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 "unlicensed" ...
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In God’s Name: Abuse at religious group homes in Florida
The Tampa Bay Times shines a light on unlicensed children's homes, operating for years in rural areas out of plain sight and run by zealous operators who believe they answer only to God.
Tags: Religion; religious group; children
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PBPost: Kids In Peril
This series exposed 30 years of inaction and broken promises by state lawmakers who knew that children were at risk in unlicensed summer camps across Florida yet enacted no basic laws to protect them; as a result, kids were sexually abused and many more are put at risk.
Tags: Sexual abuse; summer camps; children
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Car seizures at DUI checkpoints prove profitable for cities, raise legal questions
California law enforcement officials running sobriety checkpoints are more likely to seize cars from unlicensed sober drivers than from drunk drivers. Most of the drivers losing their cars are illegal immigrants.
Tags: driving; DUI; checkpoint; immigrant; sobriety
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Toxic Taxes
Toxic Taxes explores how Obama's fiscal stimulus tax credits will expand business for unregulated tax preparers and create more opportunities to commit fraud.
Tags: unlicensed; unregulated; tax; tax preparers; tax credits; Obama administration; fiscal stimulus; H&R Block; fraud; Internal Revenue Service;
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Start Freakin'
In Seattle, "Stop Freakin', call Beacon" is the catch-phrase that propelled Beacon Plumbing into an instantly recognizable brand and the region's largest emergency plumbing service. We found the company doing unlicensed plumbing work, shoddy repairs, and overcharging customers. Ensuing investigations revealed that the man in the Beacon uniform might not be a plumber at all and that his former dress code may have included pinstripes at the State lock-up.
Tags: fraud; consumer investigation; professional license; advertising;
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Chicken Wings
WCAU-TV "exposed an illegal, unlicensed and unsanitary chicken wing processing business in Philadelphia rowhome garage." Using hidden cameras they found which restaurants were serving the chicken wings and confronted them. They also found that these restaurants also had poor health inspection reports. As a result of the investigation the chicken wing processing business was closed.
Tags: food; safety; health; restaurants; consumer; chicken; illegal business; health inspection; health code; hidden camera
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From Dreams to Debt
This story details a con scheme by unlicensed investment counselors affiliated with an organization called Pacific Wealth Management. The company would pay more than the asking price for many of the homes purchased for investors, then pay the seller's asking price and keep the difference. They sold millions of dollars worth of houses to middle-income families, but when the housing market began to deflate, these people were left with millions of dollars in debt.
Tags: real estate; investments; housing market; scam
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Pill Mills
"In a hidden camera investigation, CBS News exposes how rogue pain clinics and fake doctors fuel the widespread abuse of prescription drugs."
Tags: pain medication; doctors; unlicensed; Texas; Drug Enforcement Administration;
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Debtors' Hell
Examining a "system stacked in favor of collectors," the Globe discusses the side effects of the increase in consumer debt in Massachusetts and the nation. Among the findings is that "the legal system has been overwhelmed by collectors pursuing debtors through all manner of hard-edged tactics."
Tags: Debt; debt collection; consumer debt; unlicensed collectors; debt lawsuits
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License to Shrill
This series exposed the shabby empire of Gary Probst, king of the state's commercial driving schools. Over a 10-year period, Probst built the largest franchise in the state using a series of tactics designed to circumvent the law. The state, well aware of his activities, did nothing to stop him. The story includes the following findings, among others: Probst employed unlicensed instructors who never received required training from the state; the state conducted over 40 investigations of Probst's schools, but never took action against him; Probst falsified records.