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 "roads" ...
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Sun Sentinel: Speeding Cops
A Miami cop in his marked patrol car set off a public fury in the fall of 2011 when a Florida state trooper clocked him going 120 mph to an off-duty job. Turning to technology and a never-before used tool – highway toll records – the Sun Sentinel produced back-to-back investigations documenting widespread police misconduct and the professional solidarity that allowed it to flourish. In "Above the Law," a three-part series published in February, reporters used police toll records to confirm what many South Florida drivers had witnessed for years: cops were among the worst speeders on the roads, taking advantage of the badge and patrol car to ignore the very laws they enforce. "Short Shifted," a two-part series published in December, used those same toll records to detail how many South Florida cops, paid to serve and protect, were regularly leaving their beats and cities before their shifts ended.
Tags: Police; police speeders
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NC Auto Inspection's-Failing the Test
Every year, North Carolina auto owners must take vehicles to private garages for state-mandated safety and emissions testing meant to prevent traffic crashes and curb pollution. Drivers cannot put a car on the road legally unless it passes inspection. A review inspection data showed the program is undermined by unscrupulous garages who do a volume business, passing unsafe cars, and by other who take bribes or cheat customers with uncessary repairs.
Tags: auto owners; emissions testing; unsafe cars
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What Trinity Toll Road Backers Didn't Tell Us
In 2007, Dallas voters rendered a judgement on the largest public works project in city history, casting ballots in a referendum that had become a surprisingly close, all-in-battle between grassroots activists and the Dallas business and cultural establishment. The question- should the city's multi-billion plan to transform Dallas' long-neglected riverfront into a massive series of parks, forests, white-water rapids, and other natural wonders be built, as planned, with a $2 billion high-speed toll road running right through it?
Tags: Dallas; 2007; Toll Road; Grassroots Activist
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The Baghdad Job: Iraq's Missing Billions
Revealing that every one of the billion dollar cash airlifts the NY Fed sent to Baghdad was met by the same man. He handled as much as 40 billion dollars in cash in the war zone between 2003 and 2008. On one occasion -- to dupe the insurgents who frequently attacked his currency convoys -- the courier placed a billion dollars in the back of a garbage truck and rolled it down "Route Irish," the unnamed military designation for what was the most dangerous road in the world. The courier accused unnamed Iraqi officials of being involved in theft of millions of dollars of the cash that he delivered into their vaults.
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Brian Ross Investigates: Taking Toyota
The investigative team reveals how Toyota had for years ignored complaints from hundreds of its owners about serious safety defects in cars that that were marketed around the world as among the safest on the road.
Tags: Toyota; cars; safety defect; driving; vehicle
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Road to Recovery
The series determines whether federal stimulus spending was having any impact on the economic recovery in local communities in Kansas and Missouri.
Tags: federal stimulus; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; Stimulus Bill
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"The Transportation Lobby"
After discovering that there are more than 1,800 transportation interest groups the team at The Center for Public Integrity "compiled a database of transportation lobbyists and integrated that with an interactive map." Search by location, public/private sector, lobbying firm, or project.
Tags: transportation; lobbyists; interest groups; road lobby
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Speed Trap Controversy
Some Detroit speed limits may be set too low, according to a Detroit News investigation. Municipalities in Michigan were not complying with Public Act 85 which requires them to conduct studies to set proper speed limits.
Tags: speed limits; traffic; roads; speed trap; Public Act 85
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Road to Nowhere:The men who are caught transporting illegal immigrants rarely pay the price
A Colorado law passed to prohibit human smuggling has proven to be difficult to enforce. Most charges against human smugglers are dismissed or don't end up in court.
Tags: illegal immigration; human smuggling; border; state troopers; smuggler
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Crash Reports
The reporter finds that a new district attorney chooses not to follow up on pending negligent vehicular homicide cases, thereby enabling many of the drivers to continue driving on the road.
Tags: car accident; manslaughter; driver; district attorney; crash report