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Russ Ptacek on Muck Rack

Russ Ptacek

Washington, D.C.
As seen in: USA Today, Detroit Free Press, WUSA-TV (Washington, DC), WTSP-TV (St Petersburg, FL), KSDK-TV (St. Louis, MO), KSHB-TV (Kansas City, MO)
Covers:  food safety, dining, food, corruption, investigative, crime, government, investigative reporting, metro d.c.
Washington, DC - LIfe Changer on special assignment. @foundationasmr @VNITelevision. Alum: @wusa9, @USAToday Network, @41ActionNews @wibw.

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Russ Ptacek’s Biography

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WASHINGTON, DC - Investigative Reporter Russ Ptacek's investigations at WUSA9 have sparked debate in three separate Congressional hearings and exposed Pepco and BGE billing disconnected electrical consumers for services they couldn't have possibly used because of a major storm outage - and that was all in his first few months on the job.

Ptacek has roots in the area as a graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA, but grew up in Pratt, KS. prior to moving to Northern Virginia with…

Russ Ptacek’s Journalist Portfolio

Russ Ptacek

Russ Ptacek

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) - An intern District audit shows the DC Lottery was aware of poor oversight of lottery age…

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Russ Ptacek

Russ Ptacek

USAToday Russ Ptacek

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Articles

DC speed camera set on street with two speeds

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By Russ Ptacek
| WUSA-TV (Washington, DC) Verified
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA9) -- Drivers who think they know Suitland Parkway are getting hit with nasty speed camera fines at a spot where the speed is set ten miles per hour lower than the other. "DC government is scamming drivers with speed camera's [sic] by setting the speed limit 10 mph slower in locations where red light and speed camera's are set up," said Cris Ludwig in a complaint e-mail to WUSA9.
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Call For Action: Home Warranty Woes

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By Russ Ptacek, Jeffrey E Keene
| WUSA-TV (Washington, DC) Verified
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA9) -- When a company turns a cold shoulder to a customer’s complaint, our team gets her rapid results. Have you got a problem? Click here to file your complaint online or dial 301-652 HELP (301-652-4357). "I came home, went to get something out of the fridge and just noticed it was cool but not cold," said Crenshaw.
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Call For Action: Coach won't issue camp tuition refund

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By Russ Ptacek, Jeffrey E Keene
| WUSA-TV (Washington, DC) Verified
BOWIE, MD (WUSA9) --  After giving a Prince George's County cheerleading coach hundreds of dollars for a camp, a mom and her teenage daughter say they have nothing to cheer about. Have you got a problem? Click here to file your complaint online or dial 301-652 HELP (301-652-4357). Myra Freeman wasn't concerned when she handed over almost $400 to her daughter's cheerleading coach for an out-of-town camp.
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