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 "County Clerk" ...
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I-Team: Highway Robbery
WCPO's investigative unit exposed widespread theft of traffic fines by court clerks in a local community notorious as a speed trap -- Arlington Heights, Ohio. Bigger than the thefts by a pair of court clerks was the government cover up that persisted for at least a decade. We obtained documents showing two successive police chiefs had warned the mayor and fiscal officer of Arlington Heights that a substantial amount of cash was missing as far back as 2002. Rather than heeding those warnings, the elected leaders of Arlington Heights marginalized both police chiefs, who eventually resigned. Our ongoing investigation has directly resulted in: · Multiple felony indictments against two government employees for theft in office. · Passage and subsequent repeal of an illegal ban on television cameras in public council meetings. · The complete and permanent shut-down of the speed trap on I-75 through Arlington Heights, Ohio. · A call from the county prosecutor for the village to be dissolved and annexed into a neighboring city. · Committee passage of Ohio House Bill 523, eliminating mayors' courts in communities with fewer than 1,000 residents. · The adoption of a new public records policy for the Village of Arlington Heights, conforming with Ohio public records and open meetings laws. Chief Investigative Reporter Brendan Keefe successfully fought against a wall of resistance to obtain public documents and gain access to illegally-closed council meetings.
Tags: Theft; traffic fines; police chiefs; mayor; fiscal officer;
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Janitor Paid $100,000 to Travel
This series exposed the outrageous hiring practices at the nation's sixth largest school district, casting a light on a system in which janitors and copy clerks were paid huge salaries as teachers- but barely set foot in the classroom. Ultimately, the reporting effort saved taxpayers $1 million, led to pay cuts for 59 employees, and resulted in stricter oversight of the Broward County School District.
Tags: Broward County School District; Hiring; School; Taxpayer
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"Court ignores NY rules on filing documents"
Public access to court documents has been hampered in some areas of New York state. Instead of submitting documents to be formally filed, lawyers passed them "directly to judges' chambers." Consequently, the files never made it to the proper place to be accessible to the public.
Tags: Monroe County; Office of Court Administration; Monroe County Clerk; Monroe Country Courts
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Clerk's Office Corruption: Following the Money
Investigations into Shelby County Clerk, Maureen Bowers, revealed she accepted personal payment to to register vehicles for customers in the Hispanic community. Bowers bribed other officials to verify false identities in order for illegals to acquire vehicle registration.
Tags: Maureen Bowers; Shelby county; clerk; corrupt; bribe; vehicle; registration; illegal;
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Conduct unbecoming-- 2005
Post-Intelligencer reporters exposed numerous cases of crime and abuse in the King County Sheriff's Department. Several officers were allowed to retire rather than face criminal charges for misconduct. One officer's gun was stolen by his roommate, who used the weapon to murder a convenience store clerk. Another officer was promoted to master police officer and trainer despite a long history of misconduct. The sheriff's office failed to discipline other officers with long records of abuse and crime, as well.
Tags: police; sheriff; King County sheriff's department; FOI; police brutality; misconduct; oversight; police officer's union; corruption; crime
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Deed Scam Hits Lee
Hoyem's story uncovers how scam artists in Southwest Florida forged property deeds with the signatures of dead property owners, stealing and re-selling land to get rich quick.
Tags: stealing land; reselling land; Lee County Property Appraiser; Lee County Tax Collector; Lee County Clerk of Court; property deeds
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Broken Trust
In this six part series, the Sedalia Democrat examines the workings of Sedalia county's public administrator and finds evidence of "widespread mismanagement, questionable payments to cronies and other problems concerning the care of the city wards". The investigation also reveals how public administrator Marilyn Schmidt "fattened the pockets of her close friends" by using her wards' estates that should have been used to take care of the disabled and frail. Furthermore, "the county judge, who was mandated to oversee Schmidt's work, routinely approved expense after expense, even after his clerk's pointed out Schmidt's questionable spending".
Tags: Joyce Burke; Pettis County; Judge Robert Koffman; Kimberly Cornine; Mildred Williams
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Abnormal volume of "disabled" voters raises suspicions
Immediately following the municipal elections in Hearne, Texas, rumors started floating about voter fraud. There seemed to be too many absentee voters, too many disabled voters, and too many voters all together for such an election. It turned out, the mayor (who won by a landslide) and the election judge locked up the absentee ballots. The mayor then subpoenaed the ballots. The publicity from the story led a resident to come forward who had made photocopies of a portion of the applications prior to the election. The reporters went door to door to verify the names on some suspicious looking applications. Some homes were vacant. Handwriting experts verified that some signatures on the applications were most likely forged by one person.
Tags: municipal election; absentee voters; disabled voters; absentee ballot applications; Secretary of State election office; the Freedom of Information Foundation; Robertson County Republican Party; Texas Municipal Clerks Association Inc.
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Debate as rare as 'no' votes on Cook County Board
This investigation found that Cook County Commissioners say they have little power as individuals, and have no defined, specific responsibilities. Many say most of the items that come before them are routine "housekeeping" matters. The board passed every one of the thousands of items that came before it in the last three years, and lobbying and back-room compromises often took the place of open debate and negotiation. The commissioners also defend practices of county leaders hiring friends and political associates.
Tags: Cook County; budget; County Clerk; treasurer; sheriff; state attorney; county finances; Cook County Board; county commissioners; finance committee; Cook County Sheriff's Department; Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Illinois Open Meetings Act; Department of Public Health
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Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
The Courier-Journal investigates inept administration and case backlog at the Bullitt County, Ky., court system. The series reveals that "more than 200 felony indictments ... either were never prosecuted or else were incompletely prosecuted between 1998 and 2000," according to the contest entry summary. The mishandling was due to clerks' errors and inept record-keeping.
Tags: crime; prosecutors; judges; rape; drug-dealing; punishment; law enforcement