The IRE office will be closed from December 25th to January 5th.
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Emails reveal Palin’s interest in trooper’s penalty
Former public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan, shared emails with The Washington Post that reveal that Gov. Sarah Palin “harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed an internal affairs investigation into his conduct,” report The Post‘s James V. Grimaldi and Karl Vick. Palin has requested the investigation into possible…
Read MoreThe battle within
A report by Erin Emery and David Olinger of The Denver Post shows that soldiers are being sent back to Afghanistan and Iraq despite the fact that they are battling both physical and mental ailments. “Facing demands unprecedented in the history of the all-volunteer force, the Army has deployed soldiers with slings and crutches and…
Read MoreFinancial crisis impacting students, schools
A New York Times report shows that the financial crisis in the United States is having an impact on schools and students across the nation. With home foreclosures mounting, a record number of students returning for school are homeless or qualify for subsidized or free lunches. “As 50 million children return to classes across the…
Read MoreRoad repairs slower in minority neighborhoods
Keegan Kyle, Grant Smith and Ben Poston of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analyzed more than 11,000 pothole fixes in the city of Milwaukee and found that the city repaired potholes at a slower rate in minority neighborhoods in the first half of the year. Using SPSS, the analysis found that minority areas on the north…
Read MorePalin under investigation for improper use of influence
Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential nominee, “has been deeply involved in alerting state officials to her family’s personal turmoil” according to interviews and documents reviewed by James V. Grimaldi and Kimberly Kindy of The Washington Post. She is currently under investigation for the firing of Alaska’s state safety commissioner when he failed…
Read MoreSpending on contractors in Iraq on the rise
According to federal documents, “This year, spending on contractors, who protect diplomats, civilian facilities and supply convoys, is projected to exceed $1.2 billion,” reports Peter Eisler of USA TODAY. This represents a 13% increase in spending since 2007. The increase is attributed, in part, to the fact that the focus in Iraq has shifted from…
Read MoreLaw and Disorder series
A five-part series by The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) explores how the probation and parole system in South Carolina — and many other states — is broken. Criminals are being paroled at the expense of innocent people who are being killed, raped or robbed as a result.
Read MoreLobbyist money flowing freely at convention in Denver
Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz and Avni Patel of ABCNews.com report that lobbyist money is flowing freely at the Democratic National Convention despite Barack Obama’s position to ban lobbyist and special interest contributions to his campaign. A spokesman for the Obama campaign stated the drawn out primary prevented Senator Obama from making changes to the handling of…
Read MoreTexas schools often used bus firm linked to fatal crash
According to a report by Matt Stiles and Chase Davis of the Houston Chronicle, “Angel Tours, the charter bus company tied to a deadly North Texas crash this month, also shuttled children and students on dozens of trips since 2006, mostly for extracurricular events paid by local schools and universities.” Records show the Houston Independent…
Read MoreInsurance companies influencing patient treatment
A Toledo Blade investigation by Steve Eder and Julie M. McKinnon shows doctors nationwide fear that increasingly stringent insurance rules and frequent second-guessing of doctors’ orders are eroding the doctor-patient relationship — and harming patients. The Blade’s four-part, eight-month investigation included interviews with about 100 physicians in a dozen states and a national online survey…
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