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 "conflicts of interest" ...
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Combating Autism From Within
This series shows both sides of the vaccine debate concerning mercury's possible role in causing autism. Also, the stories touch on conflicts of interest with drug companies paying and conducting studies with government support, which may prevent users from knowing the truth.
Tags: autism; vaccine; mercury; drug companies; government support;
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Ethics questions follow P'ville BOE dealings
"School board contracts in Pleasantville, NJ were intertwined with officials getting campaign funding and personal jobs from contractors, resulting in conflicts of interest and probable violations of the law."
Tags: board of education; conflict of interest; campaign; city; campaign funding; publicity
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Conflict on the Bench
Evans examined two sitting federal judges, James H. Payne and Terrence Boyle, to determine their independence.Both were nominated by President Bush for higher court seats. Both have conflicts of interest on their bench: they each sat on cases that involved companies in which they owned stock. Judge Payne withdrew his nomination after the stories about him ran.
Tags: federal judge; stock; companies; bench; Boyle; Payne; Bush; Circuit Court of Appeals;
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Baker Resigns
"The series documents the fall of a once-promising local politician, Long Beach City Councilman Dan Baker, who chose to end his career after the Press-Telegram reported that he had entered into a $7.5 million investment deal with the head of the city's police union."
Tags: real estate; conflict of interest; partnership; Steve James; Ray Grabinski
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Secret Political Piggy Bank
An investigation into member-item spending within the New York State Legislature. With the opening of lawmakers' records "numerous examples of corruption, conflict of interest and self dealing by elected officials" were discovered.
Tags: New York; legislature; member-item; projects; corruption; conflict of interest; self dealing; indictments; criminal investigations; federal; state; government
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Juice vs Justice
According to the Los Angeles Times, Las Vegas Justices rule on matters in cases where they have received donations from lawyers or defendants, without disclosing their financial interests or relationships, and without withdrawing when a conflict of interest exists. The Los Angeles Times reports "A common perception among a dozen out-of-state lawyers interviewed about their experiences in Nevada courtrooms is that justice in Las Vegas is just another form of legalized gambling." The Times reported this series because more than a quarter of all visits to Las VEgas are made by Southern Californians, and over a third of alll business relocating to Nevada come from California.
Tags: Blackstone; judicial corruption; good-old-boy culture; Las Vegas; Nevada Supreme Court; political fundraising; financial contributions; juice; disclosure; campaign funds; endorsements; pay-to-play
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Series on Congressman Jerry Weller
Congressman Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) is married to a foreign government official, Zury Rios Sosa, daughter of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt. Weller is a member of a committee "whose main focus is Latin America," and "has been silent about Guatemalan problems that affect the U.S., particularly drug smuggling." The investigation also found that Weller failed to report on his congressional disclosure form the amount of beachfront property he owns in Nicaragua, putting him in "violation of house ethics rules and U.S. law."
Tags: Jerry Weller; Zury Rios Sosa; Efrain Rios Montt; Guatemala; political conflicts of interest; politicians' financial disclosure forms
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Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority Investigation
"These stories detail a history of public contracting at the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority that is at best sloppy and at worst rife with favoritism and conflicts of interest. An audit of the authority by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed the problems with contracting practices at the authority and asked for $2 million to be repaid because the money wasn't spent properly."
Tags: housing; local government; federal government; housing; local politics; FOIA; public records; government spending
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Ben Stevens' Secret Fish Deal
Reporter Richard Mauer investigated the previously unreported conflict of interest that Ben Stevens, president of the Alaska Senate, had in a fish-processing company on Adak Island. Mauer shows how the owners of the fisheries plant attempted to reward Stevens by granting him an option in their company, which was more valuable because of a piece of special interest legislation being presented to Congress by Ben Stevens' father Senator Ted Stevens.
Tags: fish; Alaska; conflict of interest; Ben Stevens; Senator Ted Stevens; Adak fisheries
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The Illinois Pension Scandal
The investigation found numerous instances in which major investment firms quietly paid hefty consultant fees to political players who helped them land business in Illinois pension funds.
Tags: pension; consultant firms; investment; pension fund; FOIA; conflict of interest