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 "break-ins" ...
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Cop's Book Says Sean Combs, Suge Knight Ordered Tupac and Biggie Killings
The LA Weekly investigation provided the public with the first big break in nearly a decade in the 14-year-old unsolved murder cases of rap superstars Tupac Shakur and Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace.
Tags: Tupac, Biggie Smalls; Sean Combs; LA Weekly; Rap
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"Black Money"
This investigative report reveals that a "trillion dollars in bribes," are paid each year regardless of an international anti-bribery treaty that is in place. The bribes, also known as "black money," are used by "multinational companies" to get overseas business. The bribes cause a break in the "stability of governments" and "distort the marketplace."
Tags: Margaret Thatcher; British Aerospace; Department of Justice; Saudi Arabia; bribery; bribes; World Bank; Securities and Exchange Commission; Jimmy Carter
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Cybercrime, Inc.; Meth addicts' other habit: Online theft; Cyber safecrackers break into online accounts with ease; This little fob could foil a cyber bank robber; Net crooks con Americans into web of crime; Unprotected PCs can be hijacked in minutes; The rise of zombie computers -- Are hackers using your PC to spew spam and steal?; Tech industry has no unified defense system
These USA Today reporters set out to delineate the underlying economic drivers of cyber crime. On Sept. 8, 2004, Achohido and Swartz were the first to comprehensively describe how cyber crooks systematically took control of millions of home computers, turning them into zombies to carry out various fraud schemes. An accompanying cover story took big tech suppliers to task for placing an unfair burden on consumers for keeping the Internet safe. A November 30 story reported the results of a honey pot test -- designed and overseen by the reporters -- showing how simply connecting a new PC to the Internet triggers nonstop break-in attempts by intruders. They also outlined what readers can and should do to protect themselves. These findings were only the beginning of their investigation.
Tags: cyber fraud; Internet; online
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Crimewise, OC ranks as peaceful area
Statistically, speaking, from a crime standpoint, Orange County is a tide pool in a turbulent ocean. None of the county's large cities ranks among the most crime-ridden communities in California. And crime rates elsewhere in the nation dwarf those in the county according to a Register analysis of the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.
Tags: crime rate; Stanton; Santa ana; Orange County; homicide; arson; Costa Mesa; FBI uniform crime report; statistics; Los Angeles; Inglewood; San Bernadino; Oakland; assault; gang shootings; break-ins
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Taking Shelter. As Congress ponders new tax breaks, firms already find plenty. Using tactics such as shifting profit to havens abroad, some pare bills to zero. GM keeps the tab down.
According to the article, "Congress is putting the final touches on a bill that would award corporate America billions of dollars in new tax breaks. But corporate America has already found plenty of breaks in current tax laws. Thirteen years after Congress passed a tax-reform law intended to make every company pay its fair share, government and corporate records show that many profitable U.S. corporations are again paying little or no federal income tax."
Tags: Congress; corporate America; tax; federal income tax; tax breaks; bill; bills; corporations
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State Law Shields Child Sex Offenders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on "first offender status" in Georgia, designed to give first-time criminals a break in sentencing. The paper's analysis of state records "shows at least 3,740 people in Georgia have been granted first offender status for sex crimes, some so serious they were sentenced to prison." Such people aren't listed in the state's sex offender registry or on the Web site of the Department of Corrections, either.
Tags: Georgia; sex offenders; First Offender Act; sex crimes; child sex offenders; crime; sex offender registry; state laws
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City to Union-Busters: "Welcome to El Paso!"
The Texas Observer reports on how Mediacopy, a California-based business with tainted reputation, Mediacopy, moves to Texas and receives a $1.9 million break in local property taxes. The story reveals that "charges flew on the West Coast that the firm was mistreating its workers, encouraging INS raids, and even manipulating employees trying to organize a union ... Mediacopy Inc. might not have gotten as far as it did, if the El Paso Times had not slept through the abatement story."
Tags: tax-abatement programs; National Labor Relations Board; business; corporate interests
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Preserving Wealth -- And History
The Philadelphia Inquirer examined the public policy that encourages granting special tax breaks in exchange for arcane deed restrictions known as "preservation easements." "Among other things, the restrictions ban changes to historic building or limit development of open space. While easements may do much to preserve history and valuable property, (the Inquirer learned) they also could have great financial significance... The series shed new light on unexplored and rarely debated policy issues associated with the preservation movement."
Tags: preservation easements; deed restrictions; tax breaks; history
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Sweetheart Deal
A program meant to help nonprofit housing organizations ended up being used by developers to make quick profits off government tax breaks. In this story by the Dallas Observer, Virginia McGuire promised a variety of social programs and other amenities when she took over the Williams Run apartment complex. Two years later, she profits heavily through her "nonprofit" and the services never materialized. The loophole is causing Texas legislators to go back and reexamine the issue of property tax abatements for nonprofit.
Tags: taxes; property taxes; nonprofit; tax loopholes; developers; low income housing; housing; low income; tax abatements
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The Man who Loved Cat Burgling
This in-depth look at a cat burglar and his accomplice, his girlfriend, tells the story of an ordinary man with an interesting hobby. He and his girlfriend pulled off at least a dozen break-ins a year, stealing the best jewelry.
Tags: crime; cat burglar; Hollandsworth; Mitch Shaw