An InvestigateWest review found at least 30 people charged with trafficking without evidence of selling or distribution. They face mandatory minimum prison terms.
With local journalism under threat and fewer newsrooms left to hold power to account, Seattle philanthropists Lisa Mennet and Paul Joseph Brown have renewed their $250,000 commitment to InvestigateWest, strengthening its role as an independent watchdog across Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
The renewed gift comes as InvestigateWest undergoes a period of rapid growth — and as its journalism continues to drive measurable impact in communities across the Pacific Northwest. Since the end of 2021, the newsroom has grown from one full-time staff member to 13, allowing it to take on larger, more complex investigations and to deepen partnerships with local and national news outlets.
Brown, a retired photojournalist and longtime supporter of public-service journalism, said the couple’s continued support reflects both confidence in InvestigateWest’s direction and belief in the power of sustained investigative work.
“InvestigateWest has shown what’s possible when reporters are given the time and backing to do the job right,” Brown said. “They’ve grown thoughtfully, without losing focus on impact — on real people, real harm and real accountability. That combination is rare, and it’s why we continue to support InvestigateWest.”
Seattle philanthropists Lisa Mennet and Paul Joseph Brown
Founded in 2009, InvestigateWest has become one of the region’s leading investigative news organizations. Its reporting has exposed systemic failures in government and industry, spurred regulatory action and contributed to the passage of new state laws — including four in the past two years. (See “Our Impact” for more details.)
The new funding will help sustain the organization’s growth — supporting ongoing investigations, regional reporting roles and collaborative projects that many shrinking local newsrooms no longer have the resources to undertake.
Jacob Fries, executive director of InvestigateWest, said the renewed support allows the organization to build for the long term while staying grounded in accountability and outcomes.
“Growth only matters if it translates into impact,” Fries said. “This support allows us to sustain our newsroom in a way that directly strengthens our journalism — more investigations, deeper reporting and broader reach. Paul and Lisa’s continued commitment gives us the runway to pursue stories that don’t just inform, but lead to real change.”
InvestigateWest shares its reporting freely with partner outlets across the region and nation, maximizing reach and public benefit. As the organization continues to grow, it remains focused on its core mission: producing rigorous, independent journalism that holds powerful institutions accountable and serves communities too often overlooked.
To learn more about InvestigateWest’s reporting or to support independent investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest, visit investigatewest.org/donate.
The story you just read is only possible because readers like you support our mission to uncover truths that matter. If you value this reporting, help us continue producing high-impact investigations that drive real-world change. Your donation today ensures we can keep asking tough questions and bringing critical issues to light. Join us — because fearless, independent journalism depends on you!
The webinar will give practical guidance for editors on how to manage and edit an investigative story
What happens when local news disappears? Polluters pollute more. Governments become less accountable. Entire communities are left in the dark.
Since 2009, InvestigateWest has been building something the Pacific Northwest desperately needed: a nonprofit investigative newsroom — and the civic infrastructure to spread accountability journalism across the region.
An InvestigateWest review found at least 30 people charged with trafficking without evidence of selling or distribution. They face mandatory minimum prison terms.
