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Investigations

Monday

Thursday

Your Letters Helped Challenger Shuttle Engineer Shed 30 Years Of Guilt

Bob Ebeling, now 89, at his home in Brigham City, Utah. Howard Berkes/NPR hide caption

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Howard Berkes/NPR

The Two-Way

Your Letters Helped Challenger Shuttle Engineer Shed 30 Years Of Guilt

After NPR reported Bob Ebeling's story on the anniversary of the Challenger explosion, hundreds of people responded. Ebeling, now 89, says those letters "helped bring my worrisome mind to ease."

Your Letters Helped Challenger Shuttle Engineer Shed 30 Years Of Guilt

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Friday

Monday

Senators Want Moratorium On Dismissing Soldiers During Investigation

Larry Morrison, who returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder after four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is being kicked out of the Army for misconduct, leaving him without military benefits. Michael de Yoanna/Colorado Public Radio hide caption

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Michael de Yoanna/Colorado Public Radio

Missed Treatment

Senators Want Moratorium On Dismissing Soldiers During Investigation

The Army continues to kick out combat soldiers with mental health problems for misconduct, even as it investigates the practice.

Senators Want Moratorium On Dismissing Soldiers During Investigation

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Thursday

30 Years After Explosion, Challenger Engineer Still Blames Himself

(Left) Bob Ebeling in his home in Brigham City, Utah. (Right) The Challenger lifts off on Jan. 28, 1986, from a launchpad at Kennedy Space Center, 73 seconds before an explosion killed its crew of seven. (Left) Howard Berkes/NPR; (Right) Bob Pearson/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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(Left) Howard Berkes/NPR; (Right) Bob Pearson/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

30 Years After Explosion, Challenger Engineer Still Blames Himself

Bob Ebeling, an anonymous source for NPR's 1986 report on the disaster, tells NPR that despite warning NASA of troubles before the launch, he believes God "shouldn't have picked me for that job."

30 Years After Explosion, Challenger Engineer Still Blames Himself

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Thursday

Federal Workplace Law Fails To Protect Employees Left Out Of Workers' Comp

After 21 years as a building engineer for Macy's department stores, Kevin Schiller was left unable to work as the result of a 2010 workplace accident. Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR hide caption

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Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR

Insult To Injury: America's Vanishing Worker Protections

Federal Workplace Law Fails To Protect Employees Left Out Of Workers' Comp

Companies that opt out of state workers' comp laws say the Employee Retirement Income Security Act will ensure that injured workers get justice. An NPR investigation found that may not be true.

Federal Workplace Law Fails To Protect Employees Left Out Of Workers' Comp

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Friday

Army Says It Will Review Cases Of Dismissed Soldiers With Mental Health Problems

Evans Army Community Hospital, which stands on the Fort Carson military base, is a central part of the base's behavioral health system. Courtesy of Evans Army Community Hospital/U.S. Army hide caption

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Courtesy of Evans Army Community Hospital/U.S. Army

The Two-Way

Army Says It Will Review Cases Of Dismissed Soldiers With Mental Health Problems

The Army says it will conduct a "thorough, multidisciplinary review" to determine whether thousands of combat soldiers with those issues or TBIs have been unfairly kicked out of the Army.

Wednesday

The Two-Way

Lawmakers Call For Army To Investigate Misconduct Discharges Of Service Members

Citing reports by NPR and Colorado Public Radio, 12 senators want the Army to investigate the discharges of tens of thousands of troops with mental health disorders.

Lawmakers Call For Army To Investigate Misconduct Discharges Of Service Members

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Tuesday

Families React To NPR's Reporting Of Secret Mustard Gas Testing

Richard Mintz and his family. Courtesy of Nan Moore hide caption

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Courtesy of Nan Moore

World War II Secret Mustard Gas Testing

Families React To NPR's Reporting Of Secret Mustard Gas Testing

The World War II military experiments exposed more than 60,000 American troops. But because the testing was classified, many family members of veterans never learned the details of what happened.

Families React To NPR's Reporting Of Secret Mustard Gas Testing

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Were You Or Your Relatives Exposed To Mustard Gas? Search Our Database

Members of the U.S. military who were exposed to mustard gas in secret experiments during World War II (from left): Harry Maxson, Louis Bessho, Rollins Edwards, Paul Goldman and Sidney Wolfson. Courtesy of the families hide caption

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Courtesy of the families

World War II Secret Mustard Gas Testing

Were You Or Your Relatives Exposed To Mustard Gas? Search Our Database

NPR has compiled a database of more than 3,900 American servicemen exposed to mustard gas in secret military experiments during World War II.

Wednesday

Missed Treatment: Soldiers With Mental Health Issues Dismissed For 'Misconduct'

Larry Morrison is appealing the Army's decision to dismiss him for misconduct. Michael de Yoanna/Colorado Public Radio hide caption

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Michael de Yoanna/Colorado Public Radio

Missed Treatment

Missed Treatment: Soldiers With Mental Health Issues Dismissed For 'Misconduct'

The Army has "separated" more than 22,000 soldiers for "misconduct" since 2009 — often without benefits — after they returned from war with mental health problems or brain injuries.

Missed Treatment: Soldiers With Mental Health Issues Dismissed For 'Misconduct'

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Wednesday

Lawsuits Target 'Debtors' Prisons' Across the Country

Qumotria Kennedy, 36, stands at the baseball field in downtown Biloxi where she worked as a contract maintenance employee. She's a plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit accusing the city of operating an illegal "debtors' prison." William Widmer/Courtesy of ACLU hide caption

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William Widmer/Courtesy of ACLU

Guilty And Charged

Lawsuits Target 'Debtors' Prisons' Across the Country

Civil rights lawyers are challenging the use of court fines and fees against people who can't afford to pay. This week's ACLU suit against Biloxi, Miss., is the sixth such case since September.

Lawsuits Target 'Debtors' Prisons' Across the Country

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Thursday

Insult To Injury: America's Vanishing Worker Protections

When Businesses Opt Out Of Workers' Comp, Employees May Struggle For Care

As states consider allowing employers to completely opt out of workers' compensation plans, NPR and ProPublica take a look at how the concept has worked in Texas.

When Businesses Opt Out Of Workers' Comp, Employees May Struggle For Care

Listen · 7:15
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