propublica.org / .propublica-org-main

The seasonal visa program has failed to protect migrant farmworkers from wage theft, forced labor, violence and death. Experts, lawyers and advocates say there are ways to reduce and even stop the harms.

For years, North Dakota legislators rejected proposals to protect mineral owners from oil and gas companies withholding their earnings. "Something has to be done," one lawmaker now says.

State legislators and executives at Citizens Property Insurance touted mandatory arbitration as advantageous for both consumers and insurers. In practice, homeowners were left with few avenues for recourse when their claims were denied.

Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. She ended up a victim of an operation that is alleged to have exploited the H-2A visa program -- and the workers it brought to America.

Musk said his proposal to build tunnels to address Houston's chronic flooding woes would work, after an investigation raised questions about the plan's effectiveness. But experts say his plan has key technical and logistical challenges.

Massachusetts has one of the shortest deadlines in the country for prosecuting rape. After the 15-year mark, no DNA match, testimony or even confession can give a rape victim a chance of facing their attacker in court.

Citing concerns about DEI, the U.S. Department of Education has halted funding for programs that support students with combined hearing and vision loss in eight states. "How low can you go?" one advocate asked. "How can you do this to children?"

After a North Carolina man attempted suicide twice, his wife tried to get him help at an inpatient clinic. But their insurance provider refused to cover the treatment, deeming it "not medically necessary."

Three charter school districts in Texas underreported the compensation paid to their top leaders. The same three districts have also had failing or near-failing performance ratings in recent years.

The working group was created as part of a towing reform law passed in response to a ProPublica and Connecticut Mirror investigation into towing practices in the state.