NPR News Investigations

This photo of Roy Middleton working underground at the Kentucky Darby mine now sits on the mantel in the Middleton home in Harlan County, Ky. He was killed after an explosion in 2006.

National

Coal Mines Keep Operating Despite Injuries, Violations And Millions In Fines

9:21am November 13, 2014

by Howard Berkes

An NPR investigation found thousands of American mine owners fail to pay penalties for safety violations, even as they continue to manage dangerous — and sometimes deadly — operations.

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In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, a former Red Cross official says, as many as 40 percent of the organization's emergency vehicles were assigned for public relations purposes. This photo, which shows one of the trucks on Long Island, N.Y., in January

Red Cross Responds To NPR/ProPublica Report On Storm Response Inefficiencies

6:06pm October 30, 2014

by Alicia Cypress

An NPR investigation revealed how the emergency organization funneled its resources away from storm victims to create an "illusion of mass care." The Red Cross tells PBS NewsHour that's not true.

Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute and chief investigator of the trials with an Ebola vaccine his organization developed, holds a vial of the vaccine.

Health & Safety

Ebola Researchers Have A Radical Idea: Rush A Vaccine Into The Field

10:01am October 06, 2014

by Caitlin Dickerson

Traditional methods for containing the Ebola outbreak aren't working fast enough. So some scientists want to bypass the typical trial phases and bring new vaccines directly to people at risk.

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Kevin Evans relaxes in his small apartment after arriving home from work. Evans, who lost income and his home in the recession, is now having his wages garnished after falling behind on his credit card payments.

Millions Of Americans' Wages Seized Over Credit Card And Medical Debt

10:52am September 16, 2014

One in 10 working Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 is getting his or her pay docked for not paying debts. And in most states, the law allows a quarter of wages to be withheld.

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Conrad Goetzinger and Cassandra Rose struggle to pay their bills as $760 is garnished from their paychecks every two weeks by debt collectors. Twice, Goetzinger's bank account has been emptied by collectors after he failed to payoff a loan for a laptop.

Economy

With Debt Collection, Your Bank Account Could Be At Risk

8:36am September 16, 2014

A 1968 federal law allows debt collectors not only to garnish wages but to take from a debtor's bank account. Consumer advocates say the outdated law is overly punitive and out of touch with reality.

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National

In Ferguson, Court Fines And Fees Fuel Anger

7:53pm August 25, 2014

by Joseph Shapiro

The protests in Ferguson are a response to the shooting death of Michael Brown, but the heavy use of court fines and fees helps explain why there's so much anger directed at local police.

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Economy

Unpaid Court Fees Land The Poor In 21st Century Debtors' Prisons

9:50am May 23, 2014

by Joseph Shapiro

Debtors' prisons were outlawed in the United States back before the Civil War. But an NPR state-by-state survey found that people still get sent to jail for unpaid court fines and fees.

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Court Fees Drive Many Poor Defendants Underground

10:14am May 22, 2014

by Joseph Shapiro

The use of fines and fees charged to criminal defendants has exploded. People who can't afford those charges can go to jail for not paying. Hundreds of thousands are hiding from police and the courts.

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After the University of Michigan increased its efforts to prevent sexual assaults on campus, reports increased by 113 percent.

National

Campus Rape Reports Are Up, And Assaults Aren't The Only Reason

7:04pm April 30, 2014

by Joseph Shapiro

Data from the Department of Education show an increase in sexual assault reports, but college officials say new federal guidelines are helping more students come forward.

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Federal regulators are setting new rules for banks that offer deposit advances.

Economy

Banks Come Under Fire For Filling In The Payday Loan Gap

4:05pm December 05, 2013

by Robert Benincasa

Federal regulators are cracking down on banks that are offering services called deposit advances. Many argue that the service is the same as payday loans and could lead consumers into a cycle of debt.

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