The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "CAPS" ...
-
Raising the Cap
University of North Carolina's student newspaper looks at the university's appeal to increase the 18 percent cap on nonresident students. The reporters, using computer-assisted reporting techniques were able to invalidate the arguments presented by the university to increase the out-of-state student population. They used databases they built to come up with a comparative statistics for in-state and out-of -state students.
Tags: University of North Carolina; out-of-state students; FOI; CAR
-
A no-win proposition for Orange County
The Orange County Register examines Proposition 13, which dramatially reduced and capped local property taxes 25 years ago, and looks at how those cuts are distributed. It finds that "decades after Proposition 13, local governments are seeking parity, with little success" and cities depend on retail now more than housing.
Tags: Proposition 13; Orange County; California; local government; taxes; housing; property taxes; legislation
-
Baseball salaries top-heavy
A collection of stories dealing with baseball salaries. The first story examines the widening gap between the highest-paid athletes and the players making the least amount of money. For example, in 1988, the range between the median major league salary and highest-paid player has increased from $2,125,714 to $21,100,000. The second story looks at the which teams "get the most bang for their buck" by spending little money on big talent. Finally, a small story lists a team of talented players that worked for $300,000 or less last year to emphasize the idea that talent doesn't have to come with an enormous pricetag.
Tags: sports; baseball; salaries; salary cap
-
By the Book
Anders and Rodriguez report that "hospital create annexes, push home health care to avoid payment caps." They say "some of the most expensive, provocative practices are inbred, completely legal and highly resistant to change."
Tags: hospitals; medicare; health care; payment; fraud; scrutiny; overbilling
-
Looking The Part
The ABA Journal reports on the issue of profiling. Proponents say that because crimes are committed more often by certain categories of people, it makes good law-enforcement sense to perform traffic stops or airport security searches of certain types of people. Opponents say it's discrimination and that the amount of contraband found or terrorism diverted doesn't add up to the loss of civil liberties.
Tags: profiling; airport security; CAPS
-
Scenes From A Sprawl
Westword reports on a battle between citizens and developers over the town's growth cap in sleepy little Berthoud, CO. "Local growth control doesn't stand a chance against multi-milliondollar developers," Westword quotes activist John Meyer.
Tags: sprawl; growth cap
-
Power Politics: Energy Crisis Offers Clues to the Workings of Bush Administration
The Wall Street Journal examines how George W. Bush handled the energy crisis in California during the first weeks of his presidency. The story finds that Bush "has leaned heavily on Vice President Dick Cheney" in order to "stick doggedly to his chosen public message." The author reports that "Mr. Bush bent his free-market, limited-government principles to accommodate a crisis, but so far only a little: He offered a single two-week extension of Mr. Clinton's executive order directing suppliers to sell power to nearly bankrupt California utilities." The story cites top politicians on how the Western energy crisis will impact Bush's popularity and commitment to open markets.
Tags: politics; White House; California; energy crisis; Dick Cheney; utilities; economics; price caps; oil; electricity
-
City Hid CAPS Funds, Workers in Private Agency
This investigation by The Chicago Reporter found that "the Chicago Police Department diverted nearly $ 2.2 million to a private nonprofit agency, which used the money to pay up to 30 civilian workers in the department's community policing program from 1997 to 1999." The reporter revealed that "the agency...was spun off from the Chicago Department of Public Health in 1994 to promote public health..." and is "one of at least two dozen nonprofit agencies created with the help of the city since 1986." The new nonprofit center issued the paychecks of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) from 1997 through 1999 and was "spending hidden from public view," the investigation showed. Some of the story sources said that "CAPS workers do political work." The reporter also found that "some of the police department funds were funneled through the finance general account of the city corporate fund."
Tags: FOIA; Chicago; police; city funds; budget; public health; taxpayers; private funds
-
An Empty Promise
This National Law Journal investigation "examined the network of state funds that exist to reimburse clients whose money have been stolen by their attorneys." The reporter concluded that "the funds in general were largely a sham: they are poorly endowed, stingy about payouts and not publicized." The three-story packet compared the victims' experiences in "a large state and small state, Illinois and Nebraska" and provided information about the security funds caps and average reimbursements state by state.
Tags: theft; disbarment; American Bar Association; security funds; reimbursement
-
Portraits in Racial Profiling
To better understand the extent of racial profiling, the Village Voice surveyed and interviewed black and white police officers and victims of racial profiling, and found classic stereotypes for police suspects: a tilted baseball cap; a red or blue bandanna; a hooded sweattop; baggy trousers; and expensive high-top sneakers, among other pieces of clothing that make up the "Tupac-thug-for-life image."
Tags: racial profiling; minorities; race; police; African Americans; Latinos