NCCPR news and commentary round-up, week ending June 30, 2026

● We begin, of course, with what was done to the children of Pete Buttigieg by an anonymous caller making a malicious false report to a child abuse hotline. Here’s his account. Here’s NCCPR’s full analysis of what happened and why. And there’s also a good op-ed column in the Indianapolis Star.

● New York and Texas are the only states, so far, to replace anonymous reporting with confidential reporting. In this video, Nila Natarajan, director of family defense and policy for Brooklyn Defender Services, explains how the change helps children and families.

● NCCPR in The Imprint: “We’re Making Progress Getting Rid of The ‘Orphan Tax.’ Now Let’s Talk About the ‘Reunification Ransom.’” And for a commendable and rare example of a local news story that calls out both of these obscene practices, see this from Wisconsin Watch. 

● Also in The Imprint, from North Carolina foster parent Ryan O’Donnell: “The Legal Fight to Ensure ‘A Home for Every Child’ Begins With the Family They Already Have.” 

● When family police in Texas can’t even meet the absurdly low standard for “substantiating” an allegation – a finding that can be appealed – but they still want to keep a stigmatizing record on the family, they label the allegation “unable to determine” – which can’t be appealed. The Austin American-Statesman reports on a legal challenge to that category. It involves a case in which the family police say they’re “unable to determine” if it’s neglect for a parent to give birth at home with the help of a state-certified midwife.

● And from the Santa Fe New Mexican, more evidence of that state’s obsession with institutionalizing children: “New Mexico's child welfare agency proposes over $1M in repairs for facility housing two boys” 

In this week’s reminder that The Horror Stories Go in All Directions: 

● From InDepthNH: 

Teenager Kristy Gesse was raped more than 100 times by the group home owner picked out by the state Department of Health and Human Services employees supposed to protect children. 

“They had so little respect for Kristy’s life and safety, that they carelessly and recklessly sent Kristy to go live with a monster,” attorney Nathan Warecki said during Monday’s closing arguments. … 

Deputy Solicitor General Sam Garland conceded bad things happened to Kristy Gesse, but said none of what happened to her is the state’s fault. [Garland said] jurors should not impose 2026 standards on 1980s child welfare professionals. … 

● From WKMG-TV, Florida: 

A 66-year-old St. Cloud man accused of sexually abusing at least two girls was fostering six children at the time of his arrest, according to neighbors, raising new questions about oversight within Florida’s foster care system. 

Paul Renuart was arrested on seven felony counts related to child sexual abuse. Following his arrest, News 6 began asking the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) how the alleged abuse could occur under the agency’s supervision. …