About this investigation

This reporting project is supported through AP’s Local Investigative Reporting Program and FRONTLINE’s Local Journalism Initiative, which is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. It was a collaborative reporting effort, but each news outlet produced distinctive stories for their unique audiences. FRONTLINE produced a documentary as part of the investigation that was broadcast on stations across the country on Feb. 3, 2026, and appears on the program’s YouTube channel.