Washington state's price of public office

The Skagit Valley Herald reports that even though "Skagit County has just two full-time mayors, both earn more than the mayors of Tacoma, Vancouver, Yakima and Olympia."

An interactive map was created to compares the salaries with other mayors across the state.

Documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune have revealed that Utah's Transit Authority CEO has spent more than $600,000 on international travel. Trips range from China to the United Arab Emirates and also include 17 U.S. cities.

"But UTA officials say they receive great value from travel, learning from mistakes and successes of other transit agencies. They say the travel is necessary to lobby for federal money and helps in developing strategies to change Utah’s "car-first" culture."

"WTSP-Tampa has found, through federal filings, that the Republican & Democratic national conventions promise economic windfalls to host cities but most of the money spent comes from the U.S. Treasury, including money spent on alcohol and parties."

"If you live in a suburb, village or small city surrounding Chicago, the next big public debt crisis is coming your way."

"A Better Government Association investigation finds a flood of red ink is crashing over Chicago-area suburbs, threatening to sweep away basic government-backed services and support while also dramatically altering the very standard of living that makes many of them desirable places to live, work and raise families."

"As a tough economy wrecked municipal budgets across the country, North Kansas City seemed to be above it all, able to afford well-kept parks, a modern community center and even a community fiberoptic network."

However, a Kansas City Star report has revealed that the once affluent community of about 4,000 residents is now facing a budget shortfall of about $10 million. With FOI filings and the help of computer-assisted reporting, Steve Everly and Allison Prang look at what faces the small town next.

"As part of its ongoing examination of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, The Dallas Morning News investigated the shadowy world of pension fund placement agents -- the middlemen hired by private firms to solicit public capital."

"The article focused on one man, a politically connected Houston investment manager, and how his work as a placement agent served as a hidden link between public fund officials and the private firms that manage -- for significant fees -- the investment of these public dollars."

--IRE members can email extraextra@ire.org to read the full story.

Payday loans — short-term, small dollar loans with exorbitant fees — are restricted in 18 states, and New York's ban is one of the toughest. But reporter John Sandman found evidence that online payday lenders are circumventing these bans, illegally targeting potential borrowers in these states. The investigation, published by City Limits, was supported by The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute.

"A three-month investigation by The Tampa Tribune shows at least four in every 10 companies that receive grants from the state's jobs incentive fund have failed to meet their obligations — some slightly, others by wide margins."

"However, Enterprise Florida, the state’s chief economic development agency, paints a rosier picture, concluding Florida is exceeding its job-creation goals. But the Tribune also discovered that the agency’s report didn’t count any of its failures."

"A Reuters investigation has found that under the direction of CEO Aubrey McClendon, Chesapeake Energy Corp. plotted with its top competitor to suppress land prices in one of America's most promising oil and gas plays."

"In emails between Chesapeake and Encana Corp, Canada's largest natural gas company, the rivals repeatedly discussed how to avoid bidding against each other in a public land auction in Michigan two years ago and in at least nine prospective deals with private land owners.

"Thousands of vacant homes across South Florida have deteriorated into eyesores that violate local health and safety laws, depress property values and spread blight. The owners of these homes: some of the world's biggest banks."

"In an extensive investigation of foreclosed homes plaguing neighborhoods, the Sun Sentinel found more than 10,300 property code violations lodged against banks in 10 South Florida cities since 2007."