Our Reporting

August 28, 2017

A fellowship of the few: Black male teachers in America's classrooms are in short supply

Only 2 percent of the nation's teachers are black men. Increasing their numbers would benefit students of all backgrounds. In Philadelphia, a group forms to double the number by 2025.

August 28, 2017

Why are there so few black male teachers?

Only 2 percent of teachers in American public schools are black men. Why so few? Here's what the data show.

August 21, 2017

A Supreme Court case 35 years ago yields a supply of emboldened DACA students today

Four immigrant families sued the Tyler, Texas school district in 1977 after their children were kicked out and required to pay for a public education. Five years later the court ruled in favor of the families, citing equal protection. It allowed generations of undocumented children to learn next to American-born peers and have a fair chance in life, say experts. And their journeys contributed to a presidential order in 2012 that protected undocumented immigrants from deportation and allowed them to work.

July 19, 2017

Trump's desire for private infrastructure money will narrow his choices to mostly urban projects

Rural America, which supported Trump in the election, could be left out of water and road building investment as states and the president leverage private investment. Trump's plan offers little detail on federal spending and timing. Adding to the uncertainty, a presidential adviser has indicated that states should help themselves.

May 11, 2017

More than 500 infrastructure projects are pitched to Trump, who will favor private money and speed

States, unions, presidential advisers and consultants flood the White House with proposals. The president's pledge to cut regulations and his condition for funding — "If you have a job that you can't start within 90 days ... it doesn't help us" — risks leaving critical construction and repair behind.

May 5, 2017

Most states neglect ordering police to learn de-escalation tactics to avoid shootings

In 34 states, training decisions are left to local agencies. Most, though, conduct no, or very little, de-escalation training. Chiefs cite cost, lack of staff, and a belief that the training isn't needed.

May 5, 2017

Three case studies: When police untrained in de-escalation shoot unarmed people

A review of 31 cases shows more than half of officers involved had fewer than two hours of training past five years.

April 25, 2017

Sanner retires suddenly; Rassier files suit, claiming mistreatment by Sanner and others

Sanner, who led Wetterling investigation, has not apologized to Rassier, and has said he stands behind his actions as sheriff for 14 years. He hasn't commented on the lawsuit.

April 11, 2017

Three families file a lawsuit against Mesabi Academy's parent

They claim their sons suffered injuries due to neglect, wrongful and careless conduct. The company says it was protecting its staff and other boys.

April 10, 2017

Undocumented students learning lessons from civil rights era

The federal government sets immigration policy, but states decide how much access undocumented immigrants have to their public colleges and universities. Georgia has some of the strictest policies in the country.

February 21, 2017

Final investigation reveals 'fight club,' lack of oversight among problems at Mesabi

Findings released after investigation into charges of maltreatment, safety violations, poor supervision and training. Governor wants oversight system changed. The center closed June 30 after an investigation by APM Reports.

February 1, 2017

Bill targets Minnesota political appointee severance

A Minnesota House committee moved to reduce severance payouts to political appointees after Gov. Mark Dayton gave $80,000 to three appointees.

January 9, 2017

Ryan Larson files federal lawsuit against Stearns County sheriff, attorney and others

Update from Episode 8: The man falsely suspected of killing a police officer claims his constitutional rights were violated.

December 30, 2016

It took nearly 27 years to solve a notorious child abduction. Why?

Reporter Madeleine Baran, host of the podcast In the Dark, writes the story of how the 1989 abduction of Jacob Wetterling in central Minnesota baffled local, state and federal investigators for years. In four chapters, she reports why it shouldn't have.

$EPA reverses course, highlights fracking contamination of drinking water$

December 13, 2016

EPA reverses course, highlights fracking contamination of drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a final report on the connection between hydraulic fracturing and contamination in drinking water. After stressing in June 2015 that there was no "widespread, systematic impact" on water, the agency now is emphasizing that fracking can affect drinking water under some circumstances.

$EPA's late changes to fracking study downplayed risk of polluted drinking water$

November 30, 2016

EPA's late changes to fracking study downplayed risk of polluted drinking water

Early versions highlighted contaminated drinking water and vulnerabilities from fracking. The final version turned out differently: Fracking had not "led to widespread, systemic impacts." Oil and gas cheered the findings.

October 11, 2016

Rita Reker

The woman Patty Wetterling didn't want to see.

October 11, 2016

Joseph Ture Jr.

Just days after the shotgun killings of Alice Huling and three of her children, he was interviewed by Stearns County sheriff's deputies and then let go.

October 4, 2016

Sex-offender registries: How the Wetterling abduction changed the country

The number of people on the nation's sex-offender registries has exploded to hundreds of thousands. But researchers question the registries' effectiveness, note their inconsistencies and suggest they might be doing more harm than good. Even Patty Wetterling has changed her views.

Child kidnappings that captured our attention