A team takes a deep dive on Trump-era subsidies to farmers; new leader for Investigate Midwest; EPA to ban pet collars with TCVP
Coming: 6-month dive into secret subsidies
For six months, I've been working with reporters and editors at InvestigateTV to take a deep dive into a Trump-era USDA program that doled out billions of dollars to farmers with little oversight.
Starting on Monday, Oct. 24, the story will air on Grey Television stations around the country. It will also be available on our website and on the InvestigateTV YouTube channel.
Investigate Midwest board announces appointment of new executive director
Erin Orr, deputy director of Investigate Midwest, has been named as executive director, the board of directors announced Wednesday.
Since May of this year, Orr has overseen day-to-day operations and newsroom production. She brings more than 30 years of editorial and administrative experience to the role. Orr replaces Pam Dempsey, who has since relocated to Arizona after a decade of service during which she helped build Investigate Midwest into a robust and nationally recognized newsroom.
“We were excited to have Erin join us in May and are pleased that she has agreed to now step into the executive director position after working with Pam for several months,” said Brant Houston, president of the Investigate Midwest board. “This has ensured a smooth transition as Investigate Midwest moves into a new phase. The board wants to thank Pam for all her work for Investigate Midwest and to wish her success in her future endeavors.”
Orr was previously the editor and senior personnel administrator for Lee Enterprises Design Center, managing editor for The Times of Northwest Indiana and The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois, and has held many leadership roles in newsrooms throughout her three-decade career.
Orr can be reached by email. Read more on our website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ban the sale of flea and tick collars containing a chemical linked to neurological damage in children, the agency announced last week. The collars, which contain the chemical tetrachlorvinphos, make up more than half of flea and tick collars sold in the U.S., according to the EPA. They are much cheaper than many name brand collars and are largely aimed at low-income pet owners. Hartz, the largest seller of collars containing TCVP, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The legality of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) has been a federal court bare knuckle brawl in recent years. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this month in the case Sackett v. EPA.
A hotter atmosphere is causing rain to fall in harder bursts, pushing back planting seasons and drowning crops. At the same time as human-driven climate change is juicing precipitation, Corn Belt farming practices such as installing underground drainage tiles and leaving fields bare after harvest are changing how water moves across the landscape and into waterways.
This is the third of four stories in When It Rains, a special series. Reporting for this story was by Chloe Johnson, Minneapolis Star Tribune; Erin Jordan, The Gazette; Sarah Bowman, Indianapolis Star. Read part one and part two.
Top digital journalists, innovators and researchers from universities and news organizations across the nation will lead this year’s MobileMe&You conference on October 21-22, 2022, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Register here.
Investigate Midwest is part of a mobile journalism conference COMING UP FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. The full list of speakers includes professionals from across the country.
The Mobile Me&You conference explores how to think differently about storytelling on mobile and social media platforms to better reach the audiences of today and tomorrow.
Please join us Nov. 3 at Poindexter Coffee inside of the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City for an evening of great stories, live music, trivia, silent auction, specialty cocktails, and more, all to support independent investigative journalism. Your ticket purchase includes a drink ticket to use at the full bar.
Hosted by Iowa Public Radio's Charity Nebbe, the evening will start at 5:30 p.m. with live music from local artist Jack Grisamor. Guests are invited to order from the Graduate Food Hall menu and enjoy stories about "The Trip That Changed My Life" from local storytellers including Bill Casey, The Rhombergs, James Stordahl and Erin Jordan.
Proceeds from ticket sales will support Investigate Midwest and its IowaWatch newsroom. As a special bonus, all free-will donations collected at this event will be matched to double your impact!
Please grab your friends and join us for a great night.
Thank you to our event sponsor, Blank & McCune Real Estate!
