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 "conservation" ...
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Cyber Espionage: The Chinese Threat
It’s the biggest threat facing American business today but the least talked about by corporate executives. Experts at the highest levels of government agree, cyber espionage is threatening to steal American wealth, American jobs and ultimately America’s economic security and the biggest aggressor is China. Due to the nature of the crime, the cost to American businesses is nearly impossible to pinpoint. Experts say Chinese hackers are constantly probing corporate networks, sifting through endless amounts of data to decipher what is valuable intellectual property, chemical formulas or proprietary technology. One conservative estimate from the National Counter Intelligence Executive puts the cost of economic espionage at up to $400B annually, but the report states such estimates vary “so widely as to be meaningless,” reflecting the scarcity of data available. CNBC’s David Faber and the Investigations Inc. team spoke with many corporate executives about China’s aggressive effort to target American businesses and their most valuable assets, but many refused to comment on camera for our report, citing becoming more vulnerable to attack by speaking publicly about the issue. However, not one executive denied their company is at risk of cyber-attack on a daily basis or the possibility of losing valuable intellectual property to cyber spies. Government and industry experts we spoke with on-camera have witnessed such costly cyber-attacks during their careers and attest to the fact there are only two companies left in America today: Those who know they’ve been hacked and those who don’t. From a whistleblower claiming telecommunications giant Nortel was one of the first casualties of this all-out cyber war, to high profile and public attacks on Google and RSA, its clear defending against cyber espionage is the new normal for American business.
Tags: Chinese hackers; American businesses; cyber attacks; cyber espionage
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Mercury News: Loss of Trust
The San Jose Mercury News IRE contest entry "Loss of Trust" consists of an original two-part series published July 1 and July 2, 2012, and the series' remarkable aftermath. The series exposed the eye-popping fees charged by private professionals working as court-appointed conservators and trustees for dependent adults in Silicon Valley - exorbitant rates that together with attorneys' fees threaten to force their vulnerable clients onto government assistance to survive. Within days of publication, the Santa Clara County Superior Court launched an overhaul of its local rules, and state legislation was pledged for the coming year to rein in the abuses.
Tags: Conservators; Trustees; attorneys; overcharged fees
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Congressional Speech Series
Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago, with the most conservative members of Congress speaking on average at the lowest grade level, according to a new Sunlight Foundation analysis of the Congressional Record using Capitol Words. Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications.
Tags: congress; communication
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Deep Cuts: Why is the Triangle Land Conservancy Logging Its Land
The Triangle Land Conservancy is one of the most respected land protection nonprofit agencies in North Carolina. Its mission is to protect land from development and environmental degradation. But in 2004, under new leadership the TLC quietly changed its mission to include the timbering of lands. Until the story was published, most donors knew little or nothing of the timbering.
Tags: Triangle Land Conservancy; timbering; nonprofit; donors
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Under the Radar
An investigation of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association found that the nonprofit group was providing almost no assistance to veterans and current U.S. troops and instead spending millions of dollars on conservative campaigns across the country.
Tags: U.S. Navy Veterans Association; veterans; Navy Veterans; campaign contributions; nonprofit
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The Swedish Crusade
The interview of Bishop Richard Williamson led to the most serious conflict between the Jewish and the Catholic communities. In the interview the Bishop denied the existence of the Holocaust, who was excommunicated from the Church. Though, after the Pope lifted this excommunication, criticism of the Pope and the Vatican began. The follow-up revealed that the "persons responsible within the Vatican could have avoided the upcoming crisis, but decided to neglect the information".
Tags: Society of St. Pius X(SSPX); Protestant Sweden; neo-Nazi; conservative; Cardinal; church; religion; Catholic
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OC Assemblyman In Bed With Lobbyist
When Michael Duvall, an Ex-Orange County assemblyman, described portions of his affair, he did not know it would be broadcasted for the public to hear. Duvall has been a consistent supporter for conservative issues and has long supported California families and their values. But after becoming the vice chairman of the Utilities and Commerce committee women, especially a lobbyist for the utility giant in California, began to notice him. This is how the affair started and resigning as assemblyman is how it ended.
Tags: Michael Duvall; Heidi DeJong Barsuglia; assembly district representative; conservative; Rules Committee; Republican; politician; affair; California
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Why Health Insurers Are Winning
Even though the health reform promises to be of value to everyone, one group would benefit the most. This group is the insurance companies. The interests of the insurance companies have been shaping the health care reform and ensure their own enrichment. This has been done by lobbying, which has influenced the conservative Democrats.
Tags: Health insurance; Health reform; reform; Democrats; Doctors; Insurance; Health care; UnitedHealth; Obama
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The Family
"The family is a story of a self-described 'invisible organization' of Christian conservative activists dedicated to organizing political and business elites into linked small groups they call 'prayer cells' or invisible believing groups.' Members and associates of the Family, also known as the Fellowship, include prominent figures such as senators Sam Brownback, James Ihnofe, and John Ensign; representatives Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, and Zach Wamp; former attorneys general John Ashcroft and Ed Meese; and many others."
Tags: Christian fundamentalist; Christian Right; government; Focus on the Family; Ivanwald; Arlington, Va.;
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Renegade Riders
Despite new state laws, extra enforcement and self-policing, off-road vehicles are tearing up public lands across the state. As the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designated nearly 8,000 miles of motorized trails, top officials repeatedly ignored staff experts' recommendations on how to keep riders away from sensitive areas such as wetlands. A companion video reports on startribune.com used a hidden camera to capture illegal off-trail damage as it happened.
Tags: state parks; environmental destruction; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; public safety; conservation; park trails