Mike's RSS Feed http://www.mikemaciag.com/portfolio.html Mike Maciag's online portfolio RSS feed en-us Drivers owe city millions in fines http://www.mikemaciag.com/article_list.php?id=12 I had an idea to investigate Atlanta’s collection of parking fines, so I requested all available court records for paid and unpaid citations. After cleaning up and analyzing electronic data, I found the city had lost about $10.5 million in unpaid tickets. Although city officials were often reluctant to provide detailed information, I eventually discovered parking enforcement was extremely weak. I also used a few online resources to track down and interview one scofflaw with $4,100 in unpaid tickets. Marines return to cheers http://www.mikemaciag.com/article_list.php?id=8 A group of Marines returned from Iraq one afternoon, and I was assigned to cover the homecoming ceremony. All of my interviews with the Marines and their families were conducted at the event. The story took about two hours to write and ran the following day. Young voters inspired by presidential election travel the country to support candidates http://www.mikemaciag.com/article_list.php?id=10 I pitched a story to my editors about young people participating in presidential campaigns, and ended up following a group of students to Indianapolis to watch them campaign for Barack Obama. While reporting, I shot photos and video of the trip. I also interviewed other local college students who volunteered for candidates. The story was the centerpiece for the Sunday paper and was accompanied by a sidebar with highlights from the Indianapolis trip. Drivers who lack valid licenses are filling South Florida roads http://www.mikemaciag.com/article_list.php?id=14 A bill passed last year eased penalties for some Florida motorists caught driving with an invalid license, so I thought it would be a good idea to determine if more drivers were ignoring traffic laws. Using court data and police records, I found more licenses were suspended and that thousands of repeat offenders continued to drive with invalid licenses. Many of these drivers eventually caused serious accidents. St. Paul Catholic Church's Italian Festival http://www.mikemaciag.com/slideshow_list.php?id=1 St. Paul Catholic Church in Erie, Pa., held their annual Italian festival in August 2007. This slideshow includes outdoor games and dancing along with comments from festival participants. Family-owned motel slideshow http://www.mikemaciag.com/slideshow_list.php?id=2 This slideshow accompanied a story another reporter wrote about family-owned motels in Erie, Pa. I interviewed a mother and her two daughters about the hotel’s history. Firefighters rescue teenagers from storm sewer http://www.mikemaciag.com/slideshow_list.php?id=3 Three teenage boys were washed into a large underground storm sewer one evening in Erie, Pa. All three were pulled out of the sewer, and our photographers took many pictures of the dramatic rescue. I worked late that night to compile all the photos into this slideshow. Jerry Uht Park http://www.mikemaciag.com/video_list.php?id=1 Jerry Uht Park, the baseball park for the Erie SeaWolves, has some of the best views of any minor league stadium, according to ESPN. This video includes shots of different parts of the park. Bike to work week http://www.mikemaciag.com/video_list.php?id=2 This video accompanied a story I wrote about people riding their bikes to work. I followed a woman as she rode her bike home. Erie County Mileage Reimbursements http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=14 This was part of a project on the money paid to Erie County employees who drive their own vehicles for work. The database contains mileage reimbursement amounts paid to each employee in 2009 and 2010. Tracking the 'Blue Jean Bandits' map http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=3 Thieves known as the “Blue Jean Bandits” stole expensive designer jeans from several retailers in Atlanta. I looked at hundreds of police reports and created a map and database of all related crimes from 2007 and 2008. Georgia bridge inspections http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=4 I obtained data for more than 16,000 Georgia bridge inspections from the Federal Highway Administration's National Bridge Inventory. Using Microsoft Excel, I cleaned up the data and made several conversions. The resulting spreadsheet was then posted as an online database using Caspio. Pennsylvania Bridge Inspections http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=12 I analyzed bridge inspection data for a story on the condition of local bridges and built this searchable database. Overdue Erie Garbage Bills http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=13 I wrote several stories on overdue refuse collection money owed to the city of Erie. The city was owed more than $1 million in overdue payments and penalties earlier this year. This database contains all accounts at least two bills delinquent. Atlanta cycling survey results http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=6 An Atlanta cycling group counted the number of cyclists riding along various streets throughout the city. I wrote an article about the survey and used their results to create this map mashup. Erie Crime Map http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=10 I update the GoErie crime map each weekday with new incidents received from the Erie Bureau of Police. I created a search feature to view specific incidents. Store price inspection results http://www.mikemaciag.com/sites_list.php?id=11 Scanning systems at all Pennsylvania stores are required to be inspected on a yearly basis.

This database contains store price inspection data obtained from the state Department of Agriculture. The database accompanied a Sunday story I wrote for the paper.