Inflation

Here is an inflation calculator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Budgets

Budget Resources

* Dave Herzog's "Twenty tips for covering and writing about budgets": http://www.projo.com/words/tip408.htm
* Dave Herzog's "Writing Better Budget Stories": http://www.projo.com/words/tip415.htm
beat and check out the "government info" links): http://www.powerreporting.com
* Robert Niles' "Statistics Every Writer Should Know": http://www.robertniles.com/stats/
* George Landau's percent-change calculator: http://www.newsengin.com (click on "free tools")
* Guidestar's "Donor's guide to the charitable universe": http://www.guidestar.org/index.html
* "The Spreadsheet Page": http://www.j-walk.com/ss/index.html
* Census Bureau information on state and local government finances, school spending, etc.: http://www.census.gov/econ/www/go0200.html
* National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting: http://www.nicar.org

Small claims court

Civil Courts

Here are the records for Seminole County foreclosures. Here is foreclosure process.

Here is Orange County foreclosure information.

Here is information about purchasing Orange County Court records.

Trials

Testimony

On television court dramas, witnesses give clear answers to direct questions. After all, the entire story has to wrap by the top of the hour. In real life, testimony isn’t always so easy.

Put yourself in the jurors’ seat for this exchange between Kristen Neuhaus and prosecutor Barry Disney during the trial of George Tiller Monday. Tiller is charged with performing abortions in an illegal business relationship with Neuhaus, another doctor.

In the following video, Neuhaus appears to take pains to keep from saying she “worked” for Tiller, even has she compares what she did in Wichita to a doctor she “worked for” in Kansas City, Kan. This video lasts less than three minutes. Jurors have had to listen to days of this kind of testimony.

Covering courts and Leonard Charles

Leonard Charles accosted a woman at a video store on Christmas Day, then came back and threatened to kill the clerks. After being convicted at trial, would he get the maximum time in prison? He might have, if the proper paperwork had arrived.



Previously on “Common Law”, we heard preliminary hearing testimony from women who said they were threatened by Leonard Charles on Christmas Day at a west Wichita video store. When Charles went to trial, a jury found him guilty, though of a less serious crime than he was facing. His public defender Lacy Gilmour explains:



A woman is stranded. A man offers to help. Then he follows her home. It happened to Autumn McDowell at the Family Video store near 29th and Tyler. It was Christmas Day. She and the video store manager described their frightening experiences recently for Judge Jeff Goering at a preliminary hearing.

Elections and exit polls

Here is a story on the dangers of exit polls.

Covering courts

Milwaukee J-S Court Coverage

Here's a strong in-depth look at the Milwaukee Courthouse - with some multi-media.

Covering Courts

Here is a chart of the Florida court system.

Here is an overview of the Florida circuit court system.

Here is information about the Ninth Circuit Court. Here is basic information about the docket. Here are some past annual reports.

Here is information about the Eighteenth Circuit Court. Here is docket information - not every judge posts his/her schedule.

Here is an overview of county courts.

Here is information about the Seminole County Clerk of Courts.

Here is information about the Orange County Clerk of Courts.

Here is information about the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Here are some recent opinions.

Here is information about the Florida Supreme Court.

Here is information about selection judges in Florida.

Here is a good resource for legal terms.

Covering Accidents

Thursday's speaker

Here is a clip of Thursday's speaker, Jerry Mitchell, from the Colbert Report.

Covering Police

Veterans Project

Here is a link to instructional videos about the oral history project.

Covering Higher Education

Thursday's class

In place of class on Thursday, please take the NewsU course on covering education.

Go here to create an account, if you do not already have one.

Here is the link to "Covering Education."

Remember to have my email available so I have proof you completed the course.

Education concepts

Education Resources

Here is a link to great organization: Education Writers Association. The page includes links to education data.

Here is a link to the Florida PTA.

Here is a link to the Florida School Board organization.

Here is the Florida Department of Education. Here is information on FCAT - including school and district scores.

Here is information on Florida chater schools.

Here are the school report cards for Florida.