Meredith Newman

@Sam4TR @washingtonpost @PostSports Sam, I'm so sorry. 💔

I am part of the mass layoffs at the Washington Post. I am sad and angry. We all want to keep doing the work. But for now I want to document a reality of being in journalism today.

@dougherty_jesse I'm so sorry Jesse 💔

Well, turns out this was my last story for The Washington Post, 2,011 bylines later. For nine years, it was a dream in every sense of the word, no matter how many of the company's leaders tried to make it otherwise. Thanks for being part of the ride.

In Maryland, anyone can apply for criminal charges on their own with no input from police or prosecutors. I found the system can be easily abused and wreak havoc on people’s lives: tinyurl.com/2wzadmmj (via @BaltimoreBanner)

Illinois defendants who have been found unfit for trial – and are in need of inpatient fitness restoration – are waiting nearly twice as long for a state hospital bed as they did five years ago. In many cases, it’s more than three months. illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/too…

Isabel’s morning briefing -Bailey to stay in governor’s race following family tragedy -Key IL Democrats at odds with Durbin over shutdown vote -Too mentally ill for trial, she spent months in an IL jail waiting for a hospital bed — and died waiting capitolfax.com/2025/11/12/isa…

Important story from @MereNewman on a symptom of the state's eroding public health infrastructure: mentally ill defendants spiraling in jail for months while they wait for psychiatric beds — sometimes with fatal consequences illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/too…

I found that jails in Kankakee and McHenry counties are providing mental health care to defendants, from smaller jails, who have deemed unfit for trial and are awaiting a state hospital bed. And some are being found fit as a result. illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/ill…

Illinois defendants who have been found unfit for trial – and are in need of inpatient fitness restoration – are waiting nearly twice as long for a state hospital bed as they did five years ago. My latest for @IllinoisAnswers illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/too…

During my reporting, I found that at least two Illinois judges have questioned if defendants’ constitutional rights to a speedy trial have been violated. In rural Cass County, a judge said these delays were “bordering on the line” of cruel and unusual punishment.

“These are due process violations,” Nevdal said in court. “This is an equal protection issue.” A must-read today from @MereNewman @IllinoisAnswers illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/too…

NEW from @sidneeking: Illinois is the only state that has yet to reform its tax sale laws after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences. illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/11/law…

Join us for Investigate the State, a virtual conference bringing together news leaders across the Midwest to discuss, share strategies and forge partnerships to bolster Investigative journalism in every community. Learn more and register here: illinoisanswers.org/event/investig…

The Child Care Assistance Program significantly reduces costs for Illinois families and it can be an essential source of income for child care businesses. Yet it doesn’t provide enough relief for many families and providers, our investigation found. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/wer…

I had a blast talking with @SashaAnnSimons + the folks at @WBEZreset about the cost of child care and our most recent investigation into the IL's largest child care subsidy. wbez.org/reset-with-sas…

The high cost of child care forces many Illinois parents to make tough decisions – ultimately stalling the chance for families to advance financially and professionally. @IllinoisAnswers has more. loom.ly/PTble2w

As part of @IllinoisAnswers' series "Making it in Chicago," @_MJHopkins and I investigated the cost of child care in Cook County. We found the state's largest child care subsidy doesn’t provide enough relief for many families and providers. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/wer…

How have other states tried to address the misuse and abuse of restraint chairs in county jails? This week, we bring you examples from 3 states. illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/15/how…

Today's front page.

NEW with the @Suntimes: Gun Stolen From a Room Full of Chicago Cops Ended Up Being Used in a Series of Shootings illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/02/gun…