CYFD employees say they were sidelined or fired for voicing concerns about a ‘sacred cow’ software contract.
Ed Williams
Ed Williams, a Searchlight investigative reporter, covers child welfare, social justice and other issues. In 2022, he was selected for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network to produce stories about abuses in the foster care system and the devastating impacts on children. Before joining Searchlight, Ed was a reporter in both the United States and Latin America, working for print, digital and radio outlets, including seven years in public radio. His numerous journalism awards include a 2020 First Amendment award and 2019 local accountability reporting award from the News Leaders Association. He has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
Text Ed securely using Signal encryption at (505) 699-6401.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Firing Back
High-level officials accuse the CYFD of retaliation against complaints about Signal and other concerns.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Seeking shelter
After suffering one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, this New Mexico town on the edge of Navajo Nation is reaching a breaking point as the federal eviction moratorium is set to expire.
Posted inChild & Family Welfare
Records without a trace
Records show CYFD destroyed communications on COVID response, other official documents. Employees who complained were fired.
Posted inSecrecy and Sacred Cows: Turmoil at CYFD
Agency underground
In the state department charged with child welfare, leadership and staff avoid a paper trail with encrypted messaging.
Posted inFeatured, Health, Politics
Pine Ridge or Bust
Even as Dineh Benally’s illegal cannabis operations in the Navajo Nation are under ongoing investigation, he’s looking for more opportunities across Indian Country.
Posted inFeatured, Health, Politics
Busy signal
New Mexico’s unemployment office is struggling to answer millions of calls for help.
Posted inFeatured
Fields of green
COVID is pushing thousands of Chinese immigrant workers into the marijuana business—sometimes leading to exploitation and labor trafficking
Posted inCarlsbad, Coronavirus, Featured, Hitting Home
Deep red and feeling blue
Nine months into the pandemic, Carlsbad residents are divided, defiant and in search of a silver lining.
Posted inChaos and cannabis, Tribal Affairs
Uprooted
A police raid near Shiprock has all but ended an illicit cannabis-growing operation