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By Yaël Ossowski | September 25, 2015 | Watchdog.org The city of Erie is in desperate times, and a consultant hired to map a positive future isn’t optimistic. “The plan I am trying to write is a plan …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Sep 17, 20153 min read

Erie’s 10-year ‘comprehensive plan’ consultants cost over $100,000

By Yaël Ossowski | September 18, 2015 | Watchdog.org Hoping to leap into the future, Erie will spend over $100,000 to pay consultants to draw up a 10-year comprehensive plan to revitalize the city and …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Sep 14, 20153 min read

‘Vicious political campaigning’ backfired on MO unions

By Yaël Ossowski / September 15, 2015 / Watchdog.org They say it takes extraordinary circumstances to get ordinary people into politics. For Mary Hill, a registered nurse, that extraordinary moment …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Sep 10, 20154 min read

Onetime supporter says ethics board devolved into ‘lapdog, not a watchdog’

By Yaël Ossowski | September 10th, 2015 | Watchdog.org The effort to reform politics in the city of Tallahassee in the form of an appointed board was not only undermined by mistakes but also devolved …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Sep 7, 20153 min read

National ethics group broke state laws to acquire signatures

By Yaël Ossowski | September 1, 2015 | Watchdog.org Wherever it campaigns for political ethics reform, the activist group Represent.us seems plagued by legal and ethical challenges of its own. Earlier …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Aug 31, 20154 min read

Anti-corruption group’s ethics boards face ethical problems

By Yaël Ossowski / August 31, 2015 / Watchdog.org Just eight months after it was created to eliminate corruption in local government, the Tallahassee Ethics Board seems to have ethics problems of its …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jul 30, 20153 min read

Western Pennsylvania school districts brought down by pension debt

By Yaël Ossowski / July 31, 2015 / Watchdog.org A frank assessment from Moody’s rating agency this week has given several Pennsylvania school districts sour financial notes, and western PA’s schools …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jul 24, 20154 min read

Rand Paul’s ‘Economic Freedom Zone’ a fix for western PA?

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org Rand Paul wants troubled cities declared “Economic Freedom Zones,” with targeted tax cuts and reduced regulation to promote growth and spur jobs. So-called Economic …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jul 21, 20153 min read

Erie stocks up on prison gear after shootings, but leaves community without answers

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded Erie, Penn., $600,000 to revitalize its crime-troubled Little Italy neighborhood, and another $300,000 to help combat …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jul 3, 20153 min read

Obama’s ‘girl power’ foreign policy boosts UN aid

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org The U.S. government’s ‘girl power’ foreign policy has been signed into law, boosting support for a UN aid project to empower girls in developing countries. Just last …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jul 1, 20153 min read

Welfare program for laid-off workers doesn’t work; renewed anyway

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org A billion-dollar welfare program to help laid-off workers displaced by foreign competition has been saved from extinction, even though it’s been judged ineffective and …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jun 14, 20154 min read

Deval Patrick’s travel slush fund no longer secret

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org If your governor had a secret travel slush fund worth tens of millions of dollars used to jet set to Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, wouldn’t you want to …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Jun 1, 20154 min read

‘Another sad day for Connecticut’ as $2 billion tax hike set to pass

By Yaël Ossowski / June 1, 2015 / Watchdog.org He once promised to balance Connecticut’s books through spending cuts alone. Now Gov. Dannel Malloy says he’s ready to OK a nearly $2 billion tax …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

May 21, 20153 min read

At education summit, opponents protest success of charter schools in New Orleans

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org Charter schools in New Orleans have enjoyed growing popular support over the years, but at least one group is hoping to quell the praise for reforms. The Dignity in …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

May 13, 20153 min read

DISH CEO Charlie Ergen flooded GOP with cash while it held FCC

By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org Anywhere the wind blows in politics, the money is sure to follow. As for DISH Network CEO Charles Ergen, a top political financier in the U.S. wireless broadcast game …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

May 11, 20153 min read

Charles Ergen dished cash to Dems to push FCC special treatment

By Yaël Ossowski / May 11, 2015 / Watchdog.org Dish Network founder and CEO Charles Ergen’s political giving reveals support for politicians who lobbied the Federal Communications Commission to …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Apr 28, 20154 min read

Despite minority student success, charter school segregation narrative continues

By Yaël Ossowski / April 28, 2015 / Watchdog.org At the recent Education Writers Association national seminar in Chicago, a small breakout session asked the following question: Is school choice a tool …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Apr 21, 20153 min read

Duke researchers use race to attack charter schools

By Yaël Ossowski / April 21, 2015 / Watchdog.org There’s a puzzling charge being lobbed at charter schools in North Carolina by academic researchers: they’re reintroducing segregation. That’s the …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Apr 21, 20152 min read

Advocates claim NC charter school segregation report ‘false and disingenuous’

By Yaël Ossowski / April 21, 2015 / Watchdog.org The charter school community in North Carolina is rising up against a study put together by Duke University scholars that argues charter school …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Apr 16, 20153 min read

New Orleans charter schools bring fresh air to devastated city

By Yaël Ossowski / April 16, 2015 / Watchdog.org After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans charter schools are giving students more hope for academic success than their peers, the latest …

Yaël Ossowski

Watchdog.org

Erie consultant breaks the bad news: ‘The city is broke’

Erie’s 10-year ‘comprehensive plan’ consultants cost over $100,000

‘Vicious political campaigning’ backfired on MO unions

Onetime supporter says ethics board devolved into ‘lapdog, not a watchdog’

National ethics group broke state laws to acquire signatures

Anti-corruption group’s ethics boards face ethical problems

Western Pennsylvania school districts brought down by pension debt

Rand Paul’s ‘Economic Freedom Zone’ a fix for western PA?

Erie stocks up on prison gear after shootings, but leaves community without answers

Obama’s ‘girl power’ foreign policy boosts UN aid

Welfare program for laid-off workers doesn’t work; renewed anyway

Deval Patrick’s travel slush fund no longer secret

‘Another sad day for Connecticut’ as $2 billion tax hike set to pass

At education summit, opponents protest success of charter schools in New Orleans

DISH CEO Charlie Ergen flooded GOP with cash while it held FCC

Charles Ergen dished cash to Dems to push FCC special treatment

Despite minority student success, charter school segregation narrative continues

Duke researchers use race to attack charter schools

Advocates claim NC charter school segregation report ‘false and disingenuous’

New Orleans charter schools bring fresh air to devastated city