Resource Center

Stories

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 "finances" ...

  • Public Service Journalism Via Apps and Interactives

    The Texas Tribune uses government records lawmakers, agency chiefs, educators and influential state figures would rather not be public. Projects include a campaign finance database offers a comprehensive, searchable tool to see who's bankrolling their representatives. The public schools database provides extensive access to comparative data on all of Texas' school districts.

    Tags: data; government; statistics

    By n/a

    Texas Tribune

    2011

  • Debt-uty crisis

    The four-day series detailed the controversial origins of the Knox County Sheriff's Office Pension Plan -- called the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan, UOPP -- and the ramifications its approval had on county finances. The series looked at how the plan was sold to the public on lies and bad information.

    Tags: pension plan; sheriffs; Knox County

    By Mike Donila

    Knoxville News Sentinel

    2011

  • TIFs in Chicago

    This investigation looks into Chicago's tax-increment financing (TIF) program, designed to promote economic development in blighted ares. However, what they found was that the TIF money was rarely being used the way it was intended.

    Tags: TIF; Chicago; multimedia

    By Chicago Talks staff

    chicagotalks.org

    2011

  • Render Unto Rome

    This book investigates the Catholic Church's finances and breaks new ground on several fronts including fiscal mismanagement, embezzlement and abuse.

    Tags: Catholic Church; book

    By Jason Berry

    Independent Writer

    2011

  • Beneath the Surface of Political Expense

    The Kukmin Daily finds that several lawmakers in South Korea's National Assembly used campaign contributions to fund golf outings, trips to the sauna and even haircuts.

    Tags: South Korea; campaign contributions; greed; campaign finances

    By Seunghoon Jung; Jibang Kim; Dongkwon Chung

    Kukmin Daily

    2011

  • ABC News Partnership: Better Business Bureau Investigation

    The ABC News Investigative Unit along with six ABC local affiliate stations conducted an unprecedented investigation of the Better Business Bureau.

    Tags: BBB; Better Business Bureau; pay-to-play; finance; consumer watchdog

    By Brian Ross; Joseph Rhee; Rhonda Schwartz; Jim Hoffer; Daniela Royes; Steve Daniels; Silvia Gambardella; John Atwater; Sarah Stolper; Jennifer Berryman; Hagit Limor; Phil Dreschler; Kerry Tomlinson; Mitch Blacher; Felicia Kit

    ABC News

    2010

  • Europe's Hiddin Billions

    An investigation of the European Union's spending practices finds that less than 10 percent of allotted funding has reached the beneficiaries of Structural Fund projects. The stories also examine how it is nearly impossible for taxpayers to see how their money is being spent.

    Tags: taxpayer; EU; European Union; finance; spending

    By Cynthia O'Murchu; Stanley Pignal; Caelainn Barr; Annamarie Cumiskey; Rob McKinnon

    Financial Times (United Kingdom)

    2010

  • "Local Sheriff Abusing His Power?"

    This investigation reveals that the Middlesex County sheriff had been accepting money from his employees who were interested in staying in his "good graces." The corruption also benefited the sheriff's "political future." When the accusation of corruption was exposed by WFXT, the Mass. Attorney General launched its own investigation. Less than a week later, the sheriff committed suicide, and WFXT-TV received criticism for their reporting of the incident. Critics eventually determined the story was fairly investigated and reported.

    Tags: Middlesex County; sheriff; James Dipaola; Office of Campaign and Political Finance; Attorney General

    By Mike Beaudet; Kevin Rothstein; James Goff; Richard Ward; Allan DiMaio

    WFXT (Dedham, MA)

    2010

  • "Greed v. Guardianship"

    This investigation reveals serious flaws in the Maricopa County Probate Court. Families have complained of being "violated" by their court appointed guardian, which was most often the Sun Valley Group. Families accused SVG of taking control of their finances, selling anything of value and keeping the money. Some were even kept from visiting sick loved ones who had been placed in care facilities.

    Tags: Sun Valley Group; probate court; Maricopa County; Arizona Supreme Court; public records; court documents; guardianship

    By Maria Tomasch; Joe Ducey; Aaron Wische; Vivek Narayan; Matthew Anzur; Patrick Lancaster

    KNXV-TV (Phoenix)

    2010

  • Bloomberg's Offshore Millions/The Secret Campaign of Mayor Mike

    The two stories take an unprecedented look at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's finances. One story uncovers how Bloomberg used a loophole to invest charitable funds in overseas tax havens. The other story examines the questionable tactics of his secretive campaign effort called "ballot security."

    Tags: Bloomberg; mayor; election; finances; campaign spending

    By Aram Roston; Reid Pillifant; Azi Paybarah

    New York Observer

    2010