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 "improper use of funds" ...
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The Secret University
Lu Hardin, popular president of the University of Central Arkansas , received a $3000,000 bonus, approved in secret by the college's board of trustees - a violation of Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act. Trustees told the reporter that the bonus came from private funds, but she discovered that the board had used public funds in violations of rules capping the amount of public funds that can be used for college presidents' salaries.
Tags: university fraud; sweetheart deals; improper use of funds; Lu Hardin; University of Central Arkansas; bonus; salaries;
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Ohio Attorney General: Price of Corruption
WBNS-TV (Columbus, Ohio) revealed a pattern of corruption inside the state's highest law enforcement office including cronyism, misuse of state funds and property, improper use of campaign funds, ethics violations and cover-up. The reporters found that the Attorney General had used campaign funds to rent a condominium for two of his friends/employees that was later tied to sexual harassment,alleged crimes involving state vehicles and the hub for cronyism. Their reporting revealed that the Attorney General created a "transition fund" as an unregulated 501 c4 non-profit account. Through law enforcement, the station learned that this fund funneled at least $2,000 in inappropriate payments to the Attorney General's friend/employee/condo-mate.
Tags: Ohio Attorney General's Office; corruption; 501 c4 non-profit; cronyism; abuse of public funds; misappropriation of funds; abuse of power
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City Parties
The authors investigated two cities in their viewing area, one in Indiana and the other in Kentucky, that used taxpayers money to pay for expensive dinners, alcoholic drinks and gifts for their employees and their families.
Tags: taxpayers; city government; fraud; improper use of funds; Newport, Kentucky; Lawrenceburg,Indiana; Christmas party; inaugural party; Public Record Request
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Borrowing the Future
This article takes an in-depth look at the ways charities spend their funds. The reporters found that many charities in fact use their assets to make loans to officers and directors, even though that use of funding is both improper and illegal.
Tags: charity; philanthropy; donations; nonprofits; 990s
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Money Gone, Ohio Gets Little Back
The Cincinnati Enquirer two-part series "examined how state government officials rarely chase after misspent tax money identified in state audits over the past three years. Of the $346.5 million that was misspent, no one tracked efforts to recover the money and few attempts to actually get back misspent funds were made. The Enquirer reviewed 428 state audits and inspection reports since 2000 that questioned spending. The reports show that state government, local governments and private companies repeatedly used bad contracts and spent money illegally or improperly outside state or federal rules."
Tags: state government; Ohio; lawsuits; tax money; auditor; audits; state contracts; state agencies; state audits
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City Loses Count of Take-Home Cars
The Post-Standard reports on the improper usage of 150 take-home cars owned and maintained by the City of Syracuse. The cars were supposed to be used by employees frequently called in to work during off-duty hours. In fact, city employees commuted daily from the suburbs in the taxpayer-funded vehicles. Some went on record saying they did not know why they were assigned the cars. The cars cost the city more than $2 million since 1990.
Tags: FOI requests; tax documents; city budget; police officers; conflicts of interest; public funds
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No title (id: 9852)
Denver Business Journal details the policies of the Gerrity Oil & Gas Corp., including allegations of improper use of corporate funds, a history of high turnover and litigation and problems with production at oil wells owned by the company, July 23, 1993.
Tags: CO Locke 9 pages
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No title (id: 7879)
New York Newsday reports on improper use of political action committee funds by U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato; money was meant to rebuild the New York state Republican Party, but was largely used to fund political activities of the Republican senator, May 24, 1990.
Tags: None
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No title (id: 5703)
Oakland (Calif.) Tribune details allegations of improper use of federal grant funds by Golden State Business League and the National Association of Black Minority Chambers of Commerce, Oct. 30, 1988.
Tags: CA Grabowicz
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At N.J.'s edge, a park is dying
The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) details factors behind the decay of a state beach-front park; management breakdown, improper use of funds, and pollution are cited.
Tags: Englewood Cliff; Palisades Interstate Park; decay; management; funds; pollution