Resource Center

Stories

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 "saving" ...

  • How Safe Are Your Savings?; The Time Bomb In Your Nest Egg

    "The Time Bomb In Your Nest Egg" was the result of an intensive, year-long investigation which revealed how Wall Street firms and major banks are selling structured products by advertising them as safe, sure bets. In fact, they are essentially a repackaged version of the same high-risk products that played a major role in the 2008 financial collapse. "How Safe Are Your Savings?" details the nature of these investments, how they're sold, and who Congress and the SEC need to do to protect investors.

    Tags: congress; SEC; wall street; nest egg; savings

    By John F. Wasik

    The Investigative Fund At the Nation Institute

    2011

  • Janitor Paid $100,000 to Travel

    This series exposed the outrageous hiring practices at the nation's sixth largest school district, casting a light on a system in which janitors and copy clerks were paid huge salaries as teachers- but barely set foot in the classroom. Ultimately, the reporting effort saved taxpayers $1 million, led to pay cuts for 59 employees, and resulted in stricter oversight of the Broward County School District.

    Tags: Broward County School District; Hiring; School; Taxpayer

    By Cara Fitzpatrick

    Sun-Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

    2011

  • Saving Millions to Cost Billions

    The executives who run the local power plant in St. Petersburg said from the start that their customers should help pay a $2.5 billion repair bill at their nuclear plant because no one could have predicted or prevented the disaster that crippled the facility and shut it down. But the Tampa Bay Times revealed gaping holes in that argument. Porgress received multiple warnings from employees and contractors about their approach to the project. An internal report obtained by Tampa Bay Times even warned the utility against self managing such an ambitious construction effort.

    Tags: St. Petersburg; Tampa Bay Times; Repair Bill; Utility

    By Ivan Penn; Natalie Watson

    Tampa Bay Times

    2011

  • Swiped

    WVUE combed through tens of thousands of pages of public documents to examine how public officials were spending and misspending their viewers' money. It is thought that this investigation will save the city of New Orleans millions of dollars.

    Tags: government spending abuse; broadcast

    By Lee Zurik; Donny Pearce; Mikel Schaefer; Greg Phillips; Marcy Planer

    WVUE-TV (New Orleans)

    2011

  • Saving Grace: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills

    The book exposes the epidemic of puppy mills in the U.S. It documents large-volume commercial kennels where ill and often injured dogs are caged in squalor and forced to bear puppies until they are worn out.

    Tags: animal abuse; puppy mill; dogs

    By Carol Bradley

    Wiley Publishing

    2010

  • Critical Condition

    The story is a revealing look at three American famliesa s they struggledwith their health insurers over coverage of expensive, but potentially life-saving treatment.

    Tags: health care; health insurers; insurance

    By 01/24/2010

    NBC News Dateline

    2010

  • "Lifesaving Drugs, Deadly Consequences"

    This investigative piece looks at worker safety issues that affect "the nation's healthcare providers." Health care employees are often put in harms way by handling drugs that are meant to save the "lives of cancer patients," but can be "human carcinogens," too. This report shows that regulation on exposure to these types of drugs in the workplace is weak.

    Tags: FOIA; health insurance; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; cancer; OSHA; drugs; chemotherapy

    By Carol Smith; Rita Hibbard

    InvestigateWest

    2010

  • "Electronic Health Records: Will They Be Safer and Save Money?"

    In this yearlong, multimedia project, reporters Schulte and Schwartz investigated the shift of paper medical records to electronic records. The report drew attention to the "challenges officials are facing in computerizing" the records. Some of the challenges include concerns of privacy and patient well-being.

    Tags: records; MAUDE; FDA; Center for Devices and Radiological Health; database

    By Fred Schulte; Emma Schwartz

    Huffington Post Investigative Fund

    2010

  • Wall Street Money Machine

    The series showed how some bankers on Wall Street saw problems in the housing market long before the public and policy makers. This meant huge gains for the bankers and a loss of jobs and savings for the public.

    Tags: Wall Street; bankers; housing crisis; housing bubble; mortgage

    By Jesse Eisinger; Jake Bernstein

    ProPublica

    2010

  • Secret early release of Illinois prisoners

    The series finds that the Illinois state government had secretly released 1,700 inmates from prison early in an attempt to save money and reduce overcrowding. Many of those released had committed violent crimes or been convicted of driving under the influence.

    Tags: prison; state prison; criminals; meritorious good time; Department of Corrections

    By John O'Connor

    Associated Press

    2010