Patrick Terpstra

Patrick Terpstra

Patrick Terpstra

National Investigative Reporter

Patrick Terpstra is a national investigative reporter devoted to accuracy, clarity and fairness. His reporting relies on data, records and brave people willing to share their experiences. He aims to expose problems and difficulties with governments, corporations, and other mighty entities, while searching just as hard for solutions. His work at Scripps has exposed how a couple without medical experience led a massive troubled covid testing operation. He revealed how the state of Maryland secretly refused to implement key parts of a new online privacy law. He also uncovered how cellphone emergency alerts fail to warn people in the way of deadly wildfires.

Prior to joining Scripps, Patrick covered Washington for the Cox Media Group. His reporting on former Congressman Paul Broun’s office spending led to the indictment and federal conviction of his chief of staff. Patrick can be reached at patrick.terpstra@scripps.com.

Recent Work
8th grade teacher Erin McCarthy inside her classroom

K-12 Schools Suffer Financial Pain From Coronavirus

Steve Bannon

Bannon Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged Border Wall Fundraising Scheme

A letter carrier delivers mail.

USPS Governing Board Seats Vacant, Members Lack Experience

Arizona State University Campus

Colleges Sit On Emergency Cash Meant For Students

An empty classroom

Newsy Investigates: When COVID-19 Infects A Reopened School

Students at Oregon State University

Struggling Universities Pay Lobbyists To Find More Coronavirus Aid

5-year-old Joseph Marotta

Surprise Hurdles Slowed The Last Big Vaccine Race

Kimberley Byrd

3 Teachers Shared A Classroom; All Got COVID-19

People on airplane

Why Masks On Flights Still Aren't Required By Law

Statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens in the U.S. Capitol Stephens was vice president of the Confederacy.

8 States Keep Confederate Statues On Display In U.S. Capitol

Protesters

Protests Haven't Fueled Coronavirus Surges As Officials Feared

National Guard troops in Washington

National Guard's Crackdown In D.C. Cost At Least $21 Million

Workers remove concrete barriers near the White House

Temporary Fence Near White House Begins Coming Down

NYPD officers

Cities Banned Police Chokeholds But Allowed Other Neck Restraints

Law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C.

It Wasn't Always Clear Who Patrolled DC This Week

Stained glass window

Fauci: Church Choirs Still A Virus Risk Despite CDC Rescinding Warning

A city bus.

Challenges Persist Aboard The City Bus

A cook in the kitchen of Founding Farmers restaurant

When Is A Group Too Big To Dine Out Together? The CDC Won't Say

Medical providers are seen wearing protective gowns.

Newsy Investigation: Health Care Workers Need More Medical Gowns

A testing laboratory in Sterling, Virginia.

Newsy Analysis: Virus Testing Rates Vary By State

A worker at the Aperiomics lab in Sterling, Va.

Newsy Investigation: Frustrated Labs Explain Untapped Testing Capacity

Why Most Airlines Aren't Requiring Masks For Passengers... Yet

Port Hueneme Beach in Ventura County, California

Beach Access Becomes A Hot Issue

A Metrobus driver in Washington, D.C.

Transit Workers Account For Dozens Of COVID-19 Deaths

Woman wears a scarf as a mask

The Science Behind The Best Homemade Masks

A Miami area grocery store

Grocery Store Chains Still Need Masks For Workers

An employee cleans the cabin of a Southwest Airlines jet

With No FAA Coronavirus Rules, Airlines Are Largely Winging It

Person puts gas in their car

With Cars Parked, Gas Prices Tumble. But For How Long?

National Guard members move boxes of supplies

Experts Flagged Supply Shortages In National Stockpile For Years

Metro Supermarket in Washington, D.C.

How To Pick Up Groceries Without Picking Up A Bunch Of Germs