Must reads: Texas watchdog journalism roundup for May 16, 2017
Investigative stories across Texas that uncovered hidden facts about child abuse, millions of dollars in lost taxpayer dollars, and a controversial shooting on the Texas border.
Journalism
Interactive map: How the major candidates fared in the 2017 San Antonio mayoral election
After every election, Bexar County officials release voting-precinct data that make for interesting reading for anyone who wants to know how their neighborhood voted or how each candidate fared in different parts of the community. For the 2017 mayoral race in San Antonio, here’s how the results look in an interactive map we made based … Read more
Must reads: Texas watchdog journalism roundup for May 4, 2017
Investigative stories across Texas that uncovered hidden facts and held officials accountable.
Human matter found on surgical tools forces BAMC to close operating rooms | San Antonio Express-News
“Brooke Army Medical Center, the flagship of the Army’s health system and famous for its burn ward that has treated hundreds of war victims, has closed more than half its operating rooms and reduced elective surgeries after it found improper sterilization last month of instruments in 73 cases.” Read more ….
Review: Why my trusty Sigma 17-70mm lens is always on my camera
The world of camera lenses is an expensive, daunting place. So I thought I’d blog about a gem of a lens called the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM that’s served me well. I know the name is a mouthful. Translated into the way normal people speak, it means this is a versatile lens … Read more
Must reads: Texas watchdog journalism roundup for April 22, 2017
Investigative stories across Texas that uncovered hidden facts and held officials accountable.
Pot found in truck that hit church bus near Leakey, DPS says | San Antonio Express-News
“Jack D. Young had taken prescription pills and was in possession of marijuana when he crashed his pickup into a church bus March 29 on U.S. 83, killing 13 people, according to court records released Tuesday that also bolstered reports that he was texting while driving.” Story by Zeke MacCormack. Read more …
Meet the real reporter in the new Netflix movie ‘The Most Hated Woman in America’
“The Most Hated Woman in America” is a new Netflix movie about Madalyn Murray O’Hair, an outspoken atheist who mysteriously went missing in Austin in 1995 — along with $600,000. No one knew what happened to her. And it’s likely no one ever would if it hadn’t been for a series of investigative articles written … Read more
Adrift: Hot-air balloon pilots face little scrutiny from FAA despite higher crash rates
After a deadly balloon crash killed 16 people near Lockhart last summer, my boss, projects editor David Sheppard, asked me to look into the safety record of the hot-air balloon industry and find out how someone like Alfred “Skip” Nichols could be allowed to pilot balloons with a string of DWI convictions on his record. … Read more
How to transcribe with Trint: An interview with CEO Jeff Kofman
Buried in my desk drawer is a scratched-up relic — a mini-cassette recorder that I used all the time as a young reporter to transcribe interviews. Now it looks like a discovery at an archaeological dig compared to my high-tech smart phone, which lets me record interviews for hours and share files instantly. But even … Read more
If you think newspapers are lame, here are big stories in San Antonio you missed in 2016
The next time someone tells you newspapers are irrelevant, tell them to read this blog post. I get it. Newsrooms are shrinking, subscription are going up, and it feels like there’s not enough time in the day to read some dusty old newspaper — even if it comes in a slick digital version. But that … Read more
Interactive map shows how Bexar County voted in the 2016 presidential election
Hillary Clinton lost the election — but not in Bexar County. We can see which parts of the county and San Antonio supported Clinton or GOP presidential winner Donald Trump thanks to the Bexar County Elections Department, which releases precinct-level voting results after every election. This interactive map we created from the data follows a … Read more