Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation

Ten months into pandemic, Rochelle Foods and Illinois health department still at odds over COVID-19

An infected worker allegedly told the plant's manager he was feeling better after his positive test. He told the county health department the opposite.

By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest and Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation

/ 9 Feb 2021

Ten months into pandemic, Rochelle Foods and Illinois health department still at odds over COVID-19

The Trump Administration told an Illinois health department to leave Rochelle Foods alone. Then a second COVID-19 outbreak struck the plant.

A May 1 conference call with federal, state and local health officials sent one message: Despite a COVID-19 outbreak amongst it workers, Rochelle Foods was to remain open. This fall, a second outbreak at the plant wasn’t publicly reported.

By Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest and Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest

/ 17 Jan 2021

The Trump Administration told an Illinois health department to leave Rochelle Foods alone. Then a second COVID-19 outbreak struck the plant.

More confidential Illinois outbreak reports show how COVID-19 spread over the summer

Newly obtained confidential outbreak data shows how COVID-19 spread through communities this summer.

By georgia-gee-stabile-center-for-investigative-journalism-columbia-journalism-school-derek-kravitz-brown-institute-for-media-innovation-and-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 23 Nov 2020

More confidential Illinois outbreak reports show how COVID-19 spread over the summer

Confidential coronavirus outbreak data shows undisclosed incidents at prisons, workplaces, schools, meatpacking plants across Illinois

Newly obtained confidential statewide data shows that coronavirus outbreaks in workplaces, schools and prisons are driving Illinois’ rising cases — and many of these outbreaks have never been made public.

By georgia-gee-stabile-center-for-investigative-journalism-columbia-journalism-school-derek-kravitz-brown-institute-for-media-innovation-and-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 7 Oct 2020

Three people in white jackets and blue hard hats stand in front of cattle carcasses at a meatpacking plant assembly line.