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* [DEMOCRACY](https://publicintegrity.org/democracy-mission/)
* [High Courts, High Stakes](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/)
* [Immigration](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/immigration/)
* [Who Counts?](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/who-counts/who-counts-in-voting/)
* [ECONOMIC WELL-BEING](https://publicintegrity.org/economic-well-being-mission/)
* [Cheated at work](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/workers-rights/cheated-at-work/)
* [Unequal Burden](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/taxes/unequal-burden/)
* [EDUCATION](https://publicintegrity.org/education-mission/)
* [Academic Freedom](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/academic-freedom/)
* [Unhoused and Undercounted](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/)
* [Criminalizing kids](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/criminalizing-kids/)
* [ENVIRONMENT](https://publicintegrity.org/environment-mission/)
* [Toxic Labor](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/environment/toxic-labor/)
* [Ghosts of Polluters Past](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/)
* [Harm’s Way](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/environment/harms-way/)
* [HEALTH](https://publicintegrity.org/health-mission/)
* [Mental Health Parity](https://publicintegrity.org/health/health-parity/mental-health-parity-collaborative/)
[Skip to content](#main)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/40-acres-and-a-lie/public-integritys-40-acres-and-a-lie-project-is-honored-by-the-philip-meyer-journalism-awards/)
[40 Acres and a Lie](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/40-acres-and-a-lie/)
[Public Integrity’s “40 Acres and a Lie” project is honored by the Philip Meyer Journalism Awards](https://publicintegrity.org/40-acres-and-a-lie/public-integritys-40-acres-and-a-lie-project-is-honored-by-the-philip-meyer-journalism-awards/)
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[Accountability](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/accountability/)
[Inside the scramble to stop the displacement of thousands of California foster children](https://publicintegrity.org/accountability/inside-the-scramble-to-stop-the-displacement-of-thousands-of-california-foster-children/)
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WHO WE ARE
----------
The [Center for Public Integrity](https://publicintegrity.org/about/) is a nonprofit newsroom investigating inequity and holding powerful interests accountable. Readers like you help us tackle inequity and threats to democracy and equip the public to make change.
[ABOUT US](https://publicintegrity.org/about/)
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
-------------------
* [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/publici/)
* [X](https://twitter.com/publicintegrity)
* [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-public-integrity/)
* [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/publicintegrity/)
* [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@centerforpublicintegrity)
* * *
LATEST
------
[](https://publicintegrity.org/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/pennsylvania-bill-could-prevent-schools-from-barring-homeless-students/)
[Unhoused and Undercounted](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/)
### [Pennsylvania bill could prevent schools from barring homeless students](https://publicintegrity.org/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/pennsylvania-bill-could-prevent-schools-from-barring-homeless-students/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/health/health-parity/gap-parity-mental-health-care-remains-elusive/)
[Health parity](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/health/health-parity/)
### [Despite efforts to close gap, parity in mental health care remains elusive](https://publicintegrity.org/health/health-parity/gap-parity-mental-health-care-remains-elusive/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/who-counts/the-restrictions-are-unbelievable-states-target-voter-registration-drives/)
[Who Counts?](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/politics/elections/who-counts/)
### [‘The restrictions are unbelievable’: States target voter registration drives](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/who-counts/the-restrictions-are-unbelievable-states-target-voter-registration-drives/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/asian-students-face-racism-harassment-at-school-what-would-make-it-stop/)
[Addressing Anti-Asian Hate](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/)
### [Asian students face racism, harassment at school. What would make it stop?](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/asian-students-face-racism-harassment-at-school-what-would-make-it-stop/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/in-idaho-dont-say-abortion/)
[Academic Freedom](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/academic-freedom/)
### [In Idaho, don’t say ‘abortion’?](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/in-idaho-dont-say-abortion/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/cut-off-from-our-past-chinese-american-adoptees-seek-belonging/)
[Addressing Anti-Asian Hate](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/)
### [Cut off from our past, Chinese American adoptees seek belonging](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/cut-off-from-our-past-chinese-american-adoptees-seek-belonging/)
INVESTIGATIONS
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[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/taxes/unequal-burden/state-tax-collectors-push-struggling-people-deeper-into-hardship/)
[Unequal Burden](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/inequality-poverty-opportunity/taxes/unequal-burden/)
### [State tax collectors push struggling people deeper into hardship](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/taxes/unequal-burden/state-tax-collectors-push-struggling-people-deeper-into-hardship/)
States across the country resort to punitive policies that make it harder for people to pay off their tax debt, from license suspensions to less help for low-income residents than the IRS.
by [Maya Srikrishnan](https://publicintegrity.org/author/maya-srikrishnan/) and [Ashley Clarke](https://publicintegrity.org/author/ashley-clarke/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/not-just-the-supreme-court-ethics-troubles-plague-state-high-courts-too/)
[High Courts, High Stakes](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/)
### [Not just the Supreme Court: Ethics troubles plague state high courts, too](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/not-just-the-supreme-court-ethics-troubles-plague-state-high-courts-too/)
North Carolina’s Supreme Court chief justice heard cases despite a conflict of interest. Experts say judicial ethics at state high courts everywhere don’t receive the scrutiny they deserve.
by [Aaron Mendelson](https://publicintegrity.org/author/amendelsonpublicintegrity-org/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/attacks-tenure-college-professors-exits/)
[Academic Freedom](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/academic-freedom/)
### [Attacks on tenure leave college professors eyeing the exits](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/attacks-tenure-college-professors-exits/)
Republican-led efforts to dismantle free-speech protections on college campuses could reshape the geography of higher education.
by [Matt Krupnick](https://publicintegrity.org/author/matt-krupnick/)
Toolkits
--------
[](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/how-to-protect-your-community-from-the-toxic-lead-lurking-in-soil/)
### [How to protect your community from the toxic lead lurking in soil](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/how-to-protect-your-community-from-the-toxic-lead-lurking-in-soil/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/covering-clashes-on-campus-as-academic-freedom-challenges-mount-student-reporting/)
### [Covering clashes on campus as academic freedom challenges mount](https://publicintegrity.org/education/academic-freedom/covering-clashes-on-campus-as-academic-freedom-challenges-mount-student-reporting/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/workers-rights/cheated-at-work/resources-for-guest-workers/)
### [Resources for guest workers](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/workers-rights/cheated-at-work/resources-for-guest-workers/)
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/why-are-hate-crimes-so-hard-to-convict-in-court/)
### [Why are hate crimes so hard to convict in court?](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/why-are-hate-crimes-so-hard-to-convict-in-court/)
Podcast
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Subscribe on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5Hx32XaCFBByDgi0L7Aqnq) | [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heist/id1530138961) | [Google](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3B1YmxpY2ludGVncml0eS9mZWVkLnhtbA==) | [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=570811&refid=stpr) | [Pandora](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-heist/PC:35619?part=PC:35619)
Click [transcript](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/season-3-trailer-transcript/) to read the trailer transcript.
[The Heist: Season 3](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/theheist-season3/)
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The third season of the award-winning podcast focuses on the history of government discrimination against Black farmers.
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/black-farmers-ranchers-dying-deal/)
[‘Black farmers and ranchers, it’s a dying deal.’](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/black-farmers-ranchers-dying-deal/)
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Black farmers and cattle ranchers are a dwindling lot, living on less land and carrying heavier financial burdens than white farmers. The USDA, once part of the problem, wants to turn things around.
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/accurate-data-black-farmers-hard-to-get/)
[Why is accurate data about Black farmers so hard to get?](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/accurate-data-black-farmers-hard-to-get/)
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a history of discrimination. Legislators are pressing it to release more data that could show what progress it’s making.
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/boley-oklahoma-land-ownership-black-wealth/)
[In Oklahoma’s Black Belt, land ownership and power built Black wealth](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/boley-oklahoma-land-ownership-black-wealth/)
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Black folks went West seeking economic independence. That meant land ownership. But racism undid what they built.
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/usda-equity-black-farmers-pigford-glickman-toxic-debt/)
[Can USDA’s efforts on equity help Black farmers overcome ‘toxic debt’?](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/usda-equity-black-farmers-pigford-glickman-toxic-debt/)
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New programs in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that do not rely on racial identification expected to help farmers get out from under their USDA debt.
[](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/usda-data-shows-declining-loan-delinquency-rates/)
[New USDA data shows declining loan delinquency rates](https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/the-heist/usda-data-shows-declining-loan-delinquency-rates/)
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Black and Hispanic farmers saw the biggest improvements, but the reasons why aren’t clear.
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SPECIAL PROJECTS
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[G**HOST OF POLLUTERS PAST**](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/)
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### [Lead keeps poisoning children. It doesn’t have to.](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/lead-poisoning-children-toxic-soil/)
### [Eight ways to take action on lead contaminating your community’s soil](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/ghosts-of-polluters-past/lead-contaminating-community-soil-solutions/)
**[HARM’S WAY](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/environment/harms-way/)**
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### [Trapped in harm’s way as climate disasters mount](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/harms-way/disasters-mount-climate-relocation-assistance/)
### [Floods, hurricanes, wildfires: What aid is your county getting to prepare?](https://publicintegrity.org/environment/harms-way/search-disaster-data-by-county/)
**[UNHOUSED & UNDERCOUNTED](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/)**
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### [Amid rise in student homelessness, federal funding set to expire](https://publicintegrity.org/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/amid-rise-in-student-homelessness-federal-funding-set-to-expire/)
### [Homeless-student investigation honored in data journalism contest](https://publicintegrity.org/education/unhoused-and-undercounted/homeless-student-investigation-honored-in-data-journalism-contest/)
**[](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/)**[HIgh Courts, High Stakes](https://publicintegrity.org/topics/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/)****
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### [Public Integrity state court investigation is a Toner Prize finalist](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/public-integrity-state-court-investigation-is-a-toner-prize-finalist/)
### [America’s state supreme courts don’t look like America](https://publicintegrity.org/politics/high-courts-high-stakes/americas-state-supreme-courts-dont-look-like-america/)