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 "rental car" ...
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WESD's Web of Deals
A 16-month investigation of a regional education service agency showed that employees were charging the district for luxury rental cars, expensive hotels, Starbucks trips, and more as the district was struggling to stay afloat. It also found that numerous red flags raised over the past 10 years had been ignored.
Tags: education; tax abuse; corruption; county government; oversight
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The rise and fall of Denny Hecker
Denny Hecker is one of the” biggest, most well-known businessmen in the Twin Cities”. He owned car dealerships, a national car rental company, and was the star of many advertisements. Behind this perfect exterior is a story of criminal behaviors and massive debt. All these details were revealed after Hecker filed for personal bankruptcy, which began the “collapse of a massive empire”.
Tags: loans; revenue; money; fortune; recession; deal maker; financial; finances; assets; FOIA; lawsuits
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Database Delay
Unethical car sellers putting salvage vehicles on the road has presented a danger to those on the road. KGTV shows how a database could have saved billions of dollars while preventing unnecessary deaths on the road.
Tags: CARFAX; auction; rental car; John Ashcroft; Attorney General; resale; history report;
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Moving out of Reach
This investigative report follows the results of the 1986 Census Bureau survey conducted about housing conditions in Orange County. Using CAR, Campbell's analysis revealed that "nearly a quarter million residents of Orange County--one family in nine--spend at least half their income on housing," which significantly exceeds the federal governent-recommended limit. This investigation also looked at te increase in tax-exempt bonds for luxury apartmet, despite a shortage of low-cost rental properties in the county.
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Danger In Tow
ABC 15 investigators focus on the U-Haul tow dolly and find that those renting the tow dollies to motorists were ignoring safety concerns, resulting in a number of accident deaths. Specifically, these accidents happen when the rental equipment forced people's cars out of control. Delving into documents of nearly 40 such cases, the investigators further discover that some U-Haul locations did not even check a safety hook-up before allowing its customers to rent a tow dolly.
Tags: safety; victim depositions; u-haul; motorist; accidents; deaths; FOI
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Hell on Wheels
An ex-felon schemed up a plan to buy wrecked rental cars, patching them up and roll back the odometers, then sell the tainted autos to a used car dealer. The dealership passed off at least 11 autos on area customers. A few customers took the dealership to court on fraud charges and won. But a few of the cars may still be on the road.
Tags: felon; car; fraud; car dealer; transportation
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Dreams tumbling down; "Manufactured promises" two-part series: The high cost of home & No longer their choice; State will review rules on housing; Troubled homes amid prosperity; Manufactured-housing trade group favors new disclosure laws; Panel urges more regulation of manufactured homes; Panel urges more regulation of manufactured homes; Difficulty follows easy-buy homes; Manufactured home dealers, state reach agreements
An Oregonian investigative series and follow-up stories report on how the rising cost of manufactured homes has forced residents into bankruptcy and moving out. As mobile home parks compete with the site-built housing business, their have become a hardly affordable place to live anymore, the Oregonian reports. Loans for manufactured houses usually carry 3 to 5 points higher interest rates than those for stick-built houses. The stories reveal that the industry targets young families and first-time home buyers, that developers impose additional "park packages" of up to 20,000 to 30,000 per home and that manufactured-home dealers are regulated less than car dealers.
Tags: mobile homes; real estate; trailers; rental parks; poverty; low income; elderly; social issues; bankruptcy; loans; mortgages; foreclosure; Oregon Manufactured Housing Association; homeowners; land development
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Marcus Camby Investigation
Marcus Camby, the National College Basketball Player of the Year (1996) of the University of Massachusetts, and two friends took jewelry, money, rental cars and had sex with prostitutes at would-be agent Wesley Spears' behest. The NCAA is now looking into major reforms for agents as well as ways to compensate athletes so they can stay in school.
Tags: NCAA reform; sport agents; Marcus Camby investigation; Contest entry
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No title (id: 12774)
The Journal Star investigates rental housing violators in the local area. Houses on about one in five of city streets came before the Housing Commission or the housing court, but the two top violators were treated more leniently than landlords overall and paying less in average fines. (Dec. 17 - 21, 1995)
Tags: Okeson CAR City of blight rental decay Contest entry Housing codes 22pgs.
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Living Low in the Highlands
The Daily News finds that just seven men control 20 percent of the rental housing stock in the Highlands, Longview's poorest neighborhood. Some of these landlords have amassed small fortunes in run-down real estate, while contibuting to the blight of the neighborhood. The investigation also reveals that a state senator was renting a slum house to a family. (July 26 - 28, 1995)
Tags: Drummond CAR Living low in the highlands Contest entry Poverty Low-income 16 pgs.