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 "political conflicts of interest" ...
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Local officials are likely to profit from fracking in Southern Tier
Local government officials have been lobbying the state to the controversial oil and gas extraction process known as fracking. But when they spoke at public hearings and pushed in other forums, were they just representing their communities, or did they have more at stake? In a four-month investigation, SUNY New Paltz students reviewed thousands of public records in two states. The investigation found more than 30 locally elected officials who have been outspoken proponents for fracking. Public records and additional examinations identified about 20 percent of those with more than political philosophy at stake — the chance to gain personally and financially. To open government advocates such as Common Cause, these instances raise concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest among locally elected officials. About six months after publication, and after further moves by local officials to press the state to approve fracking, the state attorney general has launched inquiries into whether local officials have violated conflicts of interest.
Tags: Oil; gas; oil and gas extraction; fracking
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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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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
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Cash Cow
The author investigated the use of public funds going to political insiders, conflicts of interest, cronyism, nepotism and a reluctance for transparency in the little- scrutinized town of Southwest Ranches, Florida. The investigation showed how a "contract" form of government could spin out of control and defy all tenets of good public policy.
Tags: Southwest Ranches; public funds; conflicts of interest; cronyism; nepotism; contract government; public disclosure; Sunshine laws
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AAA Poll
AAA used a poll financed in part with taxpayer money to lobby for its driving initiatives before the Maryland General Assembly. The author explores the conflict of interest and ethical dilemmas that arise from this complicated situation.
Tags: congress; legislature; politics; politicians; interest groups; state government; driving
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"Deputy Mayor for the Olympics," & "Market-Rate Giveaway"
These two stories focus on the activities of Deputy New York City Mayor Daniel Doctoroff and his campaign to bring the Olympics to New York. In the "Deputy Mayor" story, newly elected mayor Bloomberg got Doctoroff to hit up corporations that do business with the city to raise money for the Olympics project. This even though a conflict of interest ruling should have prevented him from those activities. "Market-Rate Giveaway" is about a sweetheart deal handed to a friend of Doctoroff's, Steve Ross and his business Related Companies, as part of the Olympics project. That deal would allow Ross to replace the Bronx produce market with a new mall, putting thousands of market workers out of a job.
Tags: cronyism; public interest; city government; Olympics; politics; Bronx Terminal Market
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Turmoil at UMDNJ
This extensive nine-month investigation into the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey first began with a "mysterious check made out to a dead man." What resulted were more than 70 stories uncovering years of corruption, political patronage, conflicts of interest, millions of dollars in no-bid contracts and bonuses for administrators and more. At the end of the investigation into UMDNJ, the U.S. Attorney ordered a federal monitor to take over--the first time ever that a state university had to be taken over by the federal government.
Tags: fraud; Medicare; Medicaid; corruption; James McGreevey; contracts