NPR News Investigations http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1150&ft=1&f=1150 NPR News Investigations en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif NPR News Investigations http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1150&ft=1&f=1150 Turning Up The Heat On Civil Rights-Era Cold Cases With the death of a possible suspect in one notorious case, activists are weighing the FBI's efforts to tackle cases from the 1950s and '60s. Some are calling for a congressional hearing to see whether the FBI has done enough investigating. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184936625/turning-up-the-heat-on-civil-rights-era-cold-cases?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184936625/turning-up-the-heat-on-civil-rights-era-cold-cases?ft=1&f=1150 With the death of a possible suspect in one notorious case, activists are weighing the FBI's efforts to tackle cases from the 1950s and '60s. Some are calling for a congressional hearing to see whether the FBI has done enough investigating.

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]]> Justice In The Segregated South: A New Look At An Old Killing A white off-duty constable shot and killed a paraplegic black man in Fayette, Miss., in 1965. Despite new witnesses who have memories of what happened that day, there's still not enough evidence to say whether Jasper Burchfield's claim of self-defense is true. Fri, 03 May 2013 15:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/172594513/justice-in-the-segregated-south-a-new-look-at-an-old-killing?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/172594513/justice-in-the-segregated-south-a-new-look-at-an-old-killing?ft=1&f=1150 A white off-duty constable shot and killed a paraplegic black man in Fayette, Miss., in 1965. Despite new witnesses who have memories of what happened that day, there's still not enough evidence to say whether Jasper Burchfield's claim of self-defense is true.

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]]> NPR 'Grain' Series Investigates Industry, Sparks Response NPR's Howard Berkes joins host Scott Simon for a look back at his reporting this week on the NPR series Buried In Grain. Berkes reviews the death toll from grain storage bins and the weak laws and enforcement that have failed to prevent these accidents. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175765575/npr-grain-series-investigates-industry-sparks-response?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175765575/npr-grain-series-investigates-industry-sparks-response?ft=1&f=1150 NPR's Howard Berkes joins host Scott Simon for a look back at his reporting this week on the NPR series Buried In Grain. Berkes reviews the death toll from grain storage bins and the weak laws and enforcement that have failed to prevent these accidents.

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]]> Why Grain Storage Bin Rescues Are Risky And Complex Grain bin entrapments are so common that some rural fire departments have specially trained teams and customized equipment to rescue victims. When corn or grain trap workers, it is difficult to extract victims, and rescuers have very technical ways to proceed. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 02:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175541626/why-grain-storage-bin-rescues-are-risky-and-complex?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175541626/why-grain-storage-bin-rescues-are-risky-and-complex?ft=1&f=1150 Grain bin entrapments are so common that some rural fire departments have specially trained teams and customized equipment to rescue victims. When corn or grain trap workers, it is difficult to extract victims, and rescuers have very technical ways to proceed.

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]]> Simple Strategies Can Prevent Grain Bin Tragedies A series on worker deaths in grain bins continues with a trip inside a grain bin — stepping into thousands of bushels of corn — to demonstrate the power of corn and the safe grain bin entry methods that are required by law. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175502091/simple-strategies-can-prevent-grain-bin-tragedies?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175502091/simple-strategies-can-prevent-grain-bin-tragedies?ft=1&f=1150 A series on worker deaths in grain bins continues with a trip inside a grain bin — stepping into thousands of bushels of corn — to demonstrate the power of corn and the safe grain bin entry methods that are required by law.

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]]> Enforcement Of Penalties Weak In Grain Bin Deaths Nearly 500 farmers and workers have suffocated in grain storage bins in the past 40 years. The worst year on record was 2010, with 26 people dying. Hefty fines and criminal charges are possible for negligent employers. But NPR and The Center for Public Integrity found that enforcement is weak, even as workers continue to die. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175434075/enforcement-of-penalties-weak-in-grain-bin-deaths?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175434075/enforcement-of-penalties-weak-in-grain-bin-deaths?ft=1&f=1150 Nearly 500 farmers and workers have suffocated in grain storage bins in the past 40 years. The worst year on record was 2010, with 26 people dying. Hefty fines and criminal charges are possible for negligent employers. But NPR and The Center for Public Integrity found that enforcement is weak, even as workers continue to die.

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]]> Fines Slashed In Grain Bin Entrapment Deaths The persistence of grain bin entrapments and a horrific 2010 incident expose weaknesses in worker safety laws and enforcement. An NPR and Center for Public Integrity analysis has found that among 179 deaths since 1984, fines were reduced 60 percent of the time. Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/174828849/fines-slashed-in-grain-bin-entrapment-deaths?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/174828849/fines-slashed-in-grain-bin-entrapment-deaths?ft=1&f=1150 The persistence of grain bin entrapments and a horrific 2010 incident expose weaknesses in worker safety laws and enforcement. An NPR and Center for Public Integrity analysis has found that among 179 deaths since 1984, fines were reduced 60 percent of the time.

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]]> Documents: Investigating A Grain Bin Accident In July 2010, two young employees died inside an Illinois grain bin after being sucked under a mountain of corn. These document detail the case and the safety violations federal regulators found. Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174661389/documents-investigating-a-grain-bin-accident?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174661389/documents-investigating-a-grain-bin-accident?ft=1&f=1150 In July 2010, two young employees died inside an Illinois grain bin after being sucked under a mountain of corn. These document detail the case and the safety violations federal regulators found.

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]]> Should Grain Bins On Farms Be Regulated, Too? When it comes to regulating worker safety for grain bins, OSHA only oversees the commercial industry. There's debate on whether that should also extend to private farms. Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/175052055/should-grain-bins-on-farms-be-regulated-too?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/175052055/should-grain-bins-on-farms-be-regulated-too?ft=1&f=1150 When it comes to regulating worker safety for grain bins, OSHA only oversees the commercial industry. There's debate on whether that should also extend to private farms.

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]]> Law Targets Sexual Violence On College Campuses When President Obama signs an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act on Thursday afternoon, the law will include new requirements for how colleges and universities handle allegations of sexual assault. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/07/173657424/law-targets-sexual-violence-on-college-campuses?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/07/173657424/law-targets-sexual-violence-on-college-campuses?ft=1&f=1150 When President Obama signs an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act on Thursday afternoon, the law will include new requirements for how colleges and universities handle allegations of sexual assault.

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]]> Center for Public Integrity: EPA Unaware Of Industry Ties On Cancer Review Panel Scientists who the agency deferred to when it delayed action related to the cancer risks of one chemical had previously worked on behalf of a company that used the chemical. But the EPA didn't know of the possible conflict of interest. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:41:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/13/171911194/center-for-public-integrity-epa-unaware-of-industry-ties-on-cancer-review-panel?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/13/171911194/center-for-public-integrity-epa-unaware-of-industry-ties-on-cancer-review-panel?ft=1&f=1150 Scientists who the agency deferred to when it delayed action related to the cancer risks of one chemical had previously worked on behalf of a company that used the chemical. But the EPA didn't know of the possible conflict of interest.

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]]> For A Florida Fishery, 'Sustainable' Success After Complex Process Environmentalists, together with the Marine Stewardship Council, say that Day Boat's story reflects the good that the MSC system can do. But critics say the vigorous certification process is inconsistent. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/171376575/for-a-florida-fishery-sustainable-success-after-complex-process?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/171376575/for-a-florida-fishery-sustainable-success-after-complex-process?ft=1&f=1150 Environmentalists, together with the Marine Stewardship Council, say that Day Boat's story reflects the good that the MSC system can do. But critics say the vigorous certification process is inconsistent.

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]]> Conditions Allow For More Sustainable-Labeled Seafood Most fisheries certified by the MSC system have conditions that spell out how they have to change their operations to comply with MSC standards. But they can still be labeled "certified sustainable seafood" even though they have years to comply. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/171376617/conditions-allow-for-more-sustainable-labeled-seafood?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/171376617/conditions-allow-for-more-sustainable-labeled-seafood?ft=1&f=1150 Most fisheries certified by the MSC system have conditions that spell out how they have to change their operations to comply with MSC standards. But they can still be labeled "certified sustainable seafood" even though they have years to comply.

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]]> Is Sustainable-Labeled Seafood Really Sustainable? Industry demand for the "sustainable seafood" label, issued by the Marine Stewardship Council, is increasing. But some environmentalists fear fisheries are being certified despite evidence showing that the fish population is in trouble — or when there's not enough information to know the impact on the oceans. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/11/171376509/is-sustainable-labeled-seafood-really-sustainable?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/11/171376509/is-sustainable-labeled-seafood-really-sustainable?ft=1&f=1150 Industry demand for the "sustainable seafood" label, issued by the Marine Stewardship Council, is increasing. But some environmentalists fear fisheries are being certified despite evidence showing that the fish population is in trouble — or when there's not enough information to know the impact on the oceans.

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]]> South Dakota Tribes Accuse State Of Violating Indian Welfare Act Eight tribes have delivered a report to Congress saying South Dakota is willfully ignoring a federal law meant to protect Native American children. Several lawmakers are demanding action. The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Wednesday agreed to convene a summit meeting of key players, and says it will urge state officials to respond. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/171310945/south-dakota-tribes-accuse-state-of-violating-indian-welfare-act?ft=1&f=1150 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/171310945/south-dakota-tribes-accuse-state-of-violating-indian-welfare-act?ft=1&f=1150 Eight tribes have delivered a report to Congress saying South Dakota is willfully ignoring a federal law meant to protect Native American children. Several lawmakers are demanding action. The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Wednesday agreed to convene a summit meeting of key players, and says it will urge state officials to respond.

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