Melissa Hellmann
Center for Public Integrity
Seattle, WA, United States
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Past articles by Melissa:
How will a divided government affect taxes? –
The 118th Congress that convened this month marked the end of one-party control of the federal government. The Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-majority House will determine the landscape of tax policy for the next two years, with any action or inaction rippling for generations to come. This story also appeared in Associated Press In one of […] → Read More
How financial barriers stifle formerly incarcerated people –
PHILADELPHIA — In the second year of J. Jondhi Harrell’s 20-year sentence, he began to contemplate what would alter a person’s life for good. Financial literacy, employment, mentorship and community support were essential, he recalled thinking. “If you can’t feed yourself, if you can’t manage your money, you can’t build a solid foundation for the […] → Read More
How state taxes make inequality worse
“A progressive income tax with multiple rates that go up the higher the income is very boring and it’s not new, but it’s really the only way,” said one expert. → Read More
This tax break helps lower-income people. Too many don’t get it.
For financially-strapped families, refundable tax credits can make the difference between covering rising rent and food prices or falling short. But not everyone who is eligible gets them. According to 2018 Internal Revenue Service data, the most recent year for state participation rates, 22% of taxpayers eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit didn’t […] → Read More
Loss of autonomy: how guardianships threaten people’s rights
Nina Kohn, a Syracuse University law professor, spoke with Public Integrity about abuse in guardianship and how to protect yourself. → Read More
Rethinking what fair banking means
Fair lending advocates say it’s too easy for banks to get a passing grade and that communities of color are often denied home loans. → Read More
Redistricting: Tribes fight for an equal voice –
The Colville Reservation was one of six Washington reservations split during the 2011 redistricting, including the Yakama, Puyallup, Chehalis, Swinomish and Nisqually Reservations. → Read More
Proposed iPhone protections could put LGBTQ youth at risk –
As tech companies ratchet up surveillance in the name of content moderation, the digital privacy of LGBTQ youth may be at risk. → Read More
Proposed iPhone protections could put LGBTQ youth at risk –
As tech companies ratchet up surveillance in the name of content moderation, the digital privacy of LGBTQ youth may be at risk. → Read More
Zoom bombings that target marginalized people spark demands for legal protections in Washington state
Countless Zoom bombing incidents have been reported in Washington state, with coordinated attacks targeting Black student unions, community organizations and public officials. But people targeted say there is almost no... → Read More
Seattle’s Juneteenth events celebrate Black freedom, life amid the country’s reckoning with racism
Seattle marchers, demonstrators, protesters and revelers filled streets and parks Friday to celebrate Juneteenth. → Read More
Special sunglasses, license-plate dresses: How to be anonymous in the age of surveillance
A fringe movement of privacy advocates are experimenting with clothes, makeup and accessories as a defense against some surveillance technologies. Some wearers desire to opt-out of “surveillance capitalism,” while others fear government invasion of privacy. → Read More
Magnolia residents’ AI-powered surveillance camera tracks people, cars at entrance to neighborhood, experts caution bias
The camera at the entrance to a Magnolia neighborhood tracks vehicles, bicycles, animals and people — then categorizes them with artificial intelligence. The system is part of a larger trend... → Read More
Inventions including AI-assisted cat door highlighted at GeekWire Summit
The final day of the eighth annual technology conference drew more than 800 people in policy, tech, business and media to downtown Seattle’s Hyatt Regency for panels, demos and fireside chats around technology’s impact on society. → Read More
Seattle company is using artificial intelligence to make pizza; check out the assembly line
The Seattle company Picnic wants to perfect its pizza production and later plans to expand into the production of salads, bowls, and Mexican food using its automated platform. → Read More
Amazon workers bring parents to work
On Friday afternoon, adult children sat sandwiched between their parents in green chairs that filled the spacious Amazon Meeting Center. The auditorium buzzed with excitement like it was college orientation,... → Read More
AI software beats top poker players in milestone of computing
Researchers at Facebook and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed an artificial intelligence bot called Pluribus that defeated five top players in the popular poker game Texas Hold'em for the first time. → Read More
Talk to us: What are your questions and concerns about artificial intelligence?
We want you to take part in the conversation about a topic that is transforming the world. → Read More
What happens when a church closes on Capitol Hill
On a recent Sunday, the large brick building that previously housed Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church was quiet and still. Two black couches with flaking upholstery sat in a small courtyard facing t… → Read More
Fed Up With How Women Are Portrayed in Media, These Girls Started Their Own Radio Station by Melissa Hellmann —
A Boston radio station trains teens, helps them find their voice, and gives them a chance to be heard. → Read More