The Utah Investigative Journalism Project took home top honors in the Society of Professional Journalists “Top of the Rockies” regional contest, competing against media outlets in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. We took First Place in the “Investigative/Enterprise Reporting” category for our expose on the student-teacher aide who had been sexually abusing underage deaf...
Category: News
Health violations pile up at nursing homes around the state owned by Beaver City’s hospital
The following story was written and reported by Taylor Hartman and Eric S. Peterson for The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune, the Daily Herald and the Standard-Examiner. This series includes a piece more focused on Utah County that can be read at the Daily Herald’s site, as well as...
The Essential Facts: An expert reveals the slippery science behind essential oils
The following was written by Eric Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories. A recent Utah Stories article quoted from a public health expert with both expertise in essential oils and epidemiology to unpack some of the murky science around the health benefits of essential oil products. Below is a...
Slippery Sales: Utah’s MLM companies push high volumes of “immunity boosting” essential oils during pandemic scare despite lack of scientific support
The following story was written by Eric S. Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories. “Hi! I just need some advice please!,” read a panicky post made to the Facebook page of “DT Essential Oils – Best Recipes & Remedies” on March 24. The woman wrote that her husband was...
$1 billion-plus Uinta Basin oil train could hinge on tax break
The following story was written by Eric S. Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. Last June, Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB) doled out $21 million from the state’s share of federal mining royalties toward a rail line proposed to connect the oil of the Uinta Basin to...
A Utah senator who has had run-ins with judge has a bill to allow switching courts
The following story was written by Eric S. Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. The website for the law offices of Kirk A. Cullimore proudly touts decades worth of experience in evictions and debt collections, not just arguing the law — but even making it. “Our firm’s work...
Cash Canyon: Former Lawmaker’s Bill to Allow Canyon Tolling Could Benefit His Development Project
The following story was written and reported by Eric S. Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories. In the 2018 Legislature, then-Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, one of the most powerful legislators on the hill, presented a bill in a committee to pave the way for toll roads to be established...
Utah’s rehab deserts: Despite crises, drug treatment options decline in rural counties
The following story was written and reported by Taylor Hartman for The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Spectrum. Addiction touches every corner of Utah, altering the lives of families in both rural areas and cities, prompting a need for recovery resources, treatment and hope. With alcohol and drug abuse —especially opioids — on...
Utah settles civil rights claims of inmates tortured by former Daggett County Jail guard
This story was reported and written by Rone Tempest for the Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. The Utah Department of Corrections has agreed to award four former Daggett County Jail inmates a total of $122,000 in damages for abuse they received at the hands of a jail guard who...
Investigative report shines new light into dark corners of a controversial Draper train station development
The following was written and reported by Eric S. Peterson of The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. The FBI has shut down its yearslong investigation into the murky, conflict-riddled deals involving a Utah Transit Authority commuter train station and related development in Draper. No charges resulted aside from the...