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 "state park funding" ...
-
Win, Lose or Draw: Gambling for Jobs
This series examines Kentucky's economic development program's failure to create jobs and alleviate poverty across the state, and especially in the poorest areas. Incentives given to businesses for more than 14 years did not result in the contractually agreed-upon number of new jobs. The state program was loosely monitored and shrouded in secrecy. Funds allocated for high tech job training were diverted to creation of malls and industrial parks that remained mostly vacant. Overall, after 14 years, Kentucky's poverty ranking was not improved by the development programs.
Tags: poverty; economic development; job creation; incentives; tax breaks; industry; Kentucky; FOI
-
No Ex-Councilman Left Behind
After concern over the pensions crisis in San Diego, the author investigated the circumstances regarding a 48 percent increase in the pension check of a long-gone former councilman, Mike Gotch. It was found that the pension increase could be viewed as a bargaining tool between a current city councilman, Jim Madaffer and the former employee who was working at the time in the governor's office.
Tags: San Diego; Mike Gotch; Jim Madaffer; governor's office; pension; state park funding; lobbying; city councilman
-
New York Slush Funds
The three men who run New York's state government have stuck state taxpayers with more than $1 billion in debt over the last seven years for a series of secretive slush funds under their tight control. State leaders use the money to reward political friends and punish enemies. They use the money to keep rank-and-file legislators obedient. The stories show many examples of millions spent on failed or dubious projects.
Tags: taxpayers; Gov. George Pataki; Sheldon Silver; Joseph Bruno; New York City Catholic art museum; debt; Empire State Development Corp.; State of New York; New York taxpayers; Carnegie Hall; National Baseball Hall of Fame; Carrier Dome; Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Centers for Excellence; Empire Opportunity Fund; Junior Museum; capital-improvement programs; Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program; Strategic Investment Program; Senate Majority leader; borrowing money; legislators; public money; Kraft Foods; Guardian Industries; Canadian American Transportation Systems; Division of Human Rights; National Museum of Catholic Art and History; New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad; Dormitory Authority; IRS; Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum; Bard College; YMCA; New York's Public Officers Law; Central New York Regional Market; campaign donations; borrowed-money grants
-
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
-
No title (id: 7601)
Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) reveals how a state and federally funded industrial park has been a failure; the director of the project has gained total control and is using it for his own personal gain, August, September and October 1990.
Tags: PA Lowman Bell
-
At N.J.'s edge, a park is dying
The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) details factors behind the decay of a state beach-front park; management breakdown, improper use of funds, and pollution are cited.
Tags: Englewood Cliff; Palisades Interstate Park; decay; management; funds; pollution