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 "licenses" ...
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RGJ Special Report: DUI in Nevada
The reporter found that licenses were being granted too soon to DUI offenders whose accidents had caused death or substantial bodily harm. Offenders were not serving their full two years behind bars and instead were allowed to get out on a house arrest program.
Tags: DUI; drunk driving; Department of Corrections; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; prison
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Doctor Lost Priviliges -- But Kept Clean Record
What started as an investigation of one doctor's questionable practices, led to a larger expose on St. Louis hospital violations and the state's lack of punishment for the doctors that are reported. The reporters found that most information about Missouri's problem doctors and unsafe hospital condition is swept under the rug.
Tags: hospital; FDA; doctors; hospital inspection; medical license
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Camp Drowning
In this investigation, it looks at the standards and regulations of U.S. summer camps. “Only 25 percent of camps in this country are accredited, meaning they meet 300 health and safety standards”. Many parents send their children to these camps believing their children are safe, but when accidents happen it is too late to do anything.
Tags: kids; Gottesman family; life guards; counselors; license; federal; American Camp Association; state; local
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Criminal Cab Drivers
This story reveals that “hundreds of criminals are behind the wheels of Houston cabs”. This is allowed to happen because if it falls outside of a 10 year period it won’t show up and they are allowed to get their cab license. It has become a standard on criminal background checks because people can change and straighten up their lives. But when one of these cab drivers commits a crime as a driver, people begin to question these tactics.
Tags: transportation; passengers; travel; cabbie; streets; taxicab; ordinance; FOIA; city council; Ricardo Steele; Yellow Cab
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"No Reciprocity: Canadian Hit and Run"
In Everett, a vehicle with British Columbia plates struck a young boy and fled the scene, driving across the border back into Canada. Upon realizing the driver was Canadian, U.S. investigators dropped the case and did not ticket the man. An investigation by KIRO-TV finds that it is common for tickets issued to B.C. residents to remain unpaid without consequence because of the lack of a "reciprocity agreement" between Washington and British Columbia.
Tags: British Columbia; Canada; Regional Border Patrol; Everett Mall Way; Everett Police; Keith Leary; Washington Department of Licensing
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"A License To Lose"
This investigative report reveals weaknesses in security in the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, as well as in the BMVs of two nearby states. WBNS-TV found that hundreds of social security and registration papers were being discarded in unsecured trash receptacles. The report also reveals that the BMV was aware of the security breach two years prior to the occurrence, but failed to do anything about the issue.
Tags: Bureau of Motor Vehicles; BMV; partial driver's license; registration
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"Safety for Sale"
The Federal Aviation Administration is under fire after WFAA-TV reveals that thousands of aircraft mechanics licensed by the FAA, had "questionable" training. The poor training and slow reaction by the FAA could be connected to two deadly airplane crashes. The series also revealed that repair facilities hired foreign mechanics through "immigration loopholes" who were unqualified and often could not speak English.
Tags: FAA; Federal Aviation Administration; diploma mills; U.S. aircraft mechanics; mechanic training; foreign mechanics;
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Tax-free agencies get little scrutiny
The state of South Dakota depends on sales tax for a large portion of its revenue. But the state has also issued thousands of tax-exempt licenses to nonprofit organizations. The question about these organizations is whether they are actually providing relief to others and if they even still exist. But these questions might not be answered because the state doesn’t track the transactions, even though they are losing revenue.
Tags: sales tax; revenue; South Dakota; tax system; nonprofit organizations; tax-exempt; tax laws; state tax
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Nevada DUI
This investigation found a number of frightening facts, which could change many lives. One of the first findings is “judges have not been following a 1997 law that requires them to order the installation of interlock devices for all offenders convicted of DUIs causing death or substantial bodily harm.” Also, many previous offenders were convicted of a second DUI and had blood alcohol levels (BACs) considered of those with an alcohol abuse problem. Further, found that DUI offenders released from prison didn’t have their licenses restricted for three years after the conviction.
Tags: drunk drivers; laws; Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV); interlock devices; prosecutors; parole officials; probation officials; death; harm; courts; convictions
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When Caregivers Harm
The investigation exposes failure of state nursing overseers to take corrective action against licensed caregivers accused of malpractice. Lack of competent oversight led impaired nurses to cause harm to patients through abuse, negligence and stealing patient medication for recreational use among other wrongdoings.
Tags: nurses; California; Nursing Board; harm; caregivers; Tracy Weber; malpractice; drugs; abuse; negligence; discipline;