Jeff Brady
Jeff Brady is a National Desk Correspondent based in Philadelphia, where he covers energy issues, climate change and the mid-Atlantic region. Brady helped establish NPR's environment and energy collaborative which brings together NPR and Member station reporters from across the country to cover the big stories involving the natural world.
Brady approaches energy stories from the consumer side of the light switch and the gas pump in an effort to demystify an industry that can seem complicated and opaque. Frequently traveling throughout the country for NPR, Brady has reported on the Texas oil business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the closing of a light bulb factory in Pennsylvania and a new generation of climate activists holding protests from Oregon to New York. In 2017 his reporting showed a history of racism and sexism that have made it difficult for the oil business to diversify its workforce.
In 2011 Brady led NPR's coverage of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State—from the night legendary football coach Joe Paterno was fired to the trial where Sandusky was found guilty.
In 2005, Brady was among the NPR reporters who covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His reporting on flooded cars left behind after the storm exposed efforts to stall the implementation of a national car titling system. Today, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is operational and the Department of Justice estimates it could save car buyers up to $11 billion a year.
Before coming to NPR in September 2003, Brady was a reporter at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in Portland. He has also worked in commercial television as an anchor and a reporter, and in commercial radio as a talk-show host and reporter.
Brady graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University). In 2018 SOU honored Brady with its annual "Distinguished Alumni" award.
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The administration has waived the Jones Act for Puerto Rico. Under the law, only U.S.-flagged ships are allowed to move goods between U.S. ports. -
Houston is going through much after Hurricane Harvey roared ashore. Houses are flooded and destroyed. People are being rescued from their rooftops. There's a backlog of people requesting evacuations.
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Though the winds have weakened and Hurricane Harvey is now a tropical storm, the situation in Houston is growing more urgent as rains pound Texas.
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While Corpus Christi and the surrounding area got the brunt of the Hurricane Harvey, Houston received heavy rain and strong winds. Homes were damaged and there's been some minor flooding so far.
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A controversial Energy Department report says the U.S. power grid could become less reliable if too much electricity comes from renewable energy and natural gas. Environmentalists doubt the report. -
Logging and fishing once dominated the economy in rural Gold Beach, Oregon. NPR's Jeff Brady returned to his hometown, finding a new focus on tourism and other pursuits. -
Changes to building codes in some U.S. jurisdictions may allow the use of siding similar to that of Grenfell Tower in London. A fire at the apartment building killed at least 79 people last week. -
The governor plans to sign a bill that will let homeowners sell excess electricity to their utility at retail rates. Solar companies stopped seeking new customers because incentives were phased out. -
After the death of a student, Penn State's Board of Trustees approved a series of new initiatives designed to change how the school's fraternities and sororities are regulated. -
The Paris accord commits nations to reduce carbon emissions. Steve Inskeep talks to Scott Segal, a lobbyist who represents a range of energy companies, who wants the U.S. to stay in the deal.
