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, including 16 incidents in which fragments of organic material such as bone, skin or blood were left on surgical tools.” Story by Sig Christenson.

Texas Voter ID Law Led to Fears and Failures in 2016 Election | ProPublica

Jacquelyn Callanen, the election administrator for Bexar County, said she is still furious about the state’s performance in handling last November’s vote. “I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” she said. “This was the most complicated and emotionally charged election I have ever seen.” Story by Jessica Huseman.

When his son’s call for help turned deadly, Ali Amron challenged the police, and won | Austin American-Statesman

“Criminal justice reformers and some police leaders themselves are questioning whether long-standing law enforcement tactics, such as quick and aggressive scene control and a never-back-down mentality need to be re-visited — particularly in low-stakes encounters.” Story by Eric Dexheimer and Andrea Ball.

Donations from real estate industry fuel San Antonio political races | San Antonio Express-News

“The industry’s influence has become a topic of contention in the race, as officials seek approval for an $850 million bond package to help manage Bexar County’s booming population and exploding development. The infrastructure, public safety and other projects planned with that money could be a windfall for the sector. Story by Richard Webner.

Did I miss a good story? Contact me or leave a comment below.

The post Must reads: Texas watchdog journalism roundup for May 4, 2017 appeared first on John Tedesco.

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.

Embattled TABC chief Sherry Cook is stepping down | Texas Tribune

“The move comes after The Texas Tribune reported that Cook and others at the agency had been jet-setting around the country to attend conferences at swanky resorts from Florida to Hawaii.” Story by Jay Root.

Texas police withheld records of their son’s death. Now they know why | Austin American-Statesman

“Civil rights attorneys say that Texas’s unfriendly law enforcement open records law, when combined with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, create a potent legal Catch-22 that can thwart police accountability.” Story by Eric Dexheimer.

How to spend $850 million | San Antonio Express-News

“San Antonio voters will go to the polls May 6 to decide on a bond issue that will fund everything from street repairs to affordable housing. Here’s a look at the six propositions on the ballot.” Story by Vianna Davila.

District 9 San Antonio City Council candidate sues opponent over residency | San Antonio Express-News

“Patrick Von Dohlen, one of the 10 candidates seeking the open District 9 City Council seat, on Monday said he’s asking the district courts to declare opponent Lynlie Wallace an ineligible candidate. The San Antonio Express-News exposed Wallace’s residency issues — that she lives in Austin, not the District 9 home she declares is her primary residency. Much of Von Dohlen’s court filing is based on stories and columns from the Express-News.” Story by Josh Baugh.

How many doses of lethal injection drugs does Texas have? | Texas Tribune

“With execution drugs in short supply across the nation and increasing secrecy about the companies that provide them, The Texas Tribune is keeping track of movement in the state’s supply.” Interactive story by Jolie McCullough.

Former Alamo manager had to repay credit card charges | San Antonio Express-News

“Ian Oldaker, the Alamo’s former chief operations officer, resigned in March after agreeing to repay more than $1,600 in personal expenses that did not qualify for reimbursement, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News through the Texas Public Information Act.” Story by Elena Mejia Lutz and Scott Huddleston.

The post Must reads: Texas watchdog journalism roundup for April 22, 2017 appeared first on John Tedesco.

The utility companies of both cities own a stake in STP, which creates a situation where both newspapers are examining a proposed expansion of the nuclear facility. Instead of competing like newspapers in a bygone golden era, both papers are collaborating in an era of shrinking newsrooms and budget cuts.

In this case, the final product was interesting. Sunday’s story by Anton and Asher was a good read. The reporters pulled together some useful information about how much crucial coolant the plant needs and whether the Colorado River can provide it. There’s an interesting map produced by the Statesman that shows the top water users along the Colorado River, giving readers a sense of the demand for water. And Express-News graphic artist Mike Fisher created a cool animation explaining why water is important for a nuclear plant.

Related: Learning about the arcane world of stock numbers and missile launchers

The Express-News and the Houston Chronicle, both owned by Hearst Corp., already share news resources, but the Express-News has rarely teamed up so extensively with a newspaper owned by a different company. The Statesman is owned by Cox Newspapers. The last time I can think of an example of such cooperation was in the late 1990s, when reporters with the Express-News and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune were often in contact during the coverage of Sheila Bellush, a mother of quadruplets who had lived in San Antonio, moved to Florida, and was killed in a murder-for-hire plot hatched by her ex-husband, Allen Blackthorne.

We seldom, if ever, wrote stories or shared bylines with the folks in Sarasota. We mostly shared information and court documents, which made sense for a story that was playing out in two cities a thousand miles apart.

Maybe this will be a rising trend among Texas newspapers as newsrooms shrink, but hopefully they collaborate for valid reasons, not because it sounds good in an editorial meeting. The journalists need to be crystal clear about what, exactly, the collaborators bring to the table.

The post How two newspapers teamed up to cover a nuclear plant appeared first on John Tedesco.