The Center Square launches investigative reporting project

CHICAGO, IL – The Center Square launches its Enterprise and Investigative Unit (EIU), placing high-caliber reporters in regions nationwide to provide deeper dives into the news while maintaining essential daily wire coverage.

Led by experienced investigative editor Art Kane, the EIU is focused on exposing waste, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Initial reports include the “Fiscal Fallout” series exposing how state governments used pandemic-era surpluses to dramatically increase spending; investigations into the LA Unified School District’s curriculum; and findings on the managementof state employee pensions.

Upon this launch, the investigative team is releasing a new, data-driven series on November 4, detailing the skyrocketing costs of U.S. Congressional office budgets. This investigation downloaded more than 3 million lines of data from U.S. House office accounts, finding that in the past three decades, spending went up more than 85%, with nearly half of that increase occurring in the last few years.

New articles in this series will be available for distribution daily as per The Center Square’s republishing guidelines, found here. Through its wire distribution The Center Square’s reporting reaches 141 million Americans. This content is provided for free to any news media company as part of The Center Square’s nonprofit, education-focused mission.

The focus of the EIU’s reporting is to hold elected leaders accountable by ensuring everyday readers understand where their tax dollars are going.

“The Center Square is dedicated to delivering objective, fact-based reporting that provides government accountability from the taxpayer perspective to every American news consumer,” said Chris Krug, Publisher of The Center Square. “Our investment in the Enterprise & Investigative Unit ensures we continue to be first with accountability stories by watching when others are not.”

Art Kane, Investigative Editor, who has been honored with two duPont-Columbia awards and a Peabody Award, emphasizes the EIU’s mission: “Our journalists follow the money while others follow the political drama. Whether we are tracking fiscal irresponsibility in state budgets or uncovering potential conflicts of interest in Washington, our goal is to serve as a crucial check on government power that benefits all citizens regardless of their political affiliation.”

The Center Square (www.thecentersquare.com) was launched in May 2019, and today delivers news to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The publication is a product of the Franklin News Foundation, a 501c3 non-partisan, non-profit.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Laurel Abraham Chief Operating Officer, Franklin News Foundation labraham@thecentersquare.com