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 "benefits" ...
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World’s Untold Stories: Secrets of the Belfast Project
Forty years ago, during the height of Northern Ireland’s sectarian violence known as "The Troubles," a widowed mother with 10 children disappeared. Today, the answers to what happened could be found in audio recordings locked away in a U.S. college archive. But some don’t want the truth to come out. The audio recordings were collected for the Boston College Oral History Archives, from members of groups on both sides of the fighting. But this history project may contain evidence, that could threaten a delicate peace agreement – and the man credited with helping bring that peace to Northern Ireland, Gerry Adams. Adams, a prominent Irish politician and alleged former head of the Irish Republican Army, has vigorously denied the allegations. But many think the tapes could hold the key to solving the widowed mother’s murder – and more. In this episode of CNN’s documentary series “World’s Untold Stories”, Nic Robertson examines the risks and the benefits of exposing what truths may be on the tapes – and explains the ongoing battle between families, politicians, the courts, and academia, who are either seeking the truth, or seeking to protect it.
Tags: Northern Ireland; Boston College; Gerry Adams; politicians; courts; academia
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Investigating Adams County corruption
Elected and appointed officials in Adams County, northeast of Denver, misused millions of tax dollars, benefiting from campaign contributors, their relatives and themselves. The elected assessor slashed millions of dollars from the taxable values of warehouses owned by his leading contributor then personally kept their taxable values unchanged through his first two terms of office.
Tags: corruption; tax; campaign; officials; Denver
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The Champions
The series examines the relationship between seven members of Congress and the industries or causes that they have taken up as champions, looking at how their advocacy not only helps their own political careers, in many cases, but frequently generates a personal financial benefit for the lawmaker or members of their family.
Tags: Congress; causes; industries; finance; family
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Disabled System
The series examined the Social Security disability program, which faces major financial pressures and could exhaust resources as soon as 2017. The series revealed an uneven process for awarding benefits that has become more focused on expediting cases than the quality of decisions.
Tags: Social Security; Disability; financial pressures; benefits
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Culture of Corruption in the California National Guard
The series showed that up to $100 milion in illegal or improper incentive payments were made to California National Guard members. The reporter found that funds meant to repay student loans and give cash bonuses to draw new recruits and entice Guard members to sign on for another stint went to soldiers who didn't qualify for the benefits.
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California's Public Pension Dilemma
The Contra Costa Times found that California public employee pension systems are grossly underfunded; the benefits far exceeded the private sector and are regularly understated by the pension systems; the debts for state and local governments are huge; and the cost is being transferred over to future generations.
Tags: California; Public Pensions; State; Local; Government
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Public Salary Database
The reporters set out to track the total cost of employment for state workers, tracking everything from the amount of taxpayer money that goes toward health benefits to overtime and even retirement benefits.
Tags: state workers; employment; taxpayer; overtime; retirement
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Social Security Disability Claims
Social Security Disability benefits can take years, leave families in financial ruin, even when doctors say they are eligible for benefits.
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Their Crime, Your Dime
Some of Washington state's costliest public assistance programs harbored a secret over the years. It went unnoticed as taxpayer-funded programs provided food stamps and cash welfare benefits ballooned following the economic crash. Many worthy recipients came forward to get help. So, too, did criminals who found they could cheat Washington's lax fraud prevention programs to the sum of millions of dollars.
Tags: welfare; taxpayers; criminals; lax; economic crash
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The Unexpected Guest; Friends with Benefits
First and only full account of the crimes of violent River Oaks con-man Dinesh Shaw a.k.a Dinny Shaw.