ProPublica

The Bureau of Land Management is proposing new grazing regulations to increase livestock numbers on 155 million acres of Western public lands while reducing public participation in decision-making. The changes, part of the Trump administration's agenda, aim to cut regulatory burdens but face criticism for environmental harm and limiting oversight of grazing permits.

Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant with a history of mental illness, died by suicide at the East Camp Montana immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, after repeated failures to address his mental health needs. Records show he complained multiple times about missed antipsychotic medication doses and was not transferred to a higher-level care facility despite staff acknowledging his crisis.

Massachusetts will extend the statute of limitations for rape cases involving DNA evidence, allowing indefinite prosecution if DNA matches a suspect after 15 years. Governor Maura Healey signed the law as part of her budget proposal, responding to advocacy from survivors and reports showing most states allow longer timelines for such cases.

ProPublica investigated America First Refining, a Texas oil refinery startup secretly funded by Donald Trump Jr., and discovered a suspiciously detailed but likely fictional website for Brownsville Energy Storage Terminals, a company allegedly owned by the refinery's CEO, John Calce. The website claimed global operations and executives with no online presence, raising doubts about the company's legitimacy.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton appointed John Cheadle, a lawyer for payday lender Advance Financial, to the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board. Cheadle's firm has sued thousands of Tennesseans over high-interest loans, and Sexton previously sponsored legislation enabling Advance Financial to offer a loan product that removed consumer protections, leading to widespread litigation.

Enid, Oklahoma's public water supply wells are located within a quarter-mile of oil field wastewater injection operations, violating state rules requiring a half-mile buffer. The city is appealing to state regulators to revoke permits for these wells, including the structurally problematic 'Flying Monkey' well, after they were approved without required hearings.

The Louisiana Supreme Court overturned Jimmie 'Chris' Duncan's 1998 conviction for a toddler's murder, citing flawed bite mark evidence as 'scientifically indefensible.' The decision followed a 2025 investigation revealing discredited forensic practices by experts Michael West and Steven Hayne, whose work contributed to nine other exonerations.

The Tennessee Lookout won 11 awards at the Tennessee Press Association Awards, including five first-place honors for investigative journalism on topics like the Memphis Safe Task Force, Tennessee State University underfunding, and legislation benefiting payday lender Advance Financial. The outlet, part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, competed in the large newsroom division and received praise for accountability-focused reporting.

A businessman with ties to Chinese military contractors and an entity linked to the Qatari royal family acquired stakes in SpaceX while it was still a private company before its IPO. The information was revealed through a report by ProPublica and published by Asia Times.

An Ohio group backing equal rights and same-sex marriage amendments will not submit ballot measures this fall. ProPublica reports the Pentagon approved a $620 million loan to a company linked to Donald Trump Jr. after a White House intervention. President Trump's war against Iran is expected to conclude with a cease-fire, leaving the U.S. weakened.

Louisiana experienced a 22% drop in children receiving SNAP benefits, with national data showing a 776,000 decline in children enrolled in the program since a 2025 policy change. The reforms, promoted by lawmakers as protecting vulnerable groups, led to reduced accessibility due to stricter requirements, according to experts.

Chinese investors and a Qatari royal family-linked entity acquired stakes in SpaceX before its IPO. SpaceX excluded investors from China and Hong Kong from its IPO due to regulatory risks. David Su, a Beijing-based venture capitalist, invested $15 million in SpaceX through a U.S. middleman firm, while his firm has ties to sanctioned companies and the Chinese government's aerospace initiatives.

ProPublica updated its code of ethics to prohibit employees from wagering on news events via prediction markets, citing concerns about bias and public trust. The decision follows examples of problematic behavior in prediction markets, including a U.S. soldier profiting from a military mission and political candidates trading on their own races.

Democrats are preparing messaging strategies to counter potential election interference linked to Donald Trump, who has expressed intentions to contest election results if he loses. Misleading advertisements in swing states suggested local officials could choose not to certify elections, though certification is mandatory. Trump also demanded $350bn in Pentagon funding and dismissed concerns about rising inflation, while Senate Democrats refused to reauthorize a warrantless surveillance law.

Democrats are preparing messaging strategies to counter potential election interference linked to Donald Trump ahead of the midterms. Misleading advertisements in swing states suggested local officials could avoid certifying elections, though certification is mandatory. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could 'steal' the election, and Senate Democrats threatened to block a warrantless surveillance law reauthorization.

A fund linked to key Trump allies supported misleading advertisements in swing states suggesting local officials could choose not to certify elections. The Guardian review found these ads were tied to Cleta Mitchell and Heather Honey, with the ads being described as misleading because certification is mandatory. The push occurred as Trump and allies appeared to prepare for contesting election results if he lost.

A fund linked to Cleta Mitchell and Heather Honey funded misleading advertisements in swing states suggesting local officials could choose not to certify elections. The ads were found to be misleading as election certification is a mandatory process once challenges are resolved.

Rep. Norma Torres introduced an amendment to block taxpayer-funded VIP perks for pardoned drug traffickers and child traffickers, citing special treatment given to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández after his pardon. The amendment failed in the House Appropriations Committee along party lines.

Protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown have led to federal agents using tear gas and pepper spray, harming over 79 children since 2025, according to ProPublica. Children were injured while in cars, homes, or walking to school, with the Department of Homeland Security defending its agents' actions.

An Indian individual targeted by Trump invested in a startup backed by Donald Trump Jr. The article identifies the investor as Anant Ambani, son of one of Asia's richest men, and mentions a meeting in Jamnagar, India.

A U.S. Senator proposed eliminating federal airworthiness inspections for wildfire-fighting aircraft the same month his former company's aircraft failed such an inspection. The senator's company, Bridger Aerospace, had received over $235 million in payments from the U.S. Forest Service since 2021 for its firefighting aircraft, which were found to have maintenance issues including a cracked wing.

A ProPublica investigation found that parents in the U.S. are refusing vitamin K shots for newborns, leading to preventable hemorrhage deaths in some infants. The article highlights the growing trend of declining this routine medical intervention.

A 5-year-old child, Lens Joseph, was killed by a Boston Public Schools bus operated by Transdev, a company with a history of unreported fatal crashes. Federal safety records fail to capture 42 of Transdev's fatal crashes, hindering regulatory oversight and public transparency.

North Carolina Democrats introduced three constitutional amendments to reform the state's court system and protect gubernatorial powers, responding to ProPublica's findings of Republican-led efforts to reduce the governor's authority. The measures aim to prevent partisan shifts in power and increase transparency, though they are unlikely to pass in the current legislative session due to Republican majorities.

Lawmakers demanded answers after the White House secured a $620 million Pentagon loan for Vulcan Elements, a startup linked to Donald Trump Jr. The intervention by Peter Navarro, a senior White House aide, raised concerns about corruption and biased use of taxpayer funds.

Toxic oil field wastewater is spreading underground in Oklahoma, contaminating land and drinking water. Residents like Kara Meredith in Fort Gibson have experienced oil seeping into their homes, highlighting the growing crisis linked to energy companies' disposal practices. Oklahoma regulators face scrutiny as the state's largest oil and gas operations impact nearly half the population living within a mile of such sites.

President Donald Trump sought to create a $1.8 billion fund to settle lawsuits against his government while benefiting supporters, including those involved in the 2021 Capitol attack. Trump and his family also pursued legal actions against federal agencies and secured business deals linked to his family, with the White House denying any conflicts of interest.

A federal report found nearly 140 doctors billed Medicare over $100 million for potentially unnecessary vascular procedures, such as stent placement and atherectomy, which put patients at risk of complications. The Office of the Inspector General cited ProPublica's 2023 investigation linking high Medicare reimbursements to a surge in these procedures, which many experts question for safety and efficacy.

Alaska’s schools, including those in rural areas with Indigenous student populations, face severe infrastructure issues like leaky roofs and broken pipes. A new budget approved by the state Legislature would increase funding for school repairs from $40 million to over $148 million in 2027, though this still covers only about 13% of requested repairs.

The White House, through Peter Navarro, a White House adviser and friend of Donald Trump Jr., initiated a $620 million Pentagon loan to Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina startup linked to Trump Jr. Pentagon officials expedited the approval process, raising concerns about potential cronyism. The loan is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to support companies with ties to the Trump family.

The White House approved a $620 million loan to a rare earths startup linked to Donald Trump Jr., with defense officials and the company downplaying allegations of cronyism. The deal has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and political influence in defense contracting.

The White House intervened to secure a $620 million Pentagon loan for Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnet company linked to Donald Trump Jr. The deal, initiated by White House adviser Peter Navarro, was processed at an accelerated pace despite claims of no political influence, raising concerns of cronyism. Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm also held a stake in the company before the loan announcement.

U.S. senators Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, and Tammy Duckworth demand reforms to federal agents' use of tear gas and pepper spray after a ProPublica investigation revealed at least 79 children were harmed during immigration enforcement. The lawmakers argue that the Department of Homeland Security's policies are too lax compared to local police departments and call for updated guidelines to prevent collateral damage to children.

Emily Waldorf, a 38-year-old Arkansas resident, faced a life-threatening miscarriage at 17 weeks but could not receive timely medical intervention due to the state's abortion ban, which prohibits procedures when a fetal heartbeat is detectable. Doctors were forced to delay treatment until natural labor began or an infection developed, highlighting the law's impact on emergency care.

Albuquerque officials are implementing measures to reduce citations and jail stays linked to homelessness by scheduling court dates for related offenses on Fridays, providing caseworkers and services, and allocating $200,000 for legal support. The initiative aims to address missed court appearances and arrest warrants that contribute to a jail population where half are homeless individuals.

Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera and four Democratic House members have requested the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General to investigate why a federal probe into a prison drugs-for-votes scheme was abandoned after the 2024 election. The lawmakers argue the DOJ's decision contradicts claims of prioritizing election integrity, following a ProPublica report revealing prosecutors were instructed to drop voting-related charges and abandon political tie investigations under the Trump administration.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's tough-on-crime policies, including harsher penalties for minors and reduced parole opportunities, are projected to increase prison populations and taxpayer costs. His proposed $798 million corrections budget reflects a 9% rise in spending, driven by longer inmate stays and aging, sicker prisoners due to policy changes like eliminating medical parole.

Alexandra Glorioso, a state government reporter at the Miami Herald, has joined a joint investigative unit with ProPublica. She previously reported on the DeSantis administration's transfer of $10 million in public funds to a foundation led by the governor's wife.

A California teacher, Jason Agan, was removed from his classroom after investigations revealed he had been accused of inappropriately touching students at multiple schools despite being fired in 2019 for sexual harassment. The state's teacher licensing agency allowed him to continue teaching with only a seven-day suspension, and he subsequently worked at two more schools before the Redwood City School District removed him following new complaints.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's tough-on-crime policies are expected to significantly increase the state's prison population and corrections costs, with a proposed $798 million budget representing a 9% increase. The policies include lowering the age of adult criminal responsibility to 17, reducing parole rates to a 20-year low, and eliminating medical parole, with experts predicting the prison population could double by 2034.