Center for Public Integrity

Elmer Perez's recent death in a confined space sheds light on the dangers many workers encounter daily. Without adequate safety measures, lives are at stake. In 2022, there were 24 fatal and 59 non-fatal confined-space accidents in agriculture, an increase from 2021. “As for the penalties for some employers who are willful and negligent, it’s the cost of doing business — so the penalties are not significant enough,” said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb with National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

🎉 Exciting news! Our investigation "High Courts, High Stakes" has been named a finalist for the Toner Prize, recognizing excellence in political reporting.  Other finalists include ProPublica’s investigative reporting on the U.S. Supreme Court, an NPR investigation into a far-right campaign targeting a voter-roll partnership, and stories from The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Ensuring fair and accurate elections is crucial for democracy. In the aftermath of a disinformation campaign about an election partnership that helps states keep their voter rolls up to date, local election officials in Missouri are worried about Election Day.

Oregon will allow taxpayers to self-identify race on tax returns this year, providing data that could help dismantle systemic disparities. Here’s what else is happening to improve tax equity.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to revolutionize industries, but will it exacerbate existing inequalities or foster equity? Our latest newsletter delves into the complex relationship between AI and the racial wealth gap. As technology advances, it's crucial to ensure that all communities, especially marginalized ones, benefit from these transformations. Learn more about the potential impact and how we can steer AI towards a more inclusive future.

Another wave of tax cuts is on the horizon. Who stands to benefit? Recent proposals disproportionately favor the wealthy, risking essential services and widening inequality.

When law professor David Horton looked into the world of cash advances on inheritances, he found deal terms that would be  “off the charts” for most conventional loans. Find out why in our Watchdog newsletter. 

NEW: Anti-DEI laws in Florida and other states restrict diversity training in medical schools, raising concerns about the quality of care for diverse populations. Advocates fear a worsening shortage of doctors and potential harm to patients. https://lnkd.in/gzaUxxRJ 

In tiny Kettleman City, California, residents have been in a decades-long battle against pollution. We show how community groups took the lead, negotiating their own civil rights agreement to address environmental hazards. Usually, the federal government handles such negotiations. Read more about Kettleman City’s struggles and successes in the fight for environmental justice.

🏆 Honored to announce that the Center for Public Integrity has been awarded the January Sidney Award for our groundbreaking investigation into punitive state tax collection tactics. Congratulations to Maya Srikrishnan and Ashley Clarke for their “meticulously reported” story shedding light on the impact of license suspensions and other harsh strategies that fall heavily on low-income residents. They found that state tax collectors are more relentless in hardship cases than the IRS. Louisiana suspended driver's licenses more than 19,000 times in 2023 due to state income tax debts, one of a number of states nationwide that will yank or decline to renew driver’s or professional licenses for that reason. These policies disproportionately affect those already facing economic challenges, hindering their ability to work and pay off debts. “Srikrishnan and Clarke showed perseverance and ingenuity in their reporting,” said Sidney judge Lindsay Beyerstein. “Their ongoing coverage of dysfunctional state taxation has shed light on an important driver of economic inequality.”