David Shepardson

America's 50 worst charities rake in nearly $1 billion for corporate fundraisers

tampabay.com — T he worst charity in America operates from a metal warehouse behind a gas station in Holiday. Every year, Kids Wish Network raises millions of dollars in donations in the name of dying children and their families. Every year, it spends less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.

Contra Costa Times editorial: State lawmakers must restore California Public Records Act

contracostatimes.com — Without the state Public Records Act, we would never know about the Oakley City Manager's $366,500 taxpayer-funded mortgage scheme, the Washington Township hospital CEO's $800,000-plus annual compensation or the retired San Ramon Valley fire chief's $310,000 yearly pension.

Michael Hastings Dead at 33

rollingstone.com — Michael Hastings, the fearless journalist whose reporting brought down the career of General Stanley McChrystal, has died in a car accident in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone has learned. He was 33. Hastings' unvarnished 2010 profile of McChrystal in the pages of Rolling Stone, " The Runaway General," captured the then-supreme commander of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan openly mocking his civilian commanders in the White House.