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: New group emerges hoping to make dream of a football stadium in the Ninth Ward a reality

Nearly two years after FOX 8 and The Athletic investigated the financial mismanagement of a group that promised a so-called Field of Dreams in the Ninth Ward, a new group has formed to make that dream a reality.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published April 14, 2021 at 10:44 PM

Large swaths of rural America are health care deserts with too few primary care doctors, pediatricians, and OB-GYNs to care for residents

In 207 counties in 2018, there wasn’t a family, general or internal medicine doctor – the primary care doctors mainly for adults, according to an InvestigateTV analysis of federal data.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published April 7, 2021 at 5:38 PM

Zurik: Third investigator believes 2005 death was a murder, says witnesses recanted out of fear

A third investigator says he believes the 2005 death of Joey Georgusis was a murder and not an overdose, as originally classified by the coroner’s office.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 24, 2021 at 10:29 PM

People are dying earlier and facing more severe health issues in many rural communities

In nearly every Appalachian and Delta community, residents die on average before their 78th birthday, which is the average life expectancy in the United States. Health care providers are working on innovative ways to combat the unique disparities in the regions.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published March 8, 2021 at 7:22 AM

Zurik: Fmr. Sheriff Jack Stephens answers questions regarding 2005 death in nearly two-hour deposition

Former St. Bernard Sheriff Jack Stephens faces nearly two hours of questions from an attorney for the family of Joey Georgusis, who died in 2005. Stephens called the questions 'offensive.'

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 3, 2021 at 10:00 PM

Zurik: Missing autopsy photo, initial statements fuel investigators’ suspicions around 2005 death

In Part 2 of Strangled, a photo in an autopsy file vanishes, and another investigator -- believes Joey Georgusis did not die of an overdose.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 3, 2021 at 9:16 AM

Zurik: Father thinks son’s death and investigation were strangled

FOX 8 Investigates why deputies from another parish responded to the 2005 death of Joey Georgusis hours before a 911 call was made.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published March 1, 2021 at 10:26 PM

Zurik: Councilmember’s use of security detail included personal errands

The use of a city-owned vehicle is supposed to be for city services. But FOX 8 has found that a New Orleans city council member has been using her city-issued vehicle and provided security detail to run personal errands.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 23, 2021 at 10:00 PM

Zurik: Some members of City Council security are not eligible to perform security tasks

Members of the New Orleans City Council receive a unique perk, use of a city-owned vehicle and a security specialist contracted from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. A FOX 8 Investigation found two of those security specialists are not allowed to perform security functions.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 22, 2021 at 10:00 PM

State laws and the lack of government oversight leave a multi-billion-dollar DNA paternity industry unchecked

DNA paternity labs are not regulated by the FDA; rather, there is a voluntary accreditation process. The records about those labs are kept largely under wraps.

Daniela Molina and Lee Zurik

Published February 15, 2021 at 3:37 PM

Zurik: Forged signature raises questions about test for sexually transmitted diseases

Questions have surfaced on a test for sexually-transmitted infections developed in a New Orleans lab and approved based on forged documents.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 10, 2021 at 9:55 PM

Zurik: Helipad move rattles neighbors’ nerves, project done without proper city permits

The relocation of a helicopter landing site at a New Orleans hospital has neighbors upset after having little to no input in the move. The project was also completed without the proper permits being issued by the City of New Orleans.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published February 4, 2021 at 9:57 PM

Zurik: Supreme Court disbars former state senator at the center of several FOX 8 Investigations

Wesley Bishop, a former state senator who was the subject of several investigations by FOX 8′s Lee Zurik, has been permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of Louisiana after his guilty plea in federal court to making false statements to a federal agency.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published January 21, 2021 at 10:46 AM

Zurik: Councilmember says city’s financial crisis will play into vote over tax exemptions

The New Orleans City Council will meet on Thursday and decide whether or not to allow Folgers Coffee Company to receive tax exemptions on work that was completed years ago at their New Orleans East facilities.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published December 16, 2020 at 9:55 PM

Zurik: City investigating ‘discrepancies’ between Folgers’ city permit, state tax exemption applications

On the heels of a Thursday meeting where the New Orleans City Council will vote on whether to grant Folgers Coffee Company millions of dollars in retroactive tax exemptions, the city is now looking into another issue where the company could owe money.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published December 15, 2020 at 6:53 PM

Zurik: Newly hired RTA CEO has trail of ‘retaliation’ complaints, including a six-figure settlement to keep complaint quiet

On the job for just over a year, Regional Transit Authority CEO Alex Wiggins already has allegations of retaliation, like those at his previous public transit jobs, uncovered by FOX 8 Investigates.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published November 24, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Families of those injured or killed by police say union contracts are protecting "bad apples" and stop police leadership from being able to have oversight. Union officials say police are highly scrutinized and need collective bargaining agreements.

Lauren Davis, Brianna Lanham, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published November 16, 2020 at 9:30 PM

Zurik: Councilmember asks state board to deny Folgers request for retroactive tax exemptions

A New Orleans City Councilmember says a major company is using a loophole to avoid paying millions of dollars in taxes owed to the city and now she wants a state board to put a stop to it.

Lee Zurik and Cody Lillich

Published November 12, 2020 at 4:55 PM

Nurse practitioner field grapples with question of whether to standardize curriculum nationwide

Nurse practitioners are questioning their own education at some colleges. There’s no national standard on how to educate nurse practitioners, while medical education for doctors was standardized more than 100 years ago.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published November 4, 2020 at 5:57 PM

Penalties at Play: Millions of dollars flow to nursing homes from fines they have paid for poor care

Every year millions of dollars flow to nursing homes from a fund that is padded with fines collected from long-term care facilities that inspections show have put the health and safety of residents in jeopardy.

Jill Riepenhoff, Daniela Molina, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published October 28, 2020 at 3:20 PM

Closing and Cashing In: Coronavirus relief funding goes to colleges with histories of financial instability and plans to close

The federal government allocated nearly half a billion in CARES Act funds to colleges the government considered not financially responsible. Some colleges received money after announcing their plans to close for good.

Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published October 22, 2020 at 2:07 PM

ISOLATED: States begin to allow nursing home visitors but face PPE shortages, logistical questions

Some nursing homes are beginning to allow visitors, but hundreds report to the federal government that they are experiencing staff shortages or have no protective masks in their supplies.

Daniela Molina, Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published October 15, 2020 at 9:32 PM

Licensed to Pill: Big opioid prescriber indicted on federal charges

Officials have known about a top opioid prescriber for at least five years. This week the Tennessee and Alabama doctor was federally indicted for illegally distributing opioids, kickbacks and more.

Megan Luther, Lee Zurik and Jill Riepenhoff

Published October 2, 2020 at 3:29 PM

Tech giants police their own online campaign ads as government disagrees on regulation

Google has flagged all the major national campaigns for policy-violating ads. Facebook has also removed ads from major campaign funders - though sometimes it took days.

Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published September 29, 2020 at 5:50 PM

Misreported Deaths: Government count of nursing home COVID-19 cases still inaccurate despite criticism

For three months, InvestigateTV has tracked federal government data on nursing home COVID-19 cases and deaths. For three months, those numbers have been wrong.

Jill Riepenhoff and Lee Zurik

Published September 24, 2020 at 9:18 PM

COVID on Campus: At the largest universities, data vary widely and lacks transparency

Only around a quarter of the nation's largest universities publicly release active COVID-19 case information. Public health experts say the more data available, the better.

Jill Riepenhoff, Jamie Grey and Lee Zurik

Published September 17, 2020 at 6:35 PM

Four million Americans waited more than 4 weeks for their first unemployment check

Millions of Americans have waited more than 4 weeks to get their first unemployment check. State offices, overwhelmed with claims, calls and emails have lagged in processing claims.

Emma Ruby, Megan Luther and Lee Zurik

Published September 15, 2020 at 5:45 PM

HHS Secretary: Possible COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3, Letter to Governors was to ‘Plan now for the best case scenario’

The Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told Lee Zurik, whichever vaccine emerges in phase three trials will be approved only if it meets FDA standards.