Lee Zurik

As the city of New Orleans's most honored investigative reporter, Lee Zurik has been uncovering and reporting impactful stories on WVUE since 2009. Following up his tenacious inquiries with detailed analysis and powerful storytelling, Lee delivers unprecedented accountability of government officials, private citizens and corporations.

Recent Articles by Lee

Zurik: Attorneys ask judge to end St. Tammany Jail’s extended use of holding cells, citing concerns of COVID-19

Attorneys suing the St. Tammany Parish Jail over extended use of holding cells, keeping inmates there for days -- if not weeks -- are asking a judge to step in and force the jail to stop those practices amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisiana.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published April 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM

Severe coronavirus cases on pace to overwhelm ICU availability in urban and rural areas

Some counties in the country have zero ICU beds; others are on pace to need more than available for COVID-19 cases. Part of the reason may be legislation prohibiting expansion.

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 1, 2020 at 5:49 PM

Zurik: Attorneys request state, federal investigations into St. Tammany Jail’s cramped holding cells

Attorneys who previously filed a class-action lawsuit regarding the cramped holding cells in the St. Tammany Parish Jail are now seeking investigations into the practice on both the state and federal level.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM

We are updating this county-by-county map to illustrate the number of COVID-19 cases in each county in the United States per capita.

Lee Zurik, Jamie Grey, Cody Lillich, Jill Riepenhoff and Megan Luther

Published March 30, 2020 at 11:13 AM

Zurik: Healthcare workers among the first to be tested at drive-thru sites have not received results

When drive-thru testing sites were established in New Orleans to test for COVID-19, healthcare workers and first responders were the first to get tested. But a week after those frontline workers were tested, their results are still outstanding.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 27, 2020 at 5:21 PM

Pharmacists: Doctors writing prescriptions for possible COVID-19 treatment at expense of chronically-ill patients

Lupus patients say they are unable to get refills of their hydroxychloroquine after the announcement of clinical trials to study the drug for possible coronavirus treatment. Pharmacists say some doctors are writing prescriptions for friends and family members.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published March 27, 2020 at 7:11 AM

Zurik: Hundreds of tests taken in the early days of Coronavirus testing are still outstanding

Testing has been a crucial focus of determining the true scope of the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, but FOX 8 has learned hundreds of tests performed at Ochsner screening sites are still outstanding more than a week after patients were tested.

Lee Zurik, Cody Lillich and Jamie Grey

Published March 26, 2020 at 8:59 PM

Zurik: Ventilator supply in New Orleans could run out next week, health leaders compete against other states to get more in stock

State and local leaders are very concerned that the ventilator supply for the New Orleans area may run out as soon as next week, as the state continues to respond to the Coronavirus outbreak which has sickened more than a thousand Louisianians.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 25, 2020 at 9:02 PM

Zurik: Lawsuit filed over cramped St. Tammany holding cells, lawyers concerned for social distancing amid COVID-19

A lawsuit has been filed against the St. Tammany Jail and their practice of keeping inmates in crammed holding cells for days, a practice FOX 8 first exposed in a Lee Zurik Investigation. Lawyers say the situation is especially concerning in the time of social distancing to prevent COVID-19.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 23, 2020 at 11:55 AM

Zurik: Hospitals increase capacity ahead of expected increase of COVID-19 patients

State leaders are very concerned with hospital capacity in the New Orleans area during the novel coronavirus outbreak that is being seen across the state.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 19, 2020 at 7:27 PM

Zurik: New Orleans continues to be one of the nation’s COVID-19 hot spots, analysis shows

New Orleans is experiencing one of the highest numbers of cases of COVID-19 per capita, based on an analysis of data across the country by FOX 8 News.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 17, 2020 at 9:05 AM

COVID-19 Tracker: Check out the latest on test results around the country

InvestigateTV is monitoring coronavirus COVID-19 cases around the country and updating information here frequently.

Lee Zurik, Jamie Grey, Cody Lillich, Jill Riepenhoff and Megan Luther

Published March 17, 2020 at 9:01 AM

COVID-19 Testing: Where you live may determine whether you get tested

InvestigateTV finds the criteria in each state differs for who is and is not eligible for COVID-19 testing.

Jamie Grey, Lee Zurik and Emma Ruby

Published March 16, 2020 at 6:42 PM

Zurik: Jail numbers show crowded holding cells are isolated to St. Tammany jail

When FOX 8 took first exposed the crowded holding cells in St. Tammany Parish that kept inmates well past the 48-hour minimum jail standard, a department official said the problem was “not just in St. Tammany." However, a review of area jails paints a different picture.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 5, 2020 at 11:30 PM

Zurik: City to demote Safety and Permits Director following discrepancies by department’s inspectors

The City of New Orleans will be demoting Zachary Smith, the head of the city’s Department of Safety and Permits, the city’s chief administrative officer confirms to FOX 8 News on Monday. The move comes after discrepancies were exposed in a series of FOX 8 Investigations.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 2, 2020 at 9:35 PM

Zurik: St. Tammany Jail keeping inmates in holding cells for weeks, violating state’s minimum jail standards

Holding cells are meant to hold inmates for their first few days in custody. But a FOX 8 Lee Zurik Investigation found one jail was keeping people in these holding cells for weeks, against state standards.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 28, 2020 at 9:32 PM

Zurik: Additional discrepancies found in suspended building inspector’s past work

FOX 8 has uncovered additional discrepancies between the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits inspection logs and GPS data from vehicles in the department.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 24, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Two Safety and Permits Inspectors placed on emergency suspension following FOX 8 Investigation

Two inspectors with the City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits have been placed on emergency suspension, following a series of FOX 8 reports that revealed discrepancies between city inspection logs and GPS records of the department’s vehicles.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 20, 2020 at 4:34 PM

Zurik: Third city inspector likely did not visit Hard Rock site when he signed off on work

A third inspector likely did not visit the Hard Rock Hotel construction site despite signing off on work at the site, according to FOX 8′s ongoing analysis of GPS data from the City of New Orleans.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 19, 2020 at 10:53 PM

Zurik: Past chancellors remain on SUNO payroll as college makes cuts amidst financial crisis

A New Orleans university continues to be plagued by a financial crisis they say is due to declining enrollment and cuts from state funding. But FOX 8 News found past chancellors are able to stay on the payroll at the institution and collect paychecks higher than what is stated in their contracts.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 19, 2020 at 10:20 PM

Zurik: FOX 8 investigation discovers additional discrepancies with more city inspectors at Hard Rock Hotel site

An examination of the City of New Orleans GPS records shows additional discrepancies with more city inspectors at the site of the Hard Rock Hotel. The records were requested by FOX 8 News in December 2019, following the deadly collapse in October that killed three men.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 18, 2020 at 9:50 PM

Zurik: City inspector signed off on Hard Rock Hotel work without proper certification

A city inspector that performed several inspections at the Hard Rock Hotel construction site was not certified during some of those inspections, records obtained by FOX 8 show.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 18, 2020 at 7:20 PM

Zurik: City inspectors approved work at the Hard Rock Hotel site, but GPS shows they were not there

New Orleans City Hall officials are investigating whether employees signed off on inspections at the construction site of the Hard Rock Hotel without visiting the project. The site collapsed in October killing three men and leaving a scar on the city's skyline.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 17, 2020 at 9:55 PM

Zurik: Louisiana lawmakers hope to wipe out ‘Patriot Penalty’ in upcoming session

At least two Louisiana lawmakers plan to address an issue exposed in an InvestigateTV investigation into the so-called ‘Patriot Penalty’ where servicemembers pay more for auto insurance after being deployed.

Lee Zurik, Jamie Grey and Cody Lillich

Published February 13, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Patriot Penalty: Deployed service members come home to find higher auto insurance rates

Service members who cancel their car insurance to serve overseas may come back to find higher rate quotes after telling companies they didn't have coverage because of deployment.

Lee Zurik and Jamie Grey

Published February 13, 2020 at 9:34 PM

Costly Care: Medicare charged hundreds more than drug’s cost at cash value

A man noticed his insurance paid all of one medication, but then he discovered the federal government was billed hundreds more than market value.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 10, 2020 at 9:57 PM

Zurik: Port of New Orleans decides to move mural after FOX 8 report, employees concerns

A mural that cost the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) thousands to purchase and even more to install will be coming down following employee concerns, according to a memo from the agency’s CEO obtained by FOX 8 News.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 5, 2020 at 5:57 PM

Zurik: Mayor says liens are mostly ‘fees’ and ‘penalties,’ tax attorney disagrees

When Mayor LaToya Cantrell went before cameras on Friday, Jan. 31, to explain federal tax liens placed on her and her husband’s Broadmoor home, she repeatedly tried to downplay the severity -- saying it was mostly interest and penalties.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 3, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Illegal Contact: Banned drugs found in athletic performance supplements

Current and former NFL players say they have tested positive for drugs because of contaminated supplements. Scientists say it's a problem not just for athletes but anyone taking supplements - particularly those in performance-enhancement categories like weight loss and muscle building.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published February 2, 2020 at 10:50 AM

Zurik: Cantrell says she should be judged on work, not back taxes

Mayor LaToya Cantrell spent nine minutes answering questions about a Lee Zurik Investigation that uncovered her and her husband’s taxes that have not been properly filed in eight of the last nine years.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published January 31, 2020 at 5:12 PM

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Lee Zurik

Recent Articles by Lee

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