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 "loop-hole" ...
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Protecting the Doctors
KMGH-TV found that when Colorado doctors are accused of sexual assault and/or improper conduct investigations are handled by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The administrative investigation reports all criminal acts and findings to the state's attorney general who represents the agency. Because the A.G. represents the agency, it has no obligation under the law to notify or counsel the victim. The result is many doctors simply surrender their license and then are free because no charges are pressed before statute of limitations runs out. Doctors are then able to file for a reinstatement of medical license anywhere, because files are sealed. After this report legislation was passed to close this loop hole.
Tags: medicine; doctors; sexual assault; investigation; medical license; Colorado; victim rights; statute of limitation; Kim Nagel; Attorney General
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Misuse of Tax Caps
The reporters' investigation focused on the community approval of local tax-rates without realizing that under a loop-hole in a tax cap law passed previously by the Illinois State legislature, public departments who knew about the loop-hole were able to collect a much higher sum of taxes than the constituents thought they were approving.
Tags: tax rates; loop-hole; tax law; financial consultants; school districts; property tax; district budgets; FOIA
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Tarnished Badges
A loop hole in South Carolina law allows for law enforcement officers to continue working in the police force despite having a history of misconduct and criminal behaviors. Also the agency in charge of monitoring and disciplining the officers was discovered to be understaffed and underfunded.
Tags: police officers; law; law enforcement; discipline
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Down and Dirty
WSMV-TV (Nashville) "found children wading through sewage-filled creeks and a river bank covered with sewage sludge. The people who ran Nashville's sewer department ignored the problem because they were able to avoid environmental fines and penalties by using a special loop-hole." The investigation discovers "billions of gallons of Nashville's sewage was being bypassed into creeks and ditches and rivers in the city. Sewer operators were kicking out sewage anywhere, to keep incoming sewage away from the overloaded and outmoded treatment plant."
Tags: VIDEOCLIP TAPE TRANSCRIPT Environment Protection Agency EPA Department of Health