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 "power of attorney" ...
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Dirty Deeds
It may be the biggest inside job in Louisiana history: vast expanses of oil and gas-rich land and water bottoms, owned by the state, but handed over to some of Louisiana’s most powerful politicians. The “scheme” uncovered by our investigative team dates back to the 1930s and has generated over a billion adjusted dollars during that time. This comprehensive multi-platform series not only sparked an investigation by Louisiana’s Attorney General, but also informed viewers that this shocking 80 year old deal is still costing an already cash-strapped state tens of millions of dollars each year.
Tags: Politicians; oil; gas; governors
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"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
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Scott Rothstein coverage by Bob Norman
Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein over the past few years began amassing fortunes, sweeping the political scene, and donating large sums to charities. New Times reporter Bob Norman broke the story on Rothstein's rise to affluence which was funded by a $1 billion Ponzi scheme. Norman was the first journalist to question Rothstein's legitimacy, and his continued coverage of the Rothstein case broke additional developments. Two months later Rothstein fled to Morocco on a private jet.
Tags: Fort Lauderdale; attorney; Scott Rothstein; fortune; power; charity; Morocco; Bob Norman; scheme; fraud; Ponzi; New Times;
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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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Guardians for Profit
The reporters investigated California's broken system for protecting incapacitated adults. Roughly 500 professional conservators operate in California, entrusted to take care of at least 4,600 of the state's most vulnerable adults. They hold sweeping power, controlling their wards' property and money as well as the smallest details of their lives. A system meant to protect the elderly often fails them.
Tags: elderly; elder care; conservators; power of attorney; California Public Records Act; disabled
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Sheriff Joe
He was known as "America's Toughest Sheriff." John Dougherty's story uncovered Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Apraio's misuse of police powers for political gain. He also encouraged brutality in the jails to promote his "tough guy" image.
Tags: police brutality; "America's Toughest Sheriff"; Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Apraio; Maricopa County Attorney's Office
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The black avenger: Milton Crawford exposes the DWP's big whitewash ... racism, intimidation and harassment
This investigation exposed a decades-long cover-up of racism and harassment by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The story revealed how the nation's largest public utility and the city attorney's office used illegal confidential settlements to conceal nearly $10 million in outside legal costs and settlements stemming from workplace discrimination, harassment, and intimidation at the Department of Water and Power.
Tags: Los Angeles; Department of Water and Power; racism; workplace discrimination; sexual harassment
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Close Connections
The Asbury Park Press' investigations of municipal officials found that politically powerful attorneys had almost free reign to double bill and over bill the agencies they were supposed to serve. An investigation of the township attorney, who is the top elected Republican in the state, found that he double billed the city by more than $8,000. He initially said the double-billing was not his responsibility, but later admitted it was an accident. The Press found that the project in which the double-billing occurred was part of an unfinished seven-year effort to rewrite the city's ordinances. The senator charged more than $100,000 for the incomplete work, although similar projects cost a quarter as much and can take months, not years, to finish. Close examination of these billing records for the ordinance re-writing project showed his bills included rewrites of ordinances that don't exist, and repeated rewrites of ordinances that were little more than a paragraph or two long.
Tags: Marlboro Township-New Jersey; Council Members; Mayor Matthew V. Scannapieco; developers; Anthony Spalliero; Senator John O. Bennett III; political contributions; double-billing; town budget; ordinances; legal invoice; Monmouth County; campaign contributions; Center for Responsive Politics Marlboro Cultural and Improvement Fund; Keansburg Board of Education; New Jersey State Commission of Investigation; reform bill; elected officials
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Lords of Bakersfield
From the questionnaire, "The Californian exposed the depths and extent to which the assistant district attorney of Kern County, Calif., went to manipulate and control the teenage son of one of his longest serving and most faithful investigators. The Californian also examined a series of murders dating back to the late 1970s, up to the present, that suggested a pattern of corruption at the higest levels of Kern County's government. Powerful mein were alleged to have used their positions to cover up their own, and others' duplicitous lives in which they secretly used teenage boys for sex. Cases involving the alleged conspirators, known as the Lords of Bakersfield, occasionally ended in murder."
Tags: Stephen M. Tauzer; D.A. Investigator Chris Hillis; Glen Fitts; Dana Butler; Ed Jagels; Carl Sparks; Kyle Humphrey; Al Loustalot; Loren Fote
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Debate as rare as 'no' votes on Cook County Board
This investigation found that Cook County Commissioners say they have little power as individuals, and have no defined, specific responsibilities. Many say most of the items that come before them are routine "housekeeping" matters. The board passed every one of the thousands of items that came before it in the last three years, and lobbying and back-room compromises often took the place of open debate and negotiation. The commissioners also defend practices of county leaders hiring friends and political associates.
Tags: Cook County; budget; County Clerk; treasurer; sheriff; state attorney; county finances; Cook County Board; county commissioners; finance committee; Cook County Sheriff's Department; Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Illinois Open Meetings Act; Department of Public Health