Local Reporting Network

Frozen Out

Two School Districts Sue, Claiming Alaska Is Failing Its Constitutional Obligation to Fund Public Education

The lawsuit points to the effects of the state’s underfunding, including low proficiency-test scores and dangerous building conditions.

by Emily Schwing, KYUK

January 30, 2026, 5:00 am EST

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Since its founding in 2018, the Local Reporting Network has grown into one of ProPublica’s marquee undertakings, bringing together local talented journalists and all the resources our newsroom has to offer. The journalism we create has changed laws, held bad actors to account and helped communities. It has strengthened the craft of local investigative journalism and created a network in dialogue with us and with one another.

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Smoke and Mirrors: How Intoxicating Hemp Seeped Into the First Recreational Marijuana Market in the Country

Colorado, which once served as the model for marijuana regulation, generated billions of dollars in tax revenue while promising to keep consumers safe. Now it’s scrambling to keep harmful hemp off the shelves.

by Christopher Osher and Evan Wyloge, The Denver Gazette

January 29, 2026, 5:30 am EST
We Tested Vapes in Colorado for Signs of Hemp. This Is What We Found.

ProPublica and The Denver Gazette set out to test whether claims of widespread substitution of hemp for marijuana were accurate, purchasing vapes at dispensaries across the Denver area.

by Christopher Osher and Evan Wyloge, The Denver Gazette

January 29, 2026, 5:25 am EST
New York Homeless Families Placed in Hotels Weren’t Guaranteed Social Services. New Regulations Could Change That.

The proposal follows a ProPublica and New York Focus investigation that found counties had placed thousands of adults and children in often-dilapidated hotels as the main response to homelessness.

by Spencer Norris, New York Focus

January 29, 2026, 5:00 am EST
New Bills Seek to Rein In Oil Companies’ Pollution of Oklahoma Groundwater

The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — near homes and farms and into drinking water sources.

by Nick Bowlin, The Frontier

January 28, 2026, 5:00 am EST