investigative journalism

The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.
-- P.J. O'Rourke

Deep Financial Problemos

Here's one big reason California is in deep financial doo doo. Gray Davis is in trouble because he is the symbol of massive mismanagement of state finances. The legislature is as ignorant of economics as he is. They all focus primarily on keeping their wonderful perks and power.
· Their motto is: Give it all away and the people will love us [SACBEE ]
· Onto the candlelight's back: Powerless in the City [VOW]
· Sydney Shelterless [SMH]

Businesses operating without a license

Michael Mansur and Lynn Horsley of the Kansas City Star used city licensing records to find many Kansas City businesses operating without a license. City officials acknowledge that the amount of lost revenue could be sizable.
· Making license administration more costly and enforcement more cumbersome [ viaScoop]

Florida Voters

Beth Reinhard, Tim Henderson and Erika Bolstad of the Miami Herald surveyed the voter rolls in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, finding "nearly half a million people who have never cast a ballot," some 25 percent of the electorate in two of Florida's largest counties.
· Vote Less [Miami ]
· Donor: Corporate donations can influence associations, study says [Miami ]