State Integrity news for Ohio and Kentucky from SII partner WVXU:

When it comes to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms in state government, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana are getting weak grades on a report card being released today.

The State Integrity Investigation is a data-driven assessment that looks at 330 different corruption risk indicators across 14 categories of government-- from access to information to redistricting. Ohio's overall score was 66, good for a solid D. Kentucky scored 71 and Indiana 70, both getting a C minus.

Hear more from WVXU - Cincinnati.

State Integrity news for Kentucky from WEKU:

This state of 4.4 million residents earned a grade of C− and a numerical rating of 71 for how well it ensures accountability in government, according to the State Integrity Investigation, a collaborative project of the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International. Those scores rank Kentucky 19th among the 50 states.

Hear WEKU's Charles Compton talk with SII Kentucky reporter Jacalyn Carfagno.

State Integrity news for California from SII partner KPCC:

A first-of-its-kind survey by the Center for Public Integrity and Public Radio International gives California a B-minus for state government accountability and transparency. But the the State Integrity Investigation finds no state got an A – and it warns that state houses are “ripe for corruption and self-dealing.”

The survey also found oversight of California’s state pension boards lacking.

Hear the story from KPCC - Southern California Public Radio.

State Integrity news for Connecticut from WNPR:

State Integrity news for California from KPBS:

SII California State Reporter Carol Goodhue Shull of Investigative Newsource discusses the state's findings in the Investigation on KPBS Midday Edition.

Listen to the program here.

State Integrity news for Massachusetts from SII Partner WGBH:

Massachusetts has an embarrassing history of government corruption, but you might be surprised to learn how we stack up against the other 49 states. On today’s show, we dig into the results of a five-month, nationwide investigation that looked at everything from public access to information, transparency, lobbying, and the strength of ethics rules.

Listen to a discussion on "The Emily Rooney Show" with Caitlin Ginley, senior writer at the Center for Public Integrity; Maggie Mulvihill, associate director at the New England Center for Investigative Reporting; and Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe columnist.

State Integrity news for Georgia from WABE: 

Georgia ranks dead last in a major new state-by-state survey of ethics laws and enforcement. The State Integrity Investigation is a joint project of the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International, and Global Integrity.

The Georgia report was compiled by Jim Walls, a former editor of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s investigative team, who now writes his own blog, Atlanta Unfiltered. Walls sharply criticized the enforcement of the State’s ethics laws, including the 2010 measure written by Republican House Speaker David Ralston.

Hear more from WABE - Atlanta.

State Integrity News for Kansas and Missouri from SII partner KCUR:

No state gets an “A” in a study of government transparency and corruption risk released by Public Radio International. Kansas ranked fairly high for safeguards, at number 9. Missouri finished at number 21.

Both received “passing grades,” but with lots of room for improvement.

Listen to the story from KCUR - Kansas City.

State Integrity news for Washington from SII partner KUOW:

See if you can guess where this bit of political rhetoric comes from (here's a hint: think Washington state):

"Trust and confidence in governmental institutions is at an all–time low. High on the list of causes of this citizen distrust are secrecy in government and the influence of private money on governmental decision making."

It sounds like it could have been written by Occupy Seattle protesters. Or maybe by the tea party. But the statement actually accompanied a ballot measure that Washington voters passed back in 1972.

Read more from KUOW - Seattle.

State Integrity news for Washington from SII partner KUOW:

Washington's Public Records Act and other transparency measures have earned the state a high score in a nationwide study. The State Integrity Investigation looked at every state's disclosure practices. It ranked Washington third in the country, with a letter grade of B–. But budget cuts are curtailing investigations by government watchdogs. And all three branches of government have tried to put more of their records outside the law's scrutiny. KUOW's Amy Radil reports.

Hear the story from KUOW - Seattle.