Real Student Default Rates Much Higher Than Previously Known

Correction, Dec. 16, 2009: An earlier version of this article reported that the Department of Education was projecting that 47 percent of the federal money lent to students at for-profit education institutions in 2007 would never be repaid. We also said that the department had estimated that 40 percent of the money lent to students at for-profit institutions between 2003 and 2006 would be written off. Those statements—a main thrust of the article—are not accurate. Read our note detailing the error.

After Donor’s Letter, Sen. Feinstein Supports Study That Could Delay Fish-Protection Plan

Correction, Dec. 7, 2009: The headline on this story previously said that a study Sen. Feinstein supports is “helping slow down” a fish protection plan. In fact, the plan is already in place. While the study may delay it, it hasn’t yet done so.

Bank Failure Friday Roars Back: Six Banks Fail, Costing FDIC $2.4 Billion

Correction, Dec. 5, 2009: Due to poor math by an editor, the headline on this story previously stated that Friday’s bank failures will cost the FDIC $2.6 billion. The failures are actually projected to cost the agency about $2.4 billion.

More Fun With Stimulus Numbers

Correction, Nov. 4, 2009: This post originally said that the White House had released a report on stimulus jobs. In fact, the report was released by the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which is an independent government board created by stimulus package. The chairman, Earl Devaney, was appointed by the president.

At University of Phoenix, Allegations of Enrollment Abuses Persist

Correction, Nov. 3, 2009: This post originally stated that the graduation rate of students undertaking associate degrees at the university is 37 percent. In fact, the rate is 27 percent.

Grading the Public Options That Already Exist

Correction, Oct. 28, 2009: This post originally indicated that if veterans did not sign up within five years of discharge, they would not qualify for Veterans health care. In fact, if a veteran qualifies under the VA's enrollment specifications, they can qualify for care, regardless of how much time has passed since discharge. This articles also originally indicated that if you are low-income, have children or are disabled, you typically qualify for Medicaid. In fact, having children is not, on its own, a way to qualify for Medicaid.

Medicare Drug Planners Now Lobbyists, With Billions at Stake

Correction, Oct. 20, 2009: This post originally stated lawmakers and aides crafted the Medicare Part D plan four years ago. It should have said six years ago. This article also said that Billy Tauzin was a former senator in the 29th graph. He was actually a former representative.

Stockholder Suit Targets Troubled Mental Health Chain

Correction, Sept. 22, 2009: This post originally stated the Justice Department opened an investigation and the Illinois Department of Children and Families froze admissions of foster children to Riveredge Hospital near Chicago in response to investigations by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica. It should have said those actions were initiated following the Tribune reports.

Frack Fluid Spill in Dimock Contaminates Stream, Killing Fish

Correction, Sept. 21, 2009: This story has been updated. A description of the spill provided in the story by Vincent Fronda actually referred to a Sept. 3 discharge near the Cabot well site in question. It was several hundred feet away and separate from the fracturing fluid spill that occurred last Wednesday. The photograph that accompanied the story, which was sent to ProPublica by a Dimock resident, was also of that earlier spill. Both the photo and the descriptive passage have been removed.

StimCities Update: Biden’s Account Clashes with Reality on Ground

Correction, Sept. 11, 2009: This post originally placed Charlotte, N.C., in the wrong Carolina.

Congressman Announces Plan to Reform U.S. System to Care for Injured Civilian Contractors

Correction, Sept. 9, 2009: This post originally stated that the study by insurance broker Aon Corp. was released Wednesday, Sept. 9. It was actually released on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. It also stated that the study was an anonymous survey involving 18 anonymous defense contractors. It was actually an internal review of 18 defense contractors who were charged higher rates for workers compensation insurance in Iraq and Afghanistan than for comparable workers hired in other foreign countries.

The original post also misspelled the last name of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Opening the Window on Foreign Lobbying

Correction, Aug. 18, 2009: Due to a data entry error, the Foreign Lobbying Influence Tracker contained duplicate entries for fees paid to the Livingston Group by some its clients. The Sunlight Foundation has eliminated the duplicate records, and we have updated related totals in stories and charts about the database.

FBI Raids New Orleans Police Department

Correction, Aug. 7, 2009: This post originally stated that five people were wounded during the Danziger Bridge incident. In fact, it was four people.

Stimulus Spending Fails to Follow Unemployment, Poverty

Correction, Aug. 5, 2009: This post inadvertently implied that stimulus spending on tax cuts, increases in unemployment compensation and Medicaid funding were not intended to create or sustain a substantial number of jobs. The article should have made the distinction between "direct" jobs, such as those created by infrastructure funding, and "indirect" jobs. Tax cuts and spending on government benefits do lead to indirect job creation as they contribute to demand for goods and services.

Illinois AG: Shady AIDS Charity's Web Campaign Broke State Law

Correction, July 27, 2009: This article originally misstated charges from the state's complaint against the Center for AIDS Prevention, saying the charity never maintained an office at 4750 N. Broadway in Chicago. The complaint said the charity did not have an office there from at least November 2007 until the filing of the charges.

Introducing Stimulus Spot Check

Correction, July 19, 2009: This post originally said ProPublica is looking at a random sample of about 500 bridge construction projects nationwide. We’re actually looking at a sample of about 500 road and bridge projects.

On Stimulus Job Counts, California Goes Its Own Way

Correction, July 17, 2009: This post originally stated the basic cost of widening I-405 as $739,014. It’s actually $739,014,000.

Disappearance of Privacy Board From White House Web Site Raises Questions

Correction, July 14, 2009: A caption on this page previously suggested 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean said the Whitehouse.gov's deletion of the reference to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was "extremely disappointing." In fact, Kean was referring to administration’s overall lack of progress staffing the board.

Schwarzenegger Replaces Most of State Nursing Board

Correction, July 13, 2009: This story incorrectly referred to former Board of Registered Nursing vice president Elizabeth O. Dietz as a professor of nursing at San Jose State. Although the board’s web site lists that as her current affiliation, the university said she retired in July 2008.

Gov't Foreclosure Program: Who Are The Holdouts?

Correction, July 10, 2009: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that ACORN Housing organized the campaign against four non-participants. It was actually ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.