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Investigations

Thursday

Wrongfully imprisoned for decades, Ben Spencer is exonerated

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Consider This from NPR

Wrongfully imprisoned for decades, Ben Spencer is exonerated

In 1988, Ben Spencer was sentenced to life in prison for a brutal robbery and murder he has always insisted he did not commit.

Wrongfully imprisoned for decades, Ben Spencer is exonerated

Listen · 10:26
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Sunday

The Sunday Story: Uncovering Abuse in a Juvenile Detention Center

The Sununu Youth Services Center, or Youth Development Center (YDC), in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Raquel C. Zaldívar/New England News Collaborative hide caption

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Raquel C. Zaldívar/New England News Collaborative

Up First from NPR

The Sunday Story: Uncovering Abuse in a Juvenile Detention Center

In the U.S., many kids in trouble with the law are sentenced to juvenile detention facilities. In New Hampshire, the largest such facility is a place commonly known as the Youth Detention Center, or YDC (recently renamed the Sununu Youth Services Center). YDC was founded with good intentions: keep kids out of adult jails and prisons and care for them. But now, nearly 1,300 former residents of YDC have come forward, filing lawsuits over alleged abuse at the facility. The allegations include hundreds of cases of assault and rape that span over six decades. It's become one of the biggest youth detention scandals in American history.

The Sunday Story: Uncovering Abuse in a Juvenile Detention Center

Listen · 34:19
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Sunday

Is a high-profile critic of the Chinese Communist Party a con man?

Is a high-profile critic of the Chinese Communist Party a con man?

A young political dissident in Europe made his name in the news media as a defiant critic of the Chinese Communist Party. His former housemate and alleged victim says he's a grifter.

The Sunday Story: The Invisible Hand of Fear

Listen · 50:34
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Sunday

Melinda Mattocks-Ushry holds a photo of her brother Kelvin “Chuck” Mattocks at her home in New Bern, N.C., on Dec. 5, 2023. Mattocks was killed in 2016 at a construction site when a trench he was working in collapsed in Boston.

Melinda Mattocks-Ushry holds a photo of her brother Kelvin “Chuck” Mattocks at her home in New Bern, N.C., on Dec. 5, 2023. Madeline Gray/for NPR hide caption

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Madeline Gray/for NPR

Trench collapses have killed hundreds of workers in the U.S. over the last decade

More than 250 people have died since 2013 when trenches they were working in caved in. In most cases, the employers failed to follow basic government regulations for making trenches safe.

NPR teams investigate a dangerous problem for construction workers: trench cave-ins

Listen · 6:42
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Wednesday

This Rite-Away compounding pharmacy sold pentobarbital to Texas for use in the state's lethal injection executions.

Rite-Away Pharmacy and Medical Supply in San Antonio, Texas. Brenda Bazan for NPR hide caption

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Brenda Bazan for NPR

Unmarked cars and secret orders: How a pharmacy prepared drugs for Texas’ executions

NPR identified the company that provided Texas with execution drugs and uncovered that state and federal authorities alleged the pharmacy and some of its owners violated laws meant to protect patients.

NPR investigation reveals information about death row in Texas

Listen · 6:48
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Friday

Disabled students are struggling to get what they need at school

Tabitha (l) helps Sam (r) remove his socks and leg braces. Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 in Georgia, United States. Cindy Elizabeth/NPR hide caption

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Cindy Elizabeth/NPR

Consider This from NPR

Disabled students are struggling to get what they need at school

Students with disabilities often face a tough time getting the services they need at school. When they can't get them, many families seek help from the federal government. And, right now, the Department of Education is swamped with a record number of discrimination complaints. The backlog is leaving families across the country waiting months, even years, for help.

Disabled students are struggling to get what they need at school

Listen · 12:21
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Monday

Inside the Chinese-funded and staffed marijuana farms springing up across the U.S.

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Lisk Feng for NPR

World

Inside the Chinese-funded and staffed marijuana farms springing up across the U.S.

Large numbers of migrants from China are crossing into the U.S. and finding work on marijuana farms. Some of the businesses are accused of exploiting workers and violating state growing rules.

State of the World - Chinese money and labor in U.S. marijuana

Listen · 8:16
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Thursday

Amber and Devin Weise

It wasn't until after Amber and Devin Weise married that they learned Supplemental Security Income, the federal benefits program Amber relies upon, penalizes couples who marry. Amber lost her monthly SSI income check and, even more vital, her access to health insurance. Narayan Mahon for NPR hide caption

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Narayan Mahon for NPR

Couples say they can't get married because of this government program's outdated rules

Social Security's SSI program for people with disabilities requires couples to have no more than $3,000 in assets.

How an outdated Social Security policy is preventing couples from marrying

Listen · 8:15
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Tuesday

Lester Shreffler stands near his open garage door at his rental home in Farmersville, Texas.

When Lester Shreffler's rent to EasyKnock went up, he fell behind and received a notice to vacate. He and his daughter scrambled to find this rental home in Farmersville, Texas. His lease is up at the end of July, and he's not sure where he's going to go next. Zerb Mellish for NPR hide caption

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Zerb Mellish for NPR

'Sale-leasebacks' offer to help homeowners needing cash. Some lose thousands

Companies like EasyKnock offer to help people in financial trouble by buying their home and renting it back. An NPR investigation finds the deals cost some people a lot of money and even their homes.

NPR probe finds getting help from a sale leaseback company can be costly

Listen · 6:56
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Saturday

Clockwise from top left: Gabriella Garbero of St. Louis, Karen Williams of Philadelphia, Ryan Rodriguez of Atlanta and Courteze Goods of Baltimore have all have disabilities and have tried to live responsibly. But then Social Security cut off much-needed benefit checks.

Clockwise from top left: Gabriella Garbero of St. Louis, Karen Williams of Philadelphia, Ryan Rodriguez of Atlanta and Courteze Goods of Baltimore have all have disabilities and have tried to live responsibly. But then Social Security cut off much-needed benefit checks. Neeta Satam, Kriston Jae Bethel, Alyssa Pointer and Rosem Morton for NPR hide caption

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Neeta Satam, Kriston Jae Bethel, Alyssa Pointer and Rosem Morton for NPR

These disabled people tried to play by the rules. It cost them their federal benefits

A little-known Social Security program was supposed to lift people out of poverty. Sometimes it traps them there instead.

Supplemental Security Income rules can limit the people the program is meant to help

Listen · 8:15
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Friday

Emily Baden stands in her backyard in San Francisco. Before moving to San Francisco, she was neighbors with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who she says was a quiet observer to heated exchanges between her and Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, regarding signs on the Baden family’s front yard.

Emily Baden stands in her backyard in San Francisco. Before moving to San Francisco, she was neighbors with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who she says was a quiet observer to heated exchanges between her and Alito's wife, Martha-Ann Alito, regarding signs on the Baden family's front yard. Marissa Leshnov for NPR hide caption

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Marissa Leshnov for NPR

Alito neighbor gives detailed account of 'nasty' dispute that became national news

The saga began as a dispute over anti-Trump lawn signs and culminated in a profanity-filled confrontation on the street, which Justice Samuel Alito witnessed.

Neighbor of Alitos Speaks

Listen · 8:16
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Friday

Trump was found guilty on all counts. What comes next?

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he arrives with attorney Todd Blanche. Photo by Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Photo by Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

Trump was found guilty on all counts. What comes next?

After a trial that lasted 21 days and a deliberation that took less than ten hours, a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 criminal felony counts of falsifying business records.

Trump was found guilty on all counts. What comes next?

Listen · 8:23
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