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The Center for Public Integrity

The Center for Public Integrity was founded in 1989 by Charles Lewis. We are one of the country's oldest and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news organizations. Our mission: To serve democracy by revealing abuses of power, corruption and betrayal of public trust by powerful public and private institutions, using the tools of investigative journalism.

A single white cross is shown on a small dirt area amongst a wide open grassy field.

A common fertilizer can cause explosions. Uneven regulation puts people at risk.

Growing Food, Sowing Trouble

Nearly seven years after a blast in Texas killed 15 people and injured 260, oversight of ammonium nitrate remains a patchwork and public information is scarce

An ariel photograph showing Lake Erie coved in green algae with a boat moving through the middle.

Lake Erie turns toxic every summer. Officials aren’t cracking down on the source.

Growing Food, Sowing Trouble
A farm tractor is shown in a large green field with wind turbines in the background.

Farming’s growing problem

Growing Food, Sowing Trouble
A hand holds small micro-plastics.

As the world grapples with plastic, the US makes more of it — a lot more

Pushing plastics
Elizabeth Warren stands in front of camera and microphones.

Elizabeth Warren decries big money in politics. Her campaign treasurer embodies it.

US politics
Workers in a dark building sort trash from a conveyor belt.

Inside the long war to protect plastic

Pushing plastics

Single-use plastic is clogging oceans and landfills. The industry that makes it has waged a decades-long campaign to keep it on the market.

red tulips in front of the white house

Mum’s the word: Some Democratic presidential hopefuls won’t discuss their big-dollar ‘bundlers’

Politics

Levels of campaign fundraising transparency vary greatly from candidate to candidate.

the irs building

Even Republicans like this tax cut for the working poor. Why was it left out of the Trump tax law?

Business, Economics and Jobs

Reagan called Earned Income Tax Credit part of “best anti-poverty bill” ever but it was never considered in the recent tax debate

A closeup photo of a blonde woman wearing a blue shirt beside her husband, whose face has been blurred for privacy.

Americans’ immigration emergency: Their spouses could be deported or exiled if they seek green cards

Under a 1996 law, US citizens who try to sponsor their undocumented spouses would require the spouses to endure a minimum 10-year exile from the United States. With kids in tow, US citizens are visiting Congress to plead for help.

Woman stands in red dress next to politician.

Inside Donald Trump’s army of super PACs and MAGA nonprofits

“Scams” is how the president once described such groups.