Willoughby Mariano is a longtime investigative reporter who works to move audiences and create change.
She is a recipient of several individual and team honors including a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University, two National Headliner investigative journalism awards and an Investigative Reporters and Editors award. She is also a member of the Asian American Journalists Association, where she was a co-Chapter President of the Year and chaired its national convention.
She was raised near Chicago, graduated from Yale University and came to WBUR from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she worked for 14 years. In her spare time, she enjoys eating baked goods, napping and spending time with her husband, three cats and a Muppet of a dog.
Recently published
Driver in crash that killed 5-year-old did not inspect Boston school bus properly, prosecutor says
At his arraignment Thursday, prosecutors argued 39-year-old Jean Charles did not follow safety and equipment protocols the day his bus struck and killed a 5-year-old Boston Public Schools student nearly...
Gov. Healey proposes eliminating deadline to prosecute rapes when there's a DNA match
Current Massachusetts law bars rape prosecutions in cases older than 15 years, even when there’s a DNA match. The governor wants to change it.
3 takeaways from WBUR's investigation into Massachusetts' strict time limits on prosecuting rape
A new WBUR and ProPublica investigation gives the public a rare look into how Massachusetts' strict time limits on prosecuting rape work — and what happens when no one can...
After 17 years, DNA tied a man to her rape. Under Massachusetts law, it was too late
Massachusetts has one of the shortest deadlines in the country for prosecuting rape, even when DNA could help prove the case.
Lawsuit says Gabriel House fire system wasn't working in deadly Fall River fire
The suit, filed Thursday in Bristol County Superior Court, accused Gabriel House of "negligence" for an extensive list of alleged problems. Safety system components such a fire panel, pump and...
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Faith groups sue Trump administration to block immigration raids at houses of worship
The lead plaintiff is the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, based in Worcester. Together, the groups allege that actions by the U.S. Department of Homeland...
Serial rapist sentenced to 22 years in prison for attacks in West Springfield
Ali Ghaffar, 23, of West Springfield, lured six women into his car with the promise of money, drugs or rides, then threatened and raped them in 2021 and 2022.
At least 14 Boston precincts ran out of ballots in November election, WBUR analysis finds
Precincts in Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, the South End and West Roxbury ran out of ballots, according to complaints compiled by WBUR from interviews with elected officials,...
Post-election report shows accessibility, ballot and registration issues
Report by coalition of voting rights groups found numerous problems on Election Day across the Commonwealth including accessibility to the polls, broken tabulation machines and ballot shortages.
State opens investigation into Boston's ballot shortages on Election Day
A day after some polling stations in Boston ran out of ballots, Secretary of State William Galvin launched an investigation into the city's handling of the 2024 Election, his office...