross @Allie_Elisabeth]

A wonky (but disturbing) story — in '20 GA passed big reforms to better regulate its assisted living/personal care homes. 4 yrs later — despite having some of the most robust laws in the US — little has changed. My latest on the gap btwn rules+enforcement https://t.co/QcLH2KFUl9

[The Assembly @TheAssemblyNC]

UPDATE: After this article was published, Lt. Gov.-elect Rachel Hunt told The Assembly that she had resigned from the Hunt Institute’s board of directors on November 18 and called for new leadership.

Read more at the link below.

[The Assembly @TheAssemblyNC]

Ex-staffers say an autocratic leader has created a toxic environment that imperils the venerated education nonprofit’s future—and former Gov. Jim Hunt’s legacy.

https://t.co/hSvXgvV5oP

[Asher Lehrer-Small @small_asher]

Oops 🫢 filed 153 FOIAs to HISD last school year

[Ben Binday @benbinday]

BIG: I exclusively acquired troves of docs between Gov. Shapiro's office and Penn, indicating that the he increasingly stepped into Penn's affairs in the past year — particularly on antisemitism concerns and Penn's encampment.

My latest in @dailypenn:
https://t.co/vjpS9GDZkh

[Susie Neilson @susieneilson]

We got some impact!!!

W/ @jennifergollan: Two members of Congress called on US regulators today to improve data collection on fatal pursuits, citing our investigation that found a dramatic undercount of the deaths (gift link) https://t.co/2i82oEcI08 @sfchronicle

[Mandy McLaren @mandy_mclaren]

NEW: The @BostonGlobe, through a massive records request, obtained hundreds of never-before-seen special education settlements from across Mass.

Together, they tell a disturbing tale of secrecy and inequity.

W/ the herculean efforts of @neena_hagen:
https://t.co/5UPIgsvwHh

[Sara DiNatale @sara_dinatale]

This isn’t everyone out there selling solar. But my investigation found a clear pattern of unregulated solar bro culture that prioritizes closing as many deals as possible above anything else. This is part 2 in a series: Kneel for the deal.
@ExpressNews
https://t.co/G6vUyFdLWX

[Sara DiNatale @sara_dinatale]

For a certain class of door-to-door solar sales people the playbook is simple:
1. Find senior citizens (probably have passing credit even if on fixed incomes)
2. Falsely lead them to believe they qualify for big tax breaks
3. Give self huge commission
4. Strip club 💸💸💸

[Elyse Goncalves @e1ysegoncalves]

Over the past six months, @matanjosephy and I compiled data on the last 15 freshman classes at Harvard to find the high schools that send the most students to the College each year. 21 schools make the top of the list.

Read about them in @thecrimson:

https://t.co/bLGDd45Lge

[Jessica Calefati @Calefati]

A little girl named Zona starved to death last month in Baltimore. This was not a freak accident or a sudden illness. It took months for her body to deteriorate. Plenty of time for someone to notice. Why didnt anyone help? Me and @conarck tried to find out https://t.co/nb6toMwnFR

[Riley Bunch @ribunchreports]

A note from an @ajc reader post-election. #LocalNewsMatters

[Hillary Borrud @hborrud]

I first heard about Grace several years ago from someone who was worried she was being exploited for sex while in Oregon foster care.

Grace, who I finally met nearly two years ago, is now sharing her story. I hope you can give it a read.

https://t.co/MIBWk2G06D

[San Antonio Express-News @ExpressNews]

An explosion in sales of rooftop solar systems across Texas opened the door wide to deceptive sales practices, overblown promises, expensive loans and shoddy workmanship, a San Antonio Express-News investigation found. https://t.co/bCz6H1txPl

[rickhirsch @rickhirsch]

Another major scoop by the student journalists at the @TheAlligator https://t.co/FmkZ1P9itl

[Kate Cimini @k_cimini]

It took about four weeks to accurately report this out. Let me take you through the legwork needed to find and confirm that Lee Sheriff Carmine Marceno signed a contract with someone using a fake name. A 🧵

[Jenny Deam @jenny_deam]

Michael Clark was convicted based on DNA evidence for a murder he says he didn’t do. Colorado’s leading DNA expert helped put him away for life.

Turns out she had been falsifying results in cases for years.

(Via The Denver Gazette) https://t.co/PteRRervye

[A.J. Lagoe @AJInvestigates]

A ⁦@kare11⁩ investigation exposes a multimillion-dollar network of thousands of fake home repair companies deceiving customers nationwide. https://t.co/TGQnhiL1m0

[Lawrence Mower @lmower3]

At night, bugs came out of the walls in dilapidated mobile home parks in Florida.

The owner is an investment firm known for buying and gutting struggling businesses.

Another important story by @RebeccaLiebson & @teghan_simonton:
https://t.co/2CExeGzXDz