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 "NC" ...
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Poison in the Water
“Poison in the Water” is a WNCN investigation that exposes how state government failed to warn families that the water they were drinking could be killing them. Through six weeks of research and digging through hundreds of FOIA documents, WNCN uncovered the source of the contamination in a Wake Forest, N.C. community and revealed state regulators ignored their own evidence of the danger. “Poison in the Water” held the powerful accountable and sparked calls for state legislative change. As a result, national groundwater advocate, Erin Brockovich, visited the Wake Forest families.
Tags: water safety; government; water contamination; groundwater
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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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R.C.'s Boys
The story investigates the case of former NC state Senator R.C. Soles, showing that Soles sexually assulted numerous young men, and then paid them to keep their silence. The reporters found that the abuse had a profound effect on the lives of the teens, who grew into troubled adults and often turned to drugs and alcohol to ease the pain.
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Executive Privilege
The former governor of North Carolina, Mike Easley, is the focus of this series. Easley accepted a number of free items such as flights, golf club membership, and a discount on a coastal lot. Further, a new job was created strictly for his wife and Easley cleared a friend of DMV violations. He also was involved with a number of other dishonorable activities, which led to state and federal investigations.
Tags: state government; corruption; N.C. State University; administration; laws; first lady; state rules
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Losing Track: NC's Troubled Probation System
North Carolina's probation system has been in disarray for years. Probation officers are overworked and understaffed, and offenders often receive little or no supervision. Top managers ignored problems for years and killed promising projects to monitor offenders.
Tags: probation; crime; North Carolina; prison; murder; public safety; criminal; murder
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Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs
The ABC News investigation probed into the use of illicit drugs by former soldiers after returning home from war in Iraq. Though the military suggests there is no increase in drug abuse after serving in the war, an ABC News team along with six graduate student journalists set out to talk to soldiers for answers. The team traveled to Fort Bragg, NC, Camp Pendelton, CA and Fort Carson, CO to speak with soldiers.
Tags: post-war trauma; illegal drugs; addiction; medication
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Politics a Priority in NC Road Fund
"This story explored a relatively small-but unique- fund at the North Carolina Department of Transportation, showing how legislative leaders used money set aside for them to reward their allies and their home districts."
Tags: politics; state; nation; federal; funding; department of transportation; legislative;
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Corruption in the Speaker's House
An "investigation into the activities of N.C. House Speaker Jim Black has directly led to three criminal convictions and contributed significantly to the conviction of a fourth person. The investigation has also sparked the biggest open government reforms in North Carolina since Watergate and resulted in the end of Black's tenure as one of the state's most powerful officials."
Tags: state government; jobs; Jim Black; North Carolina
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Pounding the Pavement
An investigation into why trucks, overloaded or just too heavy, are being allowed to tear up the state of North Carolina's roads and bridges driving up maintenance costs.
Tags: trucks; state transportation; road maintenance; State Highway Patrol; NC Department of Transportation; state weighing stations; public safety
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Mebane Water Inequality
The investigation found that poor communities on the outskirts of Mebane, NC had really poor-quality surface water. Furthermore, the city denied any obligation to help residents of these neighborhoods.
Tags: water; public health; contamination; drinking water; sewers; city government; sewage