Welcome to the latest installment of the Texas watchdog journalism roundup, a series that showcases hard-hitting investigative stories in Texas that uncover hidden facts, hold officials accountable and demonstrate why journalism matters.
These amazing stories are being published during difficult times in the news business. Last week, the San Antonio Express-News laid off 14 journalists. That’s on top of a depressing number of lay offs at news outlets across Texas and the rest of the country.
The watchdog journalism roundup is a place to read some of the best stories Texas journalists are publishing — and to see what we’re at risk of losing.
Ballet San Antonio dancer faces sexual assault charges | The San Antonio Express-News
A week after San Antonio’s premiere ballet organization announced its artistic director was no longer with Ballet San Antonio after an internal investigation, the Express-News revealed that another employee, dancer Hugo Rodriguez, faces two felony charges of sexual assault after Rodriguez was accused of raping two fellow dancers. The turmoil at the ballet is occurring as the organization reports a $140,000 financial shortfall. Story by Dawn Kopecki and John Tedesco
St. Luke’s to Suspend Heart Transplants After Recent Deaths | The Houston Chronicle and ProPublica
“In my opinion, the shocking story of the Baylor St Luke’s CHI transplant program is one of greed, careerism, corporate takeovers, appalling administrative oversight, failure of leadership, poor hiring practices, completely avoidable lawsuits…”
https://t.co/TAaw7Bgdon— Charles Ornstein (@charlesornstein) June 2, 2018
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, a renowned heart transplant facility, temporarily suspended its program following two patient deaths and reports by the Houston Chronicle and ProPublica about an “outsized number of transplants resulting in deaths” and the loss of top doctors. “St. Luke’s heart transplant survival rate, the most important measure of a program’s quality, now ranks near the bottom nationally,” the “Heart Failure” series found. Story by Charles Ornstein and Mike Hixenbaugh
Blood Will Tell | ProPublica and New York Times Magazine
The @ProPublica version of my story, "Blood Will Tell," includes photos from the bloodstain-pattern analysis course I took. This was my course binder: https://t.co/yfmO8O0G8S pic.twitter.com/EgYVlbmXpk
— Pamela Colloff (@pamelacolloff) May 31, 2018
Joe Bryan, a small-town school principal, has spent three decades in prison for the murder of his wife — a crime he claims he didn’t commit. Bryan said he was 120 miles away the night his wife was killed in their home. But his conviction was based almost entirely on “blood splatter” analysis, a technique that authorities use with little training or scientific oversight. Anyone who takes a 40-hour class can suddenly become a courtroom expert — even an investigative reporter who signed up for such a class to learn about the case. Story by Pamela Colloff
Six months after a sex-crimes detective was fired, a woman still waits for justice | The San Antonio Express-News
Six months after an SAPD detective was fired for allegedly botching 130 sexual assault cases, new records reveal conflicting accounts of what went wrong. Meanwhile, a woman who said she was raped last year remains in the dark. Read my story in today’s @ExpressNews. pic.twitter.com/0a4fLfAmsM
— Emilie Eaton (@emilieeaton) April 15, 2018
The Express-News examined internal police records to learn that a San Antonio police detective bungled scores of sex-crime cases going back as far as 2010 — not 2015 as officials originally said. “Nearly six months after the detective, Kenneth Valdez, was indefinitely suspended, which is tantamount to being fired, records and video obtained by the San Antonio Express-News reveal conflicting accounts of what went wrong.” Story by Emilie Eaton
Former Congressman Steve Stockman convicted on federal corruption charges | The Houston Chronicle
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"After investigative reporters from the @HoustonChron and the @SunFoundation exposed some of Stockman’s many reporting irregularities, other members of Congress…called for official investigations." https://t.co/82RVoyXkRh
— Ben Sheppard (@bsheppardtx) April 27, 2018
Former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman was convicted of masterminding a scheme that diverted $1.25 million in charitable donations from conservative philanthropists to cover personal expenses and campaign debts. “The criminal probe of Stockman was triggered by investigations by the Sunlight Foundation and the Houston Chronicle that examined a series of 2013 checks that straw donors made to Stockman’s tapped-out congressional campaign fund. ” Story by Gabrielle Banks
Sid Miller’s political consultant hit up campaign donor for $29K loan | The Austin American-Statesman
@sbcmw uncovers tangled tale of pay-to-play-to-pay-to-not-repay: Sid @MillerForTexas consultant tells donor a contribution will buy a policy position – then asks the donor for a loan, which consultant reportedly doesn't repay. https://t.co/4YFCX1CTle
— Eric Dexheimer (@Dexinvestigates) April 24, 2018
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s top political consultant, Todd M. Smith, told a San Antonio businessman he could get appointed to an advisory role on health care policy in return for contributing to Miller’s campaign. Then Smith hit the businessman up for a personal loan of $29,000, according to a promissory note the two signed. Story by Sean Collins Walsh
Zoo director’s departure came amid questions on finances, communication, culture | Waco Tribune-Herald
Zoo director's departure came amid questions on finances, communication, culture https://t.co/zRo7fmULUW
— Phillip Ericksen (@PhillipEricksen) May 20, 2018
The Tribune-Herald obtained text messages and emails related to the departure of Cameron Park Zoo Director Jim Fleshman, revealing for the first time he was asked to resign under a cloud. Zoo officials tried to keep the truth from the public, with one person texting: “We need to make sure there is no discussion about the circumstances.” Story by Phillip Ericksen
