This story first appeared in inewsource’s weekend newsletter. Sign up for it here.
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Congressional hearing sought into San Diego VA
Reporter Brad Racino published an investigation last week about two whistleblowers who allege a San Diego VA doctor performed unapproved research on veterans suffering from alcoholism and liver disease, putting their lives at risk. The doctor’s research involved conducting liver biopsies on the veterans through a catheter in their necks.
Following Brad’s first story, Rep. Scott Peters on Monday asked for a congressional hearing into the whistleblowers’ allegations. The San Diego Democrat’s request also comes after federal investigators concluded the San Diego VA failed to address the “basic foundations of the whistleblowers’ allegations.”
Read Brad’s original VA investigation here.
Read his follow-up story here.
Wrongful termination
The San Ysidro school board has agreed to pay $107,000 to a former special education director who was abruptly let go 11 days after the board honored her “hard work and dedication.”
Former district official Danielle Clark said she had no idea the school board had even approved the payment at its monthly meeting until inewsource reporter Megan Wood called her about it.
Clark’s termination occurred under former Superintendent Julio Fonseca, who state auditors found engaged in possible financial fraud and misuse of district funds.
In the community…
On Thursday, Jill Castellano participated in a panel discussion on investigative journalism with three other local reporters. The group touched on the importance of public records, how to improve reporting skills and the best way to battle fake news claims. Jill said when she’s approaching a story, she will often ask herself: “What are the different ways that I can figure out if this concept is true?” One way she says she gets at the truth is through public records requests (something we do all the time).
The local chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted the event on the SDSU campus.
What we’re reading this weekend…
There’s some legal drama happening in North County. Just weeks away from retirement, a “virtuoso” attorney is mired in allegations of financial abuse by his former partners. Check out this story from one of our partners, The Coast News Group.
We’ll let you know when big things happen.
