Public-record monitoring for newsrooms

Find the lead. Follow the whole story.

Less time checking public records. More time reporting the story.

See how it works

Spot what changed.

Find the developments that deserve a closer look across your newsroom’s beats.

Get the backstory.

See earlier decisions beside the latest record, without starting your research over.

Hand off the evidence.

Give a reporter the source material and your assignment note together.

Headline FinderProduct demo — King County

01 · Find the lead

Discover / Courts & crimeNew development

Joe Smith released from prison

Washington DOC · Published Sep 2, 2026

A release entry opens a follow-up to the newsroom’s 2019 sentencing coverage.

Sep 2019Judgment and sentence

Sep 2026DOC release entry

From the source record

Release from prison recorded.

The reporting opportunity

The release entry brings an old story back to the desk.

Check the source

02 · Check the source

Evidence / Case recordSource evidence

DOC release entry

Person: Joe Smith
Source: Washington DOC
Event date: September 1, 2026

Record previewDOC release entry

The custody history includes the 2019 sentence and a new release entry.

New development

DOC release entry

Washington DOC · September 1, 2026

Release from prison recorded.

Earlier recordPrison custody · 2019

New developmentRelease recorded · 2026

See the assignment

03 · Assign the follow-up

Assignments / Courts & crimeReady to assign

Follow up on the 2019 sentence.

Reporter: Choose a reporter below
Evidence: DOC release entry · 2019 judgment

Reporting note

The release entry and original sentencing coverage are together for a follow-up on Joe Smith’s story.

Follow the full case See this beat in a demo

How records become leads

Headline Finder collects records from configured sources, processes their text and retains source details and document versions. Your newsroom reviews the evidence and chooses the follow-up.

See the process

More stories in the workspace

School board · Seattle Public Schools

Bus-route draft
The district publishes proposed bus routes for board review.
Transportation committee minutes
The committee reviews proposed route changes and sends its recommendation to the board.
In this product demo, a fictional board meeting advances a school-bus route proposal to a family feedback session. The meeting minutes and route proposal give an education reporter the next assignment.

City council · Seattle

Sidewalk budget proposal
The proposal allocates $1.2 million to sidewalk repairs.
Funding amendment
The amendment proposes an additional $300,000 for sidewalk repairs.
In this product demo, a fictional council meeting approves a $300,000 addition to a sidewalk repair program. The amendment and meeting minutes give a city hall reporter the source context for a follow-up.

County council · King County Council

Shelter-funding proposal
The proposal sets out additional shelter capacity and sends the funding request to committee.
Committee agenda
The agenda places the shelter-funding proposal before the committee.
A committee recommendation moves the proposal toward a council decision on shelter capacity.

Development · Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections

Housing application
The application proposes 48 homes and outlines site access and drainage.
Hearing record
The hearing addresses access and drainage issues raised by the 48-home proposal.
A land-use decision changes the proposal’s path, adding conditions for access and drainage.

Transportation · King County Metro

Service review
The review identifies gaps in weekend service along two bus corridors.
Draft service plan
The draft adds weekend trips on the two corridors for public review.
A service proposal adds weekend trips, bringing route timing and rider access into the story.

Utilities · Seattle City Light

Project schedule
The schedule sets June as the completion target for the substation upgrade.
Project progress report
The report identifies work still outstanding ahead of the June completion target.
A revised project schedule changes the timeline for work affecting nearby streets and electricity infrastructure.

Public health · Public Health – Seattle & King County

Clinic access review
The review identifies demand for appointments outside daytime hours at two clinics.
Draft clinic-hours plan
The draft proposes evening appointments at the two clinics.
A service proposal expands the hours available to patients who cannot attend during the working day.

Environment · King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Restoration project scope
The project scope identifies habitat work along the stream and nearby trails.
Draft restoration plan
The draft describes temporary trail access changes during habitat construction.
A restoration proposal brings habitat work and temporary trail access changes into the same local story.

Port commission · Port of Seattle Commission

Terminal contract award
The commission awards the original terminal improvement contract.
Proposed contract amendment
A $400,000 addition to the terminal improvement contract is submitted to the commission.
A contract amendment changes the cost of terminal work and creates a follow-up to the original award.