James Neff

Philadelphia

Deputy Managing Editor, Investigations at The Philadelphia Inquirer

Featured in: Favicon

inquirer.com Favicon

theatlantic.com Favicon

finehomesandliving.com Favicon

cadillacnews.com Favicon

wweek.com

democratherald.com Favicon

gazettetimes.com Favicon

columbiagorgenews.com Favicon

bendsource.com

Articles

Lawmakers Hamstrung in Overseeing Travel Oregon's Spending

4 days ago | bendsource.com | James Neff

The exercise can be frustrating. Every two years, Oregon’s semi-independent state agencies—Travel Oregon and more than a dozen others—undergo financial review by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office, which then shares a report with lawmakers. But among those agencies, Travel Oregon, with a $95 million biennial budget, as well as the much smaller Oregon Wine Board enjoy a special status. Their budgets are not subject to approval or modification by the Legislature.
Lawmakers hamstrung in overseeing Travel Oregon’s spending

1 week ago | democratherald.com | James Neff

The exercise can be frustrating. Every two years, Oregon’s semi-independent state agencies — Travel Oregon and more than a dozen others — undergo financial review by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office, which then shares a report with lawmakers. But among those agencies, Travel Oregon, with a $95 million biennial budget, as well as the much smaller Oregon Wine Board enjoy a special status. Their budgets are not subject to approval or modification by the Legislature.
Lawmakers Hamstrung in Overseeing Travel Oregon’s Spending

1 week ago | wweek.com | James Neff

This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit newsroom covering the state. The exercise can be frustrating. Every two years, Oregon’s semi-independent state agencies—Travel Oregon and more than a dozen others—undergo financial review by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office, which then shares a report with lawmakers. But among those agencies, Travel Oregon, with a $95 million biennial budget, as well as the much smaller Oregon Wine Board enjoy a special status.
Nobody’s minding the agency that promotes tourism in Oregon

1 week ago | democratherald.com | James Neff

During commercial breaks this television season, viewers were likely to spy a Muppet-like beaver leading delighted visitors on a snowshoe hike past Mount Hood or singing the benefits of fishing guides while fly-casting in pristine Oregon waters. These jaunty scenes, produced by award-winning Portland-based ad agency Wieden+Kennedy, grab the attention but are also somewhat puzzling (urging Oregonians to see Oregon?).
A Nice Place to Visit

1 week ago | wweek.com | James Neff

This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit newsroom covering the state. During commercial breaks this television season, viewers were likely to spy a Muppet-like beaver leading delighted visitors on a snowshoe hike past Mount Hood or singing the benefits of fishing guides while flycasting in pristine Oregon waters.
Longtime Travel Oregon CEO Steps Down Amid Oregon Journalism Project Investigation

2 weeks ago | wweek.com | James Neff

The longtime executive director of Travel Oregon, Todd Davidson, announced he is retiring today after three decades as a public employee. While the timing appeared sudden, it came five weeks after the Oregon Journalism Project first contacted Travel Oregon about an investigation into complaints regarding Davidson’s outsized compensation and allegations of a toxic workplace. He earned $477,000 in take-home pay for fiscal 2024, far higher compensation than that of any other state agency director.
A thousand thanks

Nov 1, 2024 | cadillacnews.com | James Neff

Realizing my math skills are sketchy at best, by my count this is Neff Zone column No. 1,000. The column has been rolling along for about 20 years. I tell people that the column has been around so long that half the town thinks I’m an institution. The other half thinks I belong in an institution. I’m often asked how I come up with all the things that comprise a column. The simple answer is that I am in a constant discovery mode.
You can't make up this good stuff

Sep 20, 2024 | cadillacnews.com | James Neff

Well kidlings, it’s time for another round of “You Can’t Make Up This Stuff,” the game based on my brother Big Rob’s theory that reality is stranger than any fiction. This time around, for a slight twist, we’ll focus on some good stuff. As usual, we begin with news from Rob’s stomping grounds of Flint. Flint often gets negative publicity, but there a lot of good things happening in the city. One major improvement has a link to Cadillac.
Past to present

Jul 19, 2024 | cadillacnews.com | James Neff

Sometimes things that happened in the past have a way of influencing us in the present. This “back to the future” phenomena is more common than you might surmise. For example, we’re all familiar with vending machines that dispense snacks and drinks. A logical hypothesis is that they were invented for this purpose. That assumption is not even close to how the invention came to be. “Heron of Alexandria invented a lot of things, many of which helped set the stage for our modern society.