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“CAR Day” has something for everyone
We’ve received lots of questions about whether the optional Computer-Assisted Reporting day at the Baltimore conference June 11-14 is suitable for people new to CAR. The answer is “Yes.” The day will serve as a good introduction to the tools and tricks of analyzing electronic information. In addition, hands-on classes Friday through Saturday will give…
Read MoreBudget cuts reconfigure Database Library staff
IRE training director Jaimi Dowdell and NICAR academic adviser David Herzog have assumed responsibilities for the IRE and NICAR Database Library. Like many companies and nonprofits, IRE has seen a drop in revenue this year. As a result, we were forced to cut expenses. As part of that reduction, we eliminated funding for the Database…
Read MoreCommercial real estate losses threaten local banks
“Commercial real-estate loans could generate losses of $100 billion by the end of next year at more than 900 small and midsize U.S. banks if the economy’s woes deepen, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal.” Maurice Tamman and David Enrich report that losses on commercial real-estate loans are much greater than loses…
Read MoreHotel and registration deadlines extended for IRE’09
The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront has given us an extension to make reservations at our group rate for the 2009 IRE Conference. Make your reservation before Monday, May 25 to take advantage of the group rate and the added incentives. Rooms in our block are going quickly, so book your room today before they are gone.…
Read MoreFocus watchdog eyes on business
Tough economic times and financial fraud go hand in hand, from Charles Ponzi and his 1919 pyramid scheme in Boston to Bernie Madoff and massive investor deception. Regardless of your beat, there never has been a better time to do business-related investigations, according to reporter Ron Campbell of The Orange County Register. While everyone’s making…
Read MoreStimulus funds go to contractors with history of problems
Contractors receiving stimulus funds for nuclear cleanup sites across the country include “many that have been cited for serious safety violations and costly mistakes,” according to a report by Kimberly Kindy of The Washington Post. “In the case of the Energy Department program, private contractors do all cleanup work, and they have been involved from…
Read MoreFood safety becoming responsiblity of the consumer
Following a mysterious outbreak of salmonella in 2007 linked to pot pies from ConAgra Foods, corporations have moved to place the responsibility for “food safety” on the consumer through warnings and instructions on how to prepare processed food items. The New York Times reports, “Increasingly, the corporations that supply Americans with processed foods are unable…
Read MoreHandicapped accessibility a problem at many CTA stations
An investigation into the handicapped accessibility of Chicago Transit Authority stations by a team of reporters from Columbia College Chicago found that “41 percent of the stations designated fully accessible were not.” Using FOIA, the students reviewed over 2,000 ADA-related complaints filed against the CTA from Jan. 1, 2004 through Feb. 28, 2009. Some of…
Read MoreLand parcels owned by city poorly tracked
The city of Wichita owns more than 11,000 acres that include multimillion-dollar buildings such as City Hall, an overgrown wildlife preserve and small, oddly shaped plots worth as little as $10. But a weeks-long investigation by Brent D. Wistrom of The Wichita Eagle shows disjointed records system leaves city officials and the public unable to…
Read MoreCities overcharged by ex-politician through bond loan program
A $3 billion municipal bond loan program run by an ex-politician in Tennessee was overcharging Nashville and two other cities by hiding fees within reported interest rates, The Tennessean‘s Brad Schrade reported. The multi-story investigation used federal bank filings, audits and other public records to expose problems with the non-profit loan program, including lack of disclosure,…
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