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 "kitchens" ...
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Shattered Bakeware
Consumer Reports conducted a year-long fight to win three Freedom of Information requests and uncover product safety information about a common kitchen item, glass bakeware, which had been reported to shatter violently in consumers' kitchens. As a result of the story, we unearthed information, which companies fought fiercely to keep secret, that showed there was real cause for concern. We also did real-life testing in our labs. And now the CPSC is investigating.
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Landing Electrolux
When Swedish company Electrolux announced plans to build a kitchen appliance factory in Memphis, many in the region hailed it as an economic development triumph. But it didn't come cheap. Government officials approved a massive package of money and perks for a company that has a history of leaving communities to cut costs and has made no guarantee to stay in Memphis for the long term. Officials performed minimal due diligence and signed away rights to recover most of the money if the company falls short of job-creation goals.
Tags: Electrolux; Memphis; job creation
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Burnt Chefs
The California Culinary Academy has recently skyrocketed it's tuition and enrollment, fired instructors and made admission tests more relaxed. With promises of becoming a celebrity chef, graduates of CCA are buried in debt while ending up with $8 an hour kitchen jobs.
Tags: cooking; food; restaraunt;
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Kids at Peril: Dangerous School Food
A look into the school cafeterias of the Houston Independent School District and poor conditions which the food is being stored. The 400,000 kids in the district are at risk for food-borne-illness or, in some cases, death. Kitchens did not keep track of the temperature of the food to prevent illness, but instead would not let food sit out for more than a four hour period.
Tags: cafeteria; school kitchen; illness; food poisoning; Houston Independent School District; HISD; health code; inspector
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Homeless in Santa Fe
Christine Barber decided to tackle the issue of homelessness in Santa Fe. She started by living on the streets herself for two days and interviewed about three hundred homeless people. The resulting story is a moving profile of the homeless population, which is about ten percent of Santa Fe's population.
Tags: vagrancy; homelessness; panhandling; alcoholism; Salvation Army; soup kitchens; shelters
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Keeping an Eye on the Kitchens
Hayward examined health inspections for restaurants and grocers in Manchester, NH. He reported not only the scores of the restaurants, but also what inspectors look for and which violations are the most troublesome. He profiled an inspector, a restaurant that scores well on inspections, and one that does poorly.
Tags: restaurants; food safety; food industry; health inspections; bars; grocery stores; bacteria; food poisoning
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"Downer Cow Controversy"
This investigation began by raising questions about the lack of federal inspection outside a slaughterhouse and the treatment of cows. Particularly it raised questions about health risks involving "downer" cows -- weak, sick or crippled dairy cows processed into beef for the kitchen table. The state's beef and dairy commissions, state agencies funded by fees attached to beef and dairy products, criticized the station's reports. The television station was tried in abstentia by the Washington News Council and found to have been unfair to the beef industry. The station earlier had refused to participate in the arbitration, saying its reports were accurate and that the council itself is partial. On Dec. 23, the first U.S. case of mad cow was announced. The animal was a downer cow processed at the same slaughterhouse that was the subject of the station's initial investigation.
Tags: beef; cattle; mad cow; downer cows; USDA; dairy; E. coli; food safety; meat-packing plants; slaughterhouse
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"Contractor Cons"
WINK-TV reporters do in-depth reports on several Florida contractors whose unhappy customers accuse them of fraud and improper business practices. The contractors (Challenger Pools, DeSpirito Kitchen, Sunstate Designs, and Homecare Industries) are accused of taking their customer's money and not completing jobs, and in some cases, not having a valid contractor's license at all. In many instances, the customer pays the contractor a deposit to complete the job, while the contractor does not pay it's sub-contractors and suppliers. As a result, these sub-contractors can force the customer to pay, or put a lien on their homes in response ot Florida's Lien Law.
Tags: contractor fraud; Challenger Pools; DeSpirito Kitchen; Sunstate Designs; Homecare Industries; Florida Lien Law
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Oakland Intermediate School District
The initial story was about a $30 million administration building for the Oakland Intermediate School District, which is charged with providing special and vocational education services to the 28 districts in the county. The 153,000-square foot building is a lightning rod for the community and is very lavish, with balconies, skywalks, gourmet kitchen, ceremonial offices, etc. The reporters found special education funds were used for the building. This story led to speculation that funds were being used for other items not related to special or vocational education. The reporters then started investigating the board members and other top administrators. They found that funds were being used for everything from golf games to rented luxury vehicles and limousines to $400 per night hotel rooms to retreats where alcohol, escargot and other gourmet items were served to the purchase of Waterford crystal and many other items.
Tags: Oakland Intermediate School District; FBI; Michigan Attorney General; Oakland Schools Conference and Administrative Services Center; Oakland County; district spending; taxpayers; school district officials; school administration; fraud; Waterford School District; City of Detroit; expense reports; spending practices; special education
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EMU President's House
The building of East Michigan Univerisity President's residence is proving to be $1.6 million more costly than expected, reports the News. In a detailed investigation that includes nearly 2,000 FOIA documents, they reveal how these extra costs apart from the $3.5 million, were billed to other university accounts , making the final cost closer to $5.1 million. These costs include landscaping, the commercial kitchen and land purchase.
Tags: Kirkpatrick; campus; Menard Builders; Patrick Doyle; Phillip Incarnati; John Beaghan