Home | Staff Directory

James Shiffer

Reporter and editor  |  Whistleblower

Phone: 612-673-4271

E-mail: james.shiffer@startribune.com

James Eli Shiffer writes the Star Tribune’s Whistleblower column and blog, reporting about regular people getting ripped off and fighting the system, holding people and institutions accountable. He gets his stories from readers who call and write in to the newsroom, as well as from public records. Since starting Whistleblower in 2008, Shiffer has brought to light problems with professional guardians and conservators, prodded the state to help homeowners suffering from highway construction and helped numerous individuals solve their longstanding disputes. In 2007, Shiffer helped lead the team of reporters covering the I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis -- including “13 Seconds in August”, a collection of survivors’ stories that won national and regional awards.

A native of Scarsdale, N.Y., Shiffer previously worked at The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Recent content from James Shiffer

• Girl: I was treated like a 'misfit' at Abercrombie & Fitch
  Four years after Abercrombie & Fitch refused to let a teenager help her autistic sister try on clothes at its Mall of America store, state officials have fined the company $115,264 for discriminating against a disabled person.
  Sep 9, 2009
• Feb. 24, 2009: Would you want to live tangled in the Crosstown?
  Oops. The state now says it wants to buy Mary VanSlooten's home as part of the highway reconstruction project. And she is more than ready to sell.
  Jun 16, 2009
• Court victory often does no good
  Winning a judgment in small claims court is often the beginning of a frustrating and expensive collection process.
  Jun 16, 2009
• Project: 13 seconds in August: The 35W bridge collapse
  The Star Tribune has identified the drivers and occupants of 78 of 84 cars, trucks and other non-construction vehicles that remained on the bridge or sank in the river, as well as six of the road construction workers.
  Jun 10, 2009
• Those under guardians get rights
  The Legislature responded to cases of misconduct involving vulnerable people.
  May 24, 2009
• Cruise to Mexico was lost at sea
  After the CDC's swine flu warning, their Carnival ship turned around and headed north to San Francisco.
  May 10, 2009
• Mystery charges can empty your wallet
  Studying credit card bills and monthly checking statements can turn up money-saving surprises, and reveal evidence of identity theft.
  May 4, 2009
• Credit card woes? Join the club
  When rates jump or charges are piled on, you may not win, but you can register a complaint one of six ways.
  Apr 25, 2009
• Whistleblower: Tax debtors face shame, shutdown of businesses
  If you collect sales taxes but don't forward the money to the state, a Web posting is only the beginning of your troubles.
  Apr 19, 2009
• MnDOT resolves a splitting concern
  As part of its reconstruction of the Crosstown/35W, MnDOT removed an old chain-link fence that once divided state right of way from the back yard of Henry and Jeannie Adams in south Minneapolis.
  Mar 25, 2009

Next page