Lee Zurik

As the city of New Orleans's most honored investigative reporter, Lee Zurik has been uncovering and reporting impactful stories on WVUE since 2009. Following up his tenacious inquiries with detailed analysis and powerful storytelling, Lee delivers unprecedented accountability of government officials, private citizens and corporations.

Recent Articles by Lee

Large swaths of rural America are health care deserts with too few primary care doctors, pediatricians, and OB-GYNs to care for residents

In 207 counties in 2018, there wasn’t a family, general or internal medicine doctor – the primary care doctors mainly for adults, according to an InvestigateTV analysis of federal data.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 7, 2021 at 6:38 PM

People are dying earlier and facing more severe health issues in many rural communities

In nearly every Appalachian and Delta community, residents die on average before their 78th birthday, which is the average life expectancy in the United States. Health care providers are working on innovative ways to combat the unique disparities in the regions.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published March 8, 2021 at 8:22 AM

State laws and the lack of government oversight leave a multi-billion-dollar DNA paternity industry unchecked

DNA paternity labs are not regulated by the FDA; rather, there is a voluntary accreditation process. The records about those labs are kept largely under wraps.

Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published February 15, 2021 at 4:37 PM

Families of those injured or killed by police say union contracts are protecting "bad apples" and stop police leadership from being able to have oversight. Union officials say police are highly scrutinized and need collective bargaining agreements.

Lauren Davis, Brianna Lanham, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published November 16, 2020 at 10:30 PM

Nurse practitioner field grapples with question of whether to standardize curriculum nationwide

Nurse practitioners are questioning their own education at some colleges. There’s no national standard on how to educate nurse practitioners, while medical education for doctors was standardized more than 100 years ago.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published November 4, 2020 at 6:57 PM

Penalties at Play: Millions of dollars flow to nursing homes from fines they have paid for poor care

Every year millions of dollars flow to nursing homes from a fund that is padded with fines collected from long-term care facilities that inspections show have put the health and safety of residents in jeopardy.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published October 28, 2020 at 4:20 PM

Closing and Cashing In: Coronavirus relief funding goes to colleges with histories of financial instability and plans to close

The federal government allocated nearly half a billion in CARES Act funds to colleges the government considered not financially responsible. Some colleges received money after announcing their plans to close for good.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published October 22, 2020 at 3:07 PM

ISOLATED: States begin to allow nursing home visitors but face PPE shortages, logistical questions

Some nursing homes are beginning to allow visitors, but hundreds report to the federal government that they are experiencing staff shortages or have no protective masks in their supplies.

Daniela Molina, Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published October 15, 2020 at 10:32 PM

Licensed to Pill: Big opioid prescriber indicted on federal charges

Officials have known about a top opioid prescriber for at least five years. This week the Tennessee and Alabama doctor was federally indicted for illegally distributing opioids, kickbacks and more.

Megan Luther, Lee Zurik and Jill Riepenhoff

Published October 2, 2020 at 4:29 PM

Tech giants police their own online campaign ads as government disagrees on regulation

Google has flagged all the major national campaigns for policy-violating ads. Facebook has also removed ads from major campaign funders - though sometimes it took days.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published September 29, 2020 at 6:50 PM

Misreported Deaths: Government count of nursing home COVID-19 cases still inaccurate despite criticism

For three months, InvestigateTV has tracked federal government data on nursing home COVID-19 cases and deaths. For three months, those numbers have been wrong.

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published September 24, 2020 at 10:18 PM

COVID on Campus: At the largest universities, data vary widely and lacks transparency

Only around a quarter of the nation's largest universities publicly release active COVID-19 case information. Public health experts say the more data available, the better.

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published September 17, 2020 at 7:35 PM

Four million Americans waited more than 4 weeks for their first unemployment check

Millions of Americans have waited more than 4 weeks to get their first unemployment check. State offices, overwhelmed with claims, calls and emails have lagged in processing claims.

Emma Ruby, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published September 15, 2020 at 6:45 PM

Special oversight of the nation’s worst nursing homes still leaves residents at risk

A special program intended to improve nursing homes faces criticism that it isn't working.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published September 2, 2020 at 7:02 PM

Some of the worst nursing homes in the country are waitlisted for extra oversight

Hundreds of nursing homes with poor ratings are waiting to get into a program intended to improve care.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published September 2, 2020 at 6:23 PM

Prosecuted and Paid: Government doles out billions in coronavirus relief money to companies that paid out millions in fraud-related cases

More than 200 companies that paid the federal government for fraud related accusations in the last decade received billions of dollars in unsolicited relief money as part of the coronavirus bailout package.

Jamie Grey, Lee Zurik and Peter Buffo

Published August 24, 2020 at 10:16 PM

Were you exposed to COVID-19 at work? In most states, your employer isn’t required to tell you.

Employees say they were exposed to coworkers who tested positive for COVID-19 but were never informed by their employers. In most states, companies don't have to disclose cases.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published August 6, 2020 at 8:09 PM

For-profit colleges received $1B in federal aid

For-profit colleges received more than $1 billion from the CARES Act, money that was intended to help at-need institutions and students. Some of these schools are owned by billion-dollar companies, while community colleges received proportionally less support.

Rose Wagner, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published July 21, 2020 at 6:36 PM

True toll of COVID-19 in nursing homes still unknown

Federal nursing home coronavirus case data remains flawed, and some members of Congress say that needs to change.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published July 9, 2020 at 8:52 PM

Geared Up: Questions about police militarization arise again

Since 2008, the U.S. military has sent more than 1,000 mine-resistant vehicles to local police departments at their request. Now, some are questioning the optics.

Daniela Molina, Lee Zurik and Jamie Grey

Published June 23, 2020 at 6:01 PM

New federal COVID-19 nursing home data fraught with inaccuracies, overcounts and undercounts

Newly-released federal nursing home COVID-19 case and death numbers in some cases show major discrepancies with other public records, according to analysis by InvestigateTV. One nursing home had hundreds more deaths reported than it had beds in the facility.

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published June 5, 2020 at 9:12 PM

Students with disabilities are receiving unequal education in remote learning

When coronavirus hit, the U.S. Department of Education initially gave confusing guidance to states and schools on how to do remote learning for special education students. Months later some students still aren't getting the services they need, which is required by federal law.

Erin Snodgrass and Lee Zurik

Published May 20, 2020 at 5:53 PM

Dozens of nursing homes cited for infection-related deficiencies early this year now have COVID-19 cases

An analysis of state nursing home inspections and records of COVID-19 infections associated with nursing homes by the Washington Post reveals dozens of facilities had infection-related violations in the months before coronavirus infections.

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published May 15, 2020 at 10:51 AM

Drug Dependence: COVID-19 weakens already fragile U.S. drug supply

Unlike many other countries, the FDA doesn't require a "made in" label on drugs, even though the federal agency estimates 80% of the ingredients and 40% of the finished drugs are manufactured overseas.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published May 6, 2020 at 2:07 PM

Congressman calls on FAA to suspend airport bailout payments until funding formula is changed

Bailout money allocated to America's airports is set to be distributed in a way that could give some small airports millions of dollars more than larger airports in the same regions.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 30, 2020 at 9:15 PM

Some nursing homes now battling COVID-19 previously cited for infection-control failures

Multiple nursing homes battling coronavirus outbreaks previously had critical violations for infection control according to federal data analyzed by InvestigateTV.

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published April 23, 2020 at 9:00 PM

‘Windfall’: Funding formula allows some small airports to cash in big on stimulus money

One airport is getting more than $6,000 for every passenger that boarded a flight there in a year. Others are getting around $6. InvestigateTV looks at the funding formula powering coronavirus bailout money.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 20, 2020 at 10:01 PM

Severe coronavirus cases on pace to overwhelm ICU availability in urban and rural areas

Some counties in the country have zero ICU beds; others are on pace to need more than available for COVID-19 cases. Part of the reason may be legislation prohibiting expansion.

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 1, 2020 at 6:49 PM

We are updating this county-by-county map to illustrate the number of COVID-19 cases in each county in the United States per capita.

Lee Zurik, Jamie Grey, Cody Lillich, Jill Riepenhoff and Megan Luther

Published March 30, 2020 at 12:13 PM

Pharmacists: Doctors writing prescriptions for possible COVID-19 treatment at expense of chronically-ill patients

Lupus patients say they are unable to get refills of their hydroxychloroquine after the announcement of clinical trials to study the drug for possible coronavirus treatment. Pharmacists say some doctors are writing prescriptions for friends and family members.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published March 27, 2020 at 8:11 AM

Currently in
Cincinnati, OH

Lee Zurik

Recent Articles by Lee

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Lauren Davis, Brianna Lanham, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Daniela Molina, Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Megan Luther, Lee Zurik and Jill Riepenhoff

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Emma Ruby, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Jamie Grey, Lee Zurik and Peter Buffo

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Rose Wagner, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Daniela Molina, Lee Zurik and Jamie Grey

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey, Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Erin Snodgrass and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Lee Zurik, Jamie Grey, Cody Lillich, Jill Riepenhoff and Megan Luther

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

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