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 "WTHR" ...
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Investigating the IRS
As the national deficit soared, WTHR exposed fraud, confusion and government mismanagement that resulted in illegal immigrants getting billions of dollars in improper tax credits and refunds from the Internal Revenue Service. WTHR gained unparalleled access to tax records and immigrant communities to show exactly how the fraud was committed. The investigation revealed the IRS had known about the widespread problems for a decade but failed to act, and that IRS managers actively encouraged their tax examiners to ignore blatant signs of fraud. WTHR’s investigation quickly gained national attention, attracted more than 9 million online views, sparked intense debate and action by Congress, and triggered immediate reforms by the IRS. Following a series of in-depth follow-ups by WTHR and an Inspector General audit that confirmed all of WTHR’s findings, the IRS announced final rule changes in December designed to reduce the massive fraud and to save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Tags: tax fraud; taxes; taxpayers; Internal Revenue Service
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Hot Trucks
Amidst widespread reports of food safety recalls and food borne illness outbreak, WTHR's "Hot Trucks" exposed a gaping hole in the safety net of our nation's food supply. The 6-month investigation revealed tons of meat, seafood, dairy products, produce, and other perishable food items are transported to grocery stores and restaurants every day under unsafe and unsanitary conditions that pose a serious health threat to millions of Americans.
Tags: Food Safety
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State Fair Tragedy: The Investigation
This series investigates the collapse of a temporary outdoor stage at the Indiana State Fair that killed seven people and injured more than 40 others. The stage collapsed because of severe weather, with wind gusts of up to 70-miles an hour, WTHR wanted to know why people weren't evacuated before it was too late.
Tags: severe weather; evacuation plan; broadcast
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The Carmel Assault Case
The WTHR team investigates the alleged attack of a 14-year-old boy by three senior basketball players. The school dismissed it as a case of bullying, but a relentless push for Open Records revealed criminal activity.
Tags: bullying; open records; high school; school; bully
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Reality Check: Where are the jobs?
As Indiana's unemployment rate soared, WTHR exposed how state leaders inflated official job statistics through a quasi-state agency shrouded in secrecy. Indiana's Economic Development Corporation claimed it had created 100,00 news jobs and billions of dollars in economic development deals for the state. When called upon to back up their numbers, the agency refused to grant detailed job information under the state's Access to Public Records Law.
Tags: employment; government; Economic Development Corporation; unemployment; jobs
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Deadly Delay
WTHR investigates how many smoke alarms in American homes "may not activate during the most deadly type of house fire" despite assurances of fire testing agencies.
Tags: fire; fire department; early warning; smoke alarms; homes; safety; house; research; product testing; Indiana
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Cause For Alarm
Nearly 200,000 people, and many schools and parks, in a nine-county area Indiana cannot be warned about tornadoes because their homes are not within the range of the tornado sirens. The WTHR team found that the sirens failed to activate thousands of times, many are broken beyond repair, and those in charge of maintaining the sirens are avoiding the repairs.
Tags: tornado; siren; warning system; natural disaster; twister
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Drugs in the Ranks
WTHR looked into the problem of drug use among public safety workers and found dozens of failed drug tests, agencies that let workers stay on the job despite failed tests, and administrations that refused to release records. City attorneys later revealed that three dozen firefighters were disciplined under drug policy.
Tags: drug test; public safety workers; firefighters; drug policy
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Failure to Protect; Cries for Help
In this 16 month series, WTHR looks at the working of the child welfare system in Indiana. The reports showed how the sate was not protecting children it had placed in foster homes. In some cases children died due to being ill-treated or neglect in the foster homes. After this series was aired, the state government passed a law making prior death records of children in foster care public.
Tags: child abuse; foster homes; child neglect; death of children in foster care; Indiana FOI laws; FOI; public records; children; sexual abuse; sexual abuse of children
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Security for Sale
WTHR investigates the illegal sale of privileged military documents and aircraft manuals on the Internet. The documents, which could breach national and military security, were leaked by a former Army captain who retired without discipline. As a result of the investigation, the FBI launched its own invesigation and the House subcommitee on national security has also initiated a review.
Tags: military documents; Internet; flight manuals; Army; Navy; FBI; military security; national security; security breach