Wondering about the state of investigative reporting? There’s obviously a lot of good reporting going on. Check out this collection of recent material gleaned during a quick search this morning.

Columbia Journalism Review: Journalism’s New Patrons: VTDigger leads local investigative nonprofits
Institute for Nonprofit News: Member Director

The first-generation founders of these organizations were often veteran investigative reporters whose skills had little to do with soliciting wealthy donors. As well, some potential contributors were skittish about supporting sometimes-controversial reporting projects. “It takes a unique type of donor to write a check and scribble in the memo line, ‘Cause some trouble,’” says Trevor Aaronson, executive director of the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

But things have started to turn. Many investigative reporting shops are finding that donors, including people of wealth, have become alarmed by the erosion of newspaper resources and by attacks on the press from President Trump, and are ready to invest. Although these nonprofits customarily launched with foundation money, some now collect a majority of their revenue from individuals.

ProPublica: Trashed: Inside the Deadly World of Private Garbage Collection

A long, sometimes rambling, but exhaustive look at private companies and people hauling commercial refuse in New York’s City. Think what we would find here in Hawaii.

University of Oregon: Corporate TV news outlets do more investigative reports

The study, one of the first to analyze local investigative television on a nationwide scale, showed that stations in competitive markets did more investigative reporting between 2013 and 2015 and that competition among stations seemed to be driving improvements in that type of journalism. Newsrooms that focused on profit were less likely to focus on investigative news.

Abdenour’s more recent research demonstrates that stations producing the best investigative journalism tend to get the highest and most profitable TV ratings.

“People sometimes wonder how traditional news organizations can continue to make money in the digital age,” Abdenour said. “Investigative news might be the answer.”

The Texas Tribune: How thousands of homes were built inside Houston reservoirs designed to flood (audio)

We investigated by wading through the damage left by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. It turns out that developers built thousands of homes inside a reservoir – a 50-square- mile area that’s not just flood prone; it’s designed to flood. Many residents didn’t know this because there’s no law requiring anyone to tell them. So after Harvey, they were left with destroyed homes and little recourse.

ProPublica Illinois: How Does Journalism Work? Ask Us Questions. We Can Explain.