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

Cracking the Code: Senator’s bill looks to stop surprise medical bills

A bill in the U.S. Senate could help stop the surprise medical bills that cost Americans thousands each year.Senator Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, helped write the Stop Surprise Bills Act of 2019. A bill that has 27 co-sponsors, more than a quarter of the U.S. Senate.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published July 18, 2019 at 9:00 PM

Untested Waters: Feds take small steps toward inspecting more seafood

The FDA has a new strategy for imported food safety, and Congress has increased seafood inspection funds. But the U.S. still lags behind some other countries when it comes to inspections and regulations.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published July 15, 2019 at 11:33 AM

Zurik: Are a lawmaker’s actions helping his employer or constituents?

New questions surface over a New Orleans-area lawmaker who already had to cut the state a $20,000 check for working in two places at the same time.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published June 27, 2019 at 10:00 PM

Cost of Choice: State Department of Education possibly breaking rules set up for voucher schools

The Louisiana Department of Education has allowed at least seven 'for-profit' schools into the state's scholarship program despite a rule saying that state and federal money cannot go to 'for-profit' schools.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published June 25, 2019 at 10:25 PM

The Cost of Choice: Governor to push for changes to Louisiana Scholarship Program

Governor John Bel Edwards plans on pushing for more changes to the state’s program that allows children at poor-performing public schools to attend certain private schools on a voucher or scholarship.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published June 18, 2019 at 10:00 PM

Zurik: State senator cuts check for use of sick time during legislative session

A state senator has cut a check for discrepancies raised in a FOX 8 Investigation into his pay during a recent legislative session.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published May 22, 2019 at 10:00 PM

The Cost of Choice: Education board member says voucher system ‘working very well’ but needs improvement

A member of the eleven-person board overseeing educational policies in Louisiana said he supports the scholarship system and says it is ‘working very well’ despite findings to the contrary in our recent Cost of Choice investigation.

Lee Zurik, Kim Chatelain, Jess Clark and Cody Lillich

Published May 21, 2019 at 10:52 PM

Staff, parents protest early childhood grant pulled from school following ‘Cost of Choice’ reports

Teachers, students and parents from an early childhood program held signs in protest outside LSU Health New Orleans, opposing a decision to end a nearly million-dollar grant with the school.

Lee Zurik, Kim Chatelain, Jess Clark and Cody Lillich

Published May 20, 2019 at 10:54 PM

Zurik: State official’s companies sanctioned in two separate investigations

A business owner who sits on two different state board has been sanctioned in two separate investigations surrounding insurance claims.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published May 15, 2019 at 10:00 PM

The Cost of Choice: As New Orleans’ Catholic school enrollment fell, state vouchers came to the rescue

The largest participant in the Louisiana Scholarship Program, the New Orleans Archdiocese with 3,700 scholarship students, has more than half of the total students in the program.

Lee Zurik, Kim Chatelain, Jess Clark and Cody Lillich

Published May 13, 2019 at 10:08 PM

The Cost of Choice: Lax application process, holes in transparency in state scholarship program

The Louisiana Scholarship Program allows schools to simply notify the state to participate in the program rather than a lengthy application process like public and charter schools face for approval.

Lee Zurik, Kim Chatelain, Jess Clark and Cody Lillich

Published May 9, 2019 at 10:10 PM

The Cost of Choice: Family-run school sanctioned by state, receives millions in scholarship dollars

Public money has flowed into one New Orleans voucher school despite low student scores, allegations of cheating and nepotism concerns.

Lee Zurik, Kim Chatelain, Jess Clark and Cody Lillich

Published May 9, 2019 at 11:15 AM

The Cost of Choice: Louisiana’s voucher program costs millions more to send children to lower-performing schools

A joint investigation found many students in the Louisiana Scholarship Program are going to lower performing schools, the opposite of what was touted during the program's launch in 2012.

Lee Zurik, Cody Lillich, Jess Clark and Kim Chatelain

Published May 7, 2019 at 10:06 PM

A federal agency has ignored a 2006 federal law requiring the creation of a national child abuse registry, leaving an untold number of children in harm’s way when their families move to new states.

Megan Luther, Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published April 29, 2019 at 10:28 AM

The deaths of hundreds of children because of abuse or neglect goes unnoticed every year by agencies that protect kids. Congress and a 45-year-old law are largely to blame.

Jill Riepenhoff, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published April 29, 2019 at 10:27 AM

A trifecta of failures puts kids at risk

When children die because of abuse or neglect, child protection agencies are often blamed – they are underfunded and overworked. But there are many other culprits who failed children.

Jill Riepenhoff, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published April 29, 2019 at 10:24 AM

Zurik: Former tourism official pleads guilty to theft, pays restitution

Tonnette ‘Toni’ Rice repaid $70,682 to the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network, a non-profit where she used to serve as the former president. A FOX 8 Lee Zurik Investigation uncovered Rice stole more than $70,000 from the organization.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published April 2, 2019 at 10:02 PM

Undercounting hate: FBI will not report its hate crime numbers again this year as required by law

The Uniform Crime Reporting Act of 1988 requires federal law enforcement agencies to submit information about their cases to a federal database maintained by the FBI; however, those agencies are currently not submitting data, including information about hate crimes.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 2, 2019 at 9:39 AM

Zurik: Recipient of questionable court funds drops off check, cash at courthouse

One recipient of questionable spending during a court clerk's final days in office drops off check and cash after a FOX 8 Investigation. Meanwhile, the court has sent findings of a financial audit to law enforcement to review.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 19, 2019 at 10:38 PM

Zurik: Audit suggests possible criminal investigation of former court clerk

A fraud examination report released to FOX 8 shows financial investigators have suggested a possible criminal investigation into the actions of a now-former court clerk.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 14, 2019 at 10:00 PM

Zurik: Questionable expenses in court clerk’s final days in office

Timothy David Ray was appointed to First City Court Clerk after Ellen Hazeur won a judgeship in March 2018. In November 2018, Ray lost the election for that office to Austin Badon. In Ray’s last days in office, he wrote two questionable checks, totaling nearly $10,000.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 27, 2019 at 10:45 PM

Zurik: Lawmakers expect to address auto insurance issues in next session

The issue of sky-high auto insurance rates in the state has gotten the attention of lawmakers who are planning ways that could lower the rates -- if they can make it through the legislature.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 22, 2019 at 10:54 PM

Zurik: High insurance costs drive businesses to the brink of closure

Louisiana’s distinction as most expensive auto insurance in the nation is one that is putting a major strain on transportation businesses.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 22, 2019 at 10:20 AM

Zurik: Is Louisiana’s ‘legal hellhole’ to blame for sky-high auto insurance rates?

Louisiana has a ranking many people are not proud of -- home of the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. But the factors behind the distinction -- depend on who you ask.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 20, 2019 at 10:45 PM

Zurik: Mayor vows to go after dollars ‘left on the table’ in overdue parking, traffic camera tickets

An examination of data from the City of New Orleans found $245.9 Million owed to the city for tickets dating back to 2008.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 19, 2019 at 11:07 PM

Untested water: 99.9 percent of foreign fish goes without testing for unsafe drugs

According to government reports, there is evidence that the main oversight agency for seafood, the Food and Drug Administration, has failed to meet new mandates to increase inspections at foreign food facilities.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published February 13, 2019 at 10:46 PM

Zurik: HHS Secretary says ‘revolutionary’ changes to come for drug prices

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited with Louisiana pharmacists about drug prices in the U.S. and how future changes could mean savings for customers.