The Reporters Inc

10/06/2026

From the Reporters Inc.’s Archives: Most of us give little thought to the potential health hazards that can lurk inside our own homes. In 2013, writer Vicki Kunkel investigated what negative health effects our household cleaners might actually cause after the Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules to limit one of the most prevalent and proven carcinogens in wood products: formaldehyde. Though the use of formaldehyde in cleaning products is declining, the danger still persists. It’s a Reporters inc. Original.

Investigating toxic home poisonings Most of us give little thought to the potential health dangers that can lurk deep inside our homes. In late May, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed two new rules to limit one of the most prevalent and proven carcinogenic compounds in wood products. What....

09/28/2026

From dangerous pedestrian crossings and endless traffic jams to environmental damage and rising household expenses, writer Kim Whiting examines how dependence on automobiles shapes daily life--and what we can do to be less reliant on our cars. She argues that a new vision of transportation--whether public transit, walkable communities or innovative transportation solutions--could create healthier, safer, and more connected communities for future generations. It's a Reporters Inc. Original.

The cost of our car-crazy culture—and what we can do to free ourselves Writer Kim Whiting explores the hidden costs of America’s car-centered culture. From dangerous pedestrian crossings and endless traffic jams to environmental damage and rising household expenses, she examines how dependence o...

09/24/2026

From The Reporters Inc.’s Archives: Twelve years ago, college student Kate Stein visited a local warming center near her Illinois school, hoping to better understand and help the local homeless community by talking with some unhoused people there. Today, the U.S. homeless population has skyrocketed to nearly 800,000--the problem driven by the same long-term issues: low income, increased cost of living, and a lack of resources, according to a 2025 report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In 2014, Stein wrote about her frustration with her experiences with the homeless, concluding that an answer to the problem might not ever be found. It’s a Reporters Inc. Original. https://thereporters.org/dacosta-and-lewis/

09/22/2026

From The Reporters Inc.’s Archives: In 2013, after writer Pirkko Tavaila learned her child was being bullied at school, she took every possible step to help. According to a 2026 report by Worldmetrics, 37% of students in grades 6 through 12 reported being bullied in the past year, and 10.9% reported being cyberbullied. When transferring her daughter to a different class and arranging meetings with the school counselor, teachers and principal didn't resolve the situation, Tavaila found an alternative approach: the power of positivity. It’s a Reporters Inc. Original.

09/17/2026

From The Reporters Inc.’s Archives: Roughly 52% of Americans are considering a career change this year, according to Sci-Tech Today. The average employee today stays at the same job for four years before moving on. In 2014, Vicki Kunkel interviewed professionals who successfully pivoted to new careers later in life. Their stories still offer practical advice and tips for anyone seeking better pay, improved work-life balance or that dream job. It’s a Reporter’s Inc. Original: https://thereporters.org/too-old-to-get-hired/

09/15/2026

From The Reporters Inc.’s Archives: Studies abound touting the benefits of youth sports participation, but there are also potential dangers that counter these benefits, such as stress, burnout and serious injury. As of 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say roughly 70% of all emergency visits for sports-related head injuries are among children 17 years and younger. In 2014, writer Lori Aoki questioned the uber competitive culture she saw in youth sports. Her concerns came after she heard another mother complain about following doctor's orders when her child received a concussion playing basketball. Aoki asks: “Are the risks starting to outweigh the benefits?” It’s a Reporters Inc. Original. https://thereporters.org/kids-and-sports/

09/10/2026

From the Reporters Inc.’s Archives: In 2014, contributor Tina Hallis wrote "most workers want to give their all." To keep and attract the best talent, Hallis argued companies need to give their people the right tools to succeed. She says the first step is having managers who know how to value and appreciate their employees. Even today, the top three reasons employees leave, according to iHire's 2024 talent retention report, all relate to poor management, whether that’s a toxic work environment or poor leadership. It’s a Reporters Inc. Original: https://thereporters.org/combating-the-nod/

09/09/2026

From The Reporters Inc.’s Archives: In 2019, contributor Carol Larson wrote: “When we think about the more than 68,000 people who overdosed last year, we often imagine young he**in addicts found dead in their cars, or veterans over-medicated on OxyContin. We rarely think of Grandma with her bad back and doctor-prescribed pain pills.” Larson shared how policies attempting to curb the opioid epidemic leave seniors grappling with extreme pain. Even today, older adults suffer even more as well-intended opioid regulations discourage doctors from prescribing opioids for chronic pain, and pharmacies stop filling out prescriptions. It’s a Reporters Inc. Original. https://thereporters.org/the-big-grey-area/

09/08/2026

G. Marshall Brooks reflects on her growing concerns and confusion about the current threats to Americans' voting rights and civil liberties. Drawing on her own memories of the Civil Rights Movement, she urges readers to stay informed, remain engaged, and protect democratic values before the lessons of the past are forgotten. Marshall Brooks says, "I remember it all. Do you?" It's a Reporters Inc. Original.

08/18/2026

48-year-old Mike Johnson died in 2010 after battling AIDS for nearly 20 years. The Milton, Wisconsin native contracted the virus through heteros*xual, unprotected s*x in the early ’90s. He then spent more than a decade traveling the country, educating thousands of high school and college students about the risks and dangers of HIV transmission. His friend Jerry Huffman shares just how much Mike meant to him in this Reporters Inc. Original.
https://thereporters.org/one-last-round/