Illuminating Journalism from American Public Media
  • Investigations
  • Documentaries
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Donate
    • House poor, pollution rich

    Thousands of public housing residents live near the most polluted places in the nation — and the government has done little to protect them

    Embattled Sequel closes three more facilities

    In the Dark

    S2 E20: Curtis Flowers

    Featured Projects

    • Objects hold history
      Historically Black

      Objects hold history

    • More than 40 states have sent vulnerable kids to Sequel
      'Youth were abused here'

      More than 40 states have sent vulnerable kids to Sequel

    • Many kids struggle with reading – and children of color are far less likely to get the help they need
      What the Words Say

      Many kids struggle with reading – and children of color are far less likely to get the help they need

    • Opposition to the Vietnam War among active duty GIs and veterans
      Soldiers for Peace

      Opposition to the Vietnam War among active duty GIs and veterans

    • How the EPA has left Americans exposed to lead in drinking water
      Buried Lead

      How the EPA has left Americans exposed to lead in drinking water

    • The 1950s plan to erase Indian Country
      Uprooted

      The 1950s plan to erase Indian Country

    • The invention of a disease and the pursuit of one molecule
      Why there's no cure for Alzheimer's

      The invention of a disease and the pursuit of one molecule

    • How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
      At a Loss for Words

      How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers

    • Tasers are less reliable than their maker has claimed. The results can be deadly
      When Tasers Fail

      Tasers are less reliable than their maker has claimed. The results can be deadly

    Be informed: Get notified when APM Reports publishes new stories.

    The Educate Podcast

    • Black at Mizzou: Confronting race on campus

      Black at Mizzou: Confronting race on campus

      August 14
    • What the Words Say

      What the Words Say

      August 6
    • Covid on Campus

      Covid on Campus

      July 29

    • Same Pandemic, Unequal Education (from Us & Them podcast)

      May 30

    Recent Stories

    Embattled Sequel closes three more facilities
    February 10, 2021

    Embattled Sequel closes three more facilities

    by Will Craft

    Following abuse reports, the company has now shuttered a dozen youth treatment centers in the past two years, including its flagship academy.

    Thousands of public housing residents live near the most polluted places in the nation — and the government has done little to protect them
    January 13, 2021

    Thousands of public housing residents live near the most polluted places in the nation — and the government has done little to protect them

    by Angela Caputo and Sharon Lerner

    An investigation reveals that more than 9,000 federally subsidized housing properties sit within a mile of a Superfund site, and the government has failed to inform many residents of the potential threats they face. As a result, low-income renters are paying for government inaction with their health.

    California hands Sequel a major setback
    December 14, 2020

    California hands Sequel a major setback

    by Curtis Gilbert

    The state’s decision to no longer send children to out-of-state youth treatment facilities capped two difficult weeks for the embattled company.

    Washington becomes latest state to ditch Sequel
    December 9, 2020

    Washington becomes latest state to ditch Sequel

    by Curtis Gilbert

    State officials decided to no longer place foster children with the company following an APM Reports investigation and reports of abuse.

    How private money helped save the election
    December 7, 2020

    How private money helped save the election

    by Geoff Hing, Sabby Robinson, Tom Scheck, and Gracie Stockton

    After Congress failed to aid local election offices, a nonprofit provided critical funds — including $350 million from Mark Zuckerberg — that paid for staff, ballot-scanning machines, protective gear, and rental space that helped the presidential election run surprisingly smoothly.

    The last days of Wisconsin's pandemic election
    October 30, 2020

    The last days of Wisconsin's pandemic election

    by Geoff Hing, Sabby Robinson, Tom Scheck, and Gracie Stockton

    The critical swing state that had a disastrous April primary endures a divisive election with long lines at the polls and battles in the courts — all amid a raging coronavirus outbreak. Yet voter turnout has been surging.

    Postal data shows hundreds of complaints about election mail problems
    October 19, 2020

    Postal data shows hundreds of complaints about election mail problems

    by Geoff Hing, Sabby Robinson, Tom Scheck, Gracie Stockton, and Dee J. Hall

    Election officials in cities across the country had ballots delayed or go missing in the mail.  

    Influential literacy expert Lucy Calkins is changing her views
    October 16, 2020

    Influential literacy expert Lucy Calkins is changing her views

    by Emily Hanford

    In a major shift, the controversial figure in the fight over how to teach reading now says that beginning readers should focus on sounding out words, according to a document obtained by APM Reports.

    S2 E20: Curtis Flowers
    October 14, 2020

    S2 E20: Curtis Flowers

    During three years investigating the Curtis Flowers case, we’d talked to nearly everyone involved: lawyers, witnesses, jurors, family members, investigators, politicians, and many, many people around town. But there was one person we hadn’t yet interviewed — Curtis Flowers. That is, until one day in early October, a few weeks after he’d been cleared of all charges. For the final episode of Season 2, we at long last talk to the man at the center of it all.

    Will Doug Evans face accountability?
    October 14, 2020

    Will Doug Evans face accountability?

    by Parker Yesko

    Prosecutors across the country rarely face consequences for misconduct.

    More than 40 states have sent their most vulnerable kids to facilities run by a for-profit company named Sequel. Many of those kids were abused there.
    September 28, 2020

    More than 40 states have sent their most vulnerable kids to facilities run by a for-profit company named Sequel. Many of those kids were abused there.

    by Curtis Gilbert and Lauren Dake

    A yearlong investigation led by APM Reports finds the company took in some of the most difficult-to-treat children while keeping costs low in pursuit of profit and expansion. The result was dozens of cases of physical violence, sexual assault and improper restraints. Despite repeated scandals, many states and counties continue to send kids to Sequel for one central reason: They have little choice.

    How Sequel wins business from California
    September 28, 2020

    How Sequel wins business from California

    by Curtis Gilbert

    Nonprofit operations in Utah and Wyoming allow the company to earn money treating its kids.

    • Investigations
    • Documentaries
    • Podcasts
    • About
    • Donate
    • © 2021 Minnesota Public Radio. All Rights Reserved.
    •  
    • Terms and Conditions
    •  
    • Privacy Policy