The IRE office will be closed from December 25th to January 5th.
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Fundraisers wield influence over North Carolina Board of Transportation
Dan Kane and Benjamin Noilet of the News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) report that reforms introduced a decade ago and meant to repair the “scandal-plagued” Board of Transportation in North Carolina have done little to end the corruption. Despite laws introduced to curb their influence, fundraisers are still landing prime spots on the Board. “The…
Read MoreForeign lobbyist among top fundraisers for Clinton, McCain
A joint investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting and ABCNews.com found that top fundraisers for both the Clinton and McCain presidential campaigns lobby for foreign governments, and have facilitated meetings between their clients and the senators. “Professor James A.Thurber of American University says that in the case of foreign lobbying, scrutiny is ‘even more…
Read MoreOver 17,000 bridges nationwide are overdue for inspection
An investigation by MSNBC.com’s Bill Dedman shows that at least 17,000 bridges went more than two years between inspections, despite the federal law requiring an inspection every 24 months. The investigation was based on newly released data from the Federal Bridge Inventory which includes inspections through 2006. “Although Congress in 1971 ordered rigorous standards for…
Read MoreFlawed DNA testing in Ohio
A yearlong investigation by Geoff Dutton and Mike Wagner of The Columbus Dispatch found that Ohio’s DNA testing program for inmates seeking to prove their innocence is so flawed that police and courts routinely discard evidence after trials. The five-day Dispatch series found that nearly a third of the denials examined by the newspaper failed…
Read MoreDisclosures show DA dines and drinks with campaign funds
An investigation by John O’Brien of The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) discovered Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick has used $11,633 of his campaign funds for dining and entertainment. His campaign paid the bill 49 times in 2006 and 2007 at restaurants and bars from Portland, Ore. to Amelia Island, Fla., spending far more than other…
Read MoreText messages sink Detroit mayor’s sworn testimony
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is under investigation after M.L. Elrick and Jim Schaefer of The Detroit Free Press obtained text messages that contradict the mayor’s testimony in a court case filed by a former deputy police chief, who claimed he was the victim of retaliatory firing. (See the chain of events in the case that…
Read MoreCharities enjoy tax-free profits from “unrelated business income”
An investigation by Grant Williams and Peter Panepento of The Chronicle of Philanthropy found that about half of the nation’s largest charities pay no taxes, even though they generate millions in unrelated business income. Some organizations are claiming a loss on their income — meaning that they are losing money on side ventures. A change…
Read MoreGaps in Wisconsin tornado warning system identified
After tornadoes ripped through the southern part of the state earlier this month, Ben Poston of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that thousands of southeastern Wisconsin residents are out of range for tornado warning sirens. Using mapping software, Poston plotted nearly 75 siren locations in Milwaukee and Racine counties and then overlayed census data to…
Read MorePorn sites exploit photos of high school athletes
An investigation by Scott M. Reid and Dan Albano of The Orange County Register has revealed that photographs of unsuspecting high school athletes are being posted next to pornographic images on Internet sites. Investigators are tracking Web profiles and e-mail trails to determine the source of photos taken at water polo events. The discovery also…
Read MoreDrought threatens nuclear power in Southeast
AP’s Charlotte correspondent Mitch Weiss identified 24 nuclear reactors located in areas of severe drought that could potentially force reactors in the Southeast to reduce power or shut down later this year. The drought threatens the rivers and streams that supply massive amounts of cooling water. Weiss reports that, while utility officials issue public assurances…
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