INVESTIGATIONS
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SUMMARY. This investigation revealed that Washington state repeatedly withheld beds and basic necessities from foster children as punishment, forcing vulnerable youth to sleep in state vehicles and on office floors when they refused placements.
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IMPACT. One month after the first report, a federal court order banned the state's historic practice of housing foster youth in hotels, offices and cars. The reporting triggered multiple systemic changes: a new policy prohibiting foster youth from sleeping in cars overnight, improved bedding provisions, a comprehensive external review by the state's child welfare ombuds and dedicated oversight hearings. ​​
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RECOGNITION. duPont-Columbia Awards Finalist, IRE Finalist (Print/Online - written word- Division II), Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Politics/Government)
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SUMMARY. This investigation centered on a jail guard's sexual abuse of multiple inmates in Forks, Washington. It revealed how city and state institutions repeatedly overlooked red flags about the corrections officer, allowing him to continue abusing women in his custody. The reporting also found disparities in how corrections officers are punished for sexually abusing inmates compared to civilians who commit similar crimes.
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IMPACT. The series prompted the Washington state legislature to pass "Kimberly Bender's Law" in 2023, which raises the penalties for sexually abusive corrections officers. Less than a year after the first report, the city of Forks settled for $1 million with the family of Kimberly Bender, an inmate who died by suicide after reporting the jail guard for sexual harassment.
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RECOGNITION. Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Continuing Coverage)
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SUMMARY. This multipart investigation revealed the failures of Washington public schools to provide support and services for students with disabilities. The reporting uncovered widespread violations of students' legal rights, including unnecessary segregation, funding caps, improper disciplinary practices and institutional cover ups.
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IMPACT. The reporting led to a state law that increases funding for each special education student in the state and rewards school districts who include children with special needs in general education classrooms.
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RECOGNITION. Peabody Award (News), National Edward R. Murrow Award (Continuing Coverage), IRE finalist (TV/Video), Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for Excellence in Reporting on Disability (2nd Place), three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards (Continuing Coverage, News Series, Investigative), Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Investigative)
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SUMMARY. This 2024-2025 series uncovered critical gaps in Washington state's local jail operations, revealing a pattern of inadequate medical care, a lack of oversight and the costly consequences carried by taxpayers. Low-level nurses without proper qualifications made pivotal medical decisions about inmates, contributing to preventable injuries and deaths. With no statewide body overseeing jail conditions, inmates remain vulnerable. Taxpayers have paid $60 million in five years to resolve jail-related legal claims, exposing the deep systemic problems in local jail operations.​​
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CITY, OFFICER TOOK MEASURES TO COVER UP FIRING​
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SUMMARY. This investigation revealed how an officer with a history of excessive force was able to hide his misconduct and continue working in law enforcement.
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IMPACT. The reporting prompted immediate action, led to the officer's termination and raised important questions about transparency in hiring practices.
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RECOGNITION. Regional Edward R. Murrow Award (Continuing Coverage), Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Continuing Coverage)
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A TACOMA DOCTOR DIAGNOSING CHILD ABUSE IS MISSING A KEY THING: HER CERTIFICATION TO DO IT​
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SUMMARY. This KING 5-NBC News investigation revealed a pediatrician with significant influence in Washington state's child welfare system repeatedly recommended removing children from parents, but lacked proper medical training in child abuse assessments. The reporting uncovered multiple cases where child welfare workers separated families based on the doctor's reports, even when other medical experts found no evidence of abuse. In one prominent case, a judge dismissed the state's case against a mother, finding most of the doctor's testimony "without supporting factual basis."
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IMPACT. Following the investigation, the doctor was removed from her position as director of the child abuse intervention program at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. She was taken off the roster of doctors who provide expert medical reports to Washington's child welfare agency. Prosecutors in multiple counties began reviewing her past cases, sending letters to defense lawyers about potential credibility issues. The Washington Medical Commission is currently investigating the doctor.
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RECOGNITION. NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards (1st Place in Investigative Video Photojournalism)
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'HE'S SO SICK:' LANDFILL EMPLOYEES CONCERNED ABOUT ARSENIC EXPOSURE AMID KING COUNTY VIOLATIONS ​
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SUMMARY. This multipart investigation found that for a decade, the King County Solid Waste Division repeatedly discovered high levels of arsenic at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – violating state and local rules that exist to protect the environment and public health. Landfill workers accused their bosses of failing to adequately inform employees or protect them from the highly toxic chemical. Subsequent stories examined the impact to community members in nearby homes.
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IMPACT. In response to the investigation, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries immediately opened a health and safety inspection, which led to citations. The reporting also triggered the King County Solid Waste Division to hold safety briefings with workers and conduct exposure testing.​​​​
COVID EXEMPTIONS FOR A PRICE​
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SUMMARY. This investigative series revealed the failings of Washington state's medical disciplinary boards to identify and protect the public from health care providers who are driven by profits or ideology. The series highlighted one doctor's brazen disregard for health measures designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and it shed light on the state's failure to take meaningful action against medical professionals who are the subject of COVID-19 related complaints.
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IMPACT. The investigation prompted multiple state agencies to take action. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries opened a health & safety inspection and fined the doctor $30,000. The Washington state Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery suspended the doctor's medical lisence. ​​​​​
RECOGNITION. National News Emmy Nomination (Regional Investigative Report), Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Investigative)​​​​​
RECORDS SHOW THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HAD ROLE IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN OF OCEANGATE'S TITAN
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SUMMARY. The University of Washington, which previously denied involvement in the Titan submersible that imploded and killed five people on a deepwater plunge to the Titanic, had a role in the early stages of the vessel's development and its design. A review of hundreds of UW records revealed the school had a deeper relationship with OceanGate, the Everett company that manufactured the carbon-fiber sub, than it originally told the public in the wake of the Titan disaster. ​​​​​​​​​
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SUMMARY. This investigation revealed senior leaders at a state-run medium-maximum security juvenile detention center were warned of a potential escape days before seven teenagers with violent criminal backgrounds successfully broke out, ambushed a staff member and prompted a regional manhunt. Subsequent reporting uncovered the concerns of first responders and the security breakdowns that allowed the youth to break out with ease. One of the teenagers, convicted of murder, pulled off a nearly identical escape in the same facility the year before.
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NO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE​
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SUMMARY. This investigation exposed the systemic mistreatment of soldiers with combat-related trauma, like PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. It revealed a pattern where U.S. Army officials disregarded medical expertise and punished soldiers for condition-driven behaviors, resulting in other-than-honorable discharges and the loss of vital veterans' benefits.
IMPACT. The reporting prompted calls from the U.S. House Armed Services Committee chairman for improved mental health training for military commanders. A U.S. Army review board granted discharge upgrades to two Washington state veterans featured in the investigation. ​
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​RECOGNITION. Northwest Regional Emmy Award (Politics/Government)​​​
VA FAILURE LEFT VULNERABLE VETERANS WITHOUT HELP
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SUMMARY. This investigation revealed that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mishandled the implementation of a 2018 law intended to expand mental health care access for veterans with other-than-honorable discharges. The VA failed to adequately inform eligible veterans about the new benefits and did not treat the majority who qualified.
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IMPACT. The VA faced intense scrutiny after the investigation exposed its failure to implement the crucial mental health law for veterans. The reporting triggered demands for corrective action from members of Congress and veterans' groups and compelled the VA Secretary to respond publicly during a veteran suicide hearing.
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MOST​ WASHINGTON POLICE AGENCIES DON'T USE BODY OR DASH CAMERAS​
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SUMMARY. This investigation revealed more than 60 percent of Washington state law enforcement agencies have no cameras systems to document officers and deputies' interactions with the public. The reporting, based on a survey of 213 law enforcement agencies, uncovered transparency issues in the wake of nationwide protests and increase scrutiny of police interactions.
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