Welcome to the latest installment of the Texas watchdog journalism roundup, a showcase of investigative stories that uncover hidden facts, hold officials accountable and demonstrate why journalism matters.
San Marcos apartments where inferno killed five people lacked fire sprinkler system | San Antonio Express-News
A week after flames engulfed a building in the Iconic Village apartment complex in San Marcos, killing five people, a team of reporters examined how the tragedy unfolded and why the units lacked a fire protection system, which can save lives:
“From 2005 to 2016, 144 people died in fires in multifamily residential buildings in Texas that lacked automatic extinguishing systems, the state fire marshal’s office reports. Just two deaths occurred in buildings equipped with such systems over the same period.” Story by Peggy O’Hare, Austin Horn, Emilie Eaton, Patrick Danner and Krista Torralva
I spent the last year of my life thinking about this baby and how lawmakers and state officials knew what happened to him, but did nothing.
It took lots of work to get all the details. I hope you'll read his story. #txlege @fragilechildTX https://t.co/XpQNBFHI9G
— J. David McSwane (@davidmcswane) June 3, 2018
Pain and Profit | The Dallas Morning News
In a yearlong investigation, the Dallas Morning News found Texas’ Medicaid system is “protecting a booming multibillion-dollar industry while the most vulnerable Texans wait in vain for wheelchairs, psychiatric drugs and doctors’ appointments. That system has failed countless disabled adults and sick children who can’t advocate for themselves.” The newspaper reviewed 70,000 pages of documents, including material that state officials and companies tried to keep secret, and interviewed hundreds of families, doctors and policy experts.
Within days of the series’ publication, Texas lawmakers began calling for change and more regulators were hired. Story, photos and videos by J. David McSwane, Andrew Chavez and Tom Fox
Local journalists and orgs doing the deep, heartbreaking dive. Getting beyond the national headlines and punching above their weight https://t.co/Wuj9YDhcp8
— Eli Francovich (@elijah_nicholas) June 22, 2018
Separated migrant children are headed toward shelters that have a history of abuse and neglect | Reveal and the Texas Tribune
A team of reporters covering the Trump administration’s controversial “zero tolerance” immigration policy found that taxpayers paid more than $1.5 billion to private companies operating immigrant youth shelters accused of serious lapses in care, including neglect and sexual and physical abuse.
“In nearly all cases, the federal government has continued to place migrant children with the companies even after serious allegations were raised and after state inspectors cited shelters with deficiencies, government and other records show.” Story by Aura Bogado, Patrick Michels, Vanessa Swales and Edgar Walters
Our story on stolen government plutonium that still hasn't been accounted for made waves all over the world and got one Texas congressman demanding answers from @SecretaryPerry. If you didn't have a chance to read our story, check it out now: https://t.co/xcyL1BHxIx
— The Center for Public Integrity (@Publici) July 21, 2018
Plutonium went missing in San Antonio, but the government says nothing | The Center for Public Integrity
Two security experts travelling to San Antonio lost equipment that contained small amounts of radioactive plutonium and cesium in March 2017, but authorities kept the theft secret until it was revealed by the Center for Public Integrity more than a year later.
The lack of transparency is not a new phenomenon.
“Unlike civilian stocks, which are closely monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and openly regulated — with reports of thefts or disappearances sent to an international agency in Vienna — the handling of military stocks tended by the Department of Energy is much less transparent,” the investigation found. Story by Patrick Malone and R. Jeffrey Smith
This is a good piece describing complicated, multi-layered problems in the world of flood policy. Local property assessments, flood damage assessments, insurance pricing, etc. https://t.co/hhoJCDaY4M via @houstonchron
— Margaret Walls (@margaretwalls1) July 8, 2018
Flood Games: Manipulation of flood insurance leads to repeat disasters | The Houston Chronicle
Cities across the country are failing to enforce a central pillar of the taxpayer-subsidized National Flood Insurance Program: Making sure severely damaged properties are elevated or removed from flood plains.
“Thousands of such homes get rebuilt and then flood again, often for more than they are worth, costing taxpayers more than $1 billion in repeat losses,” the Houston Chronicle reported. “Seven of the nation’s 10 most frequently substantially damaged properties are in Houston. Those seven have had 107 damage claims totaling $9 million, even though the combined value of those buildings is just $426,000.” Story by Mark Collette
#ICYMI Superfund doesn’t have the same level of bipartisan support in Congress now that it did when it passed in 1980. Funding has been cut almost in half from a high of $2 billion over 15 years. https://t.co/rZIbzXPEqK via @vicadvocate
— Jessica Priest (@jessica_priest) April 24, 2018
Decades later, mercury still poisons parts of Lavaca Bay | The Victoria Advocate
A popular fishing destination near an Alcoa aluminum refinery and plastics producer in Lavaca Bay is a federal Superfund site that has struggled for years to reduce toxic mercury in the ecosystem. Levels of mercury in red drum are twice as high as levels considered safe to consume. But some residents are still fishing in the bay and eating what they catch. Story by Jessica Priest
Trustees spending fire and police pension funds on expensive travel | WOAI
Taxpayers pay millions each year to make sure San Antonio firefighters and police officers have a secure retirement. But records obtained by the News 4 Trouble Shooters show the trustees in charge of the pension fund have spent more than $193,000 since 2015 on dozens of trips to places like Las Vegas, New Orleans and China for investment conferences.
“Of the nine pension fund trustees, the ones who traveled the most still work for the police and fire departments. When they travel the city says it often has to pay their salaries AND the salaries of people to replace them while they’re gone.”
City officials limited the travel expenses after the television station’s investigation aired. Story by Jaie Avila
"…academy staffers also told students that a suspect who resists arrest or who fights with an officer “just earned a legal ass-whooping.”"@Austin_Police trains new recruits to make wrongful arrests & commit #policebrutality. #NoNewCops #ATXCouncil
https://t.co/BP5bQ9QKDQ— Chris Harris (@chrisharris101) April 27, 2018
Is Austin training police to be too aggressive? 10 ex-cadets say yes | The Austin American-Statesman
Interviews with nearly a dozen former cadets at the Austin police training academy reveal instructors referred to homeless people and prostitutes “cockroaches,” demeaned suspects, and said anyone who resists arrest “just earned a legal ass-whooping,” raising questions about the academy’s methods. Story by Tony Plohetski
#BREAKING Arrest warrants signed today for 4 Texas prison officials indicted in evidence-planting scandal. It’s just the latest in the ongoing saga in Texas prisons, a crazy tale @HoustonChron started unraveling 2 months ago when someone leaked me an email https://t.co/20Vz9Kuwja
— Keri Blakinger (@keribla) July 11, 2018
Four Texas prison guards fired, major resigns after allegedly planting evidence in inmate’s cell | The Houston Chronicle
Prison guards are out of a job after the Houston Chronicle revealed a short-lived quota system that required them to discipline prisoners twice a day or face punishment. A grand jury later indicted some guards accused of planting screwdrivers in an inmate’s cell.
“In the weeks after news of the scandals was first reported in the Chronicle, five officials were fired, another resigned under investigation, several others — including a warden — were demoted or transferred, more than 600 disciplinary were cases tossed out, and the prison system set out to review its disciplinary policies,” the Chronicle reported. Story by Keri Blakinger
More than 32 percent of Bexar County domestic violence suspects were rearrested after being released from custody without posting bail.
So why do Bexar County judges keep releasing domestic violence suspects on the honor system? https://t.co/TYYyuHy6C7
— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) July 24, 2018
Why do Bexar County judges keep releasing domestic violence suspects on the honor system? | KSAT
A months-long investigation by the KSAT 12 Defenders found that more than 32 percent of Bexar County domestic violence suspects were rearrested after being released from custody without posting bail. Victims advocates say the findings are concerning because it’s already been a record-setting year for domestic violence-related fatalities in Bexar County. Story by Dillon Collier
Literally RT to inform and protect a Dallas resident. This type of reporting is so important and you'll only find it at @dallasnews. #ReadLocal by @caryaspinwall @hollyhacker
and @allanjvestalhttps://t.co/L3u874REL0— Cassandra Jaramillo (@cassandrajar) July 31, 2018
Atmos’ gas leaks go far beyond one northwest Dallas neighborhood | The Dallas Morning News
A sharp increase in natural gas leaks has plagued neighborhoods across North Texas after three explosions and fires in February, including one that killed 12-year-old Linda Rogers. The Dallas Morning News analyzed public data to create a map showing areas where leaks have been detected since then.
“Our data analysis reveals potential widespread problems with aging and wear and tear in the gas delivery system running under customers’ homes and businesses all over Dallas County,” the newspaper reported. Story by Holly Hacker, Allan James Vestal and Cory Aspinwall
"In Oklahoma and Kansas, teachers have learned how to teach math and science through oil-related lessons, such as calculating the mileage of tanker trucks." https://t.co/JmwjeIibEU
— James Gilbert (@JamesGilbertWX) July 25, 2018
How a natural gas group pushed for new energy curriculum in Texas | The Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman revealed how a politically connected Texas natural gas industry advocacy group developed classroom materials for teachers that cast fossil fuels in a softer light, avoid any mention of climate change, and raise questions about “perceived” renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power. Story by Asher Price
San Antonio officials halt construction project over endangered species concerns: https://t.co/ZN9mMAJ0hw This is an unusual move. The issue is whether a real estate developer gave the city incomplete information. pic.twitter.com/CENgoRf7Yj
— John Tedesco (@John_Tedesco) July 3, 2018
Federal officials investigate loss of potential habitat for endangered species | The San Antonio Express-News
After residents complained to the Express-News about a real estate developer bulldozing up to 38 acres of trees on a picturesque hillside, the newspaper discovered the developer may have mischaracterized habitat studies when he told city officials that his project wouldn’t harm any endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency that enforces the Endangered Species Act, is now investigating. Story by John Tedesco
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