TVNewsCheck is occasionally featuring examples of exceptional TV station reporting from across the country. Here are the first four, taking on everything from fraud, wasteful spending and public safety to a parking lot owner with a penchant for driving other people’s cars.

By Diana Marszalek
TVNewsCheck, May 15, 2012 8:37 AM EDT

From time to time, I'll be showcasing recent TV news stories that I think exemplify the first-rate journalism that is regularly produced at stations around the country.

Today, I have a story that could save your life — really — and three good investigative pieces on tax fraud, wasteful government spending and a parking lot owner with a penchant for taking customers' cars for joy rides. READ MORE

The new deal with BMI was posted to the Radio Music License Committee website yesterday. An agreement in a new industry wide license has been announced, settling a multi-year litigation between the parties. The agreement covers the performance of more than 7.5 million musical works in the BMI repertoire from 2010 through 2016 but no details were disclosed.

If approved by the court, the agreement will end a Federal Rate Court litigation over the fees that radio stations pay BMI on behalf of the songwriters and music publishers it represents for the public performance of their works by radio stations. The proposed deal covers January 2010 through December 2016. Details of the agreement have not been released pending review by the Court.