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 "strip" ...

  • KMOV: Welfare Withdrawal Fraud

    Thousands of Missouri tax dollars spent in casinos, strip clubs, and bars.These are Missouri welfare cards being accessed for cash at ATMs in some bizarre places. The state can’t tell you how nearly $100 million of your tax dollars are actually spent because what’s purchased with that cash isn’t tracked, but the ATM locations are recorded. News 4 spent the last two years digging into this issue and continues to find plenty of red flags.

    Tags: Taxes; taxpayers; welfare cards

    By Chris Nagus, Reporter; John O'Sullivan, Producer; Mark Hadler, Photographer

    KMOV (St. Louis, MO)

    2012

  • Secret Service Strip Club: El Salvador

    Seattle-based investigative reporter Chris Halsne tracks down a reluctant source in El Salvador to expose allegations that getting drunk, partying with strippers, and paying for sex with third-world prostitutes is part of the U.S. Secret Service culture. This investigative series is aired just weeks after agents were caught in Columbia with hookers – and just days after Homeland Security Director announced to Congress that Columbia was an isolated incident.

    Tags: corruption; U.S. Secret Service; El Salvador; Seattle

    By Chris Halsne, David Weed

    KIRO-TV (Seattle)

    2012

  • War Zone: The Destruction of an All-American City

    The hour-long documentary War Zone: The Destruction of an All-American City takes an unprecedented look at the impact of corruption on the East St. Louis, Illinois area, one of the poorest and most violent communities in America. The program was broadcast twice during prime time; Tuesday night at 8 pm on August 28, and the following Saturday night at 7 pm. This project was the result of an ongoing decade-long probe of government waste, corruption, police misconduct, and violence in East St. Louis and the surrounding villages by investigative reporter Craig Cheatham. Our documentary begins with a detailed look at police misconduct and corruption, how it has contributed to the breakdown of public safety in the East St. Louis area, and why local politicians tolerated such outrageous behavior by their officers. The second part of our documentary focuses on the impact of derelict and vacant housing, the slumlords who own the property and the people who live in some of the worst housing in the metro area. Our investigation also uncovered new connections between politicians and legendary slumlord Ed Sieron, who was business partners with a longtime mayor. In addition, KMOV revealed that of the 500 mostly rundown properties that Sieron owns in East St. Louis, only 13 were cited for code violations. That lack of accountability for the notorious slumlord, empowered him and made the people living in his homes feel powerless. War Zone also exposes the way East St. Louis communities have sold their economy to vice-driven businesses like strip clubs, liquor stores, a casino, and convenience marts that had a long history of selling illegal synthetic drugs. Our investigation found that nearly all of these businesses failed to employ a significant number of East St. Louis residents, even though they received millions of dollars in tax incentives that are paid by East St. Louis residents. At the same time East St. Louis is handing out tax breaks to wealthy out-of-town businessmen, it repeatedly refused to provide the same tax incentives for local residents who wanted to create family friendly businesses that would employ people living in the East St. Louis area.

    Tags: government corruption; police misconduct; violence; politicians; community; local business

    By Craig Cheatham, Investigative Reporter; Jim Thomas, Photographer/Editor

    KMOV (St. Louis, MO)

    2012

  • Fiesta Bowl Under Fire; BCS The Money. The Games

    The Republic's investigation resulted in the discovery of violations of state and federal campaign finance laws at the Fiesta Bowl and widespread financial mismanagement, including employees being reimbursed for taking luxurious out-of-town trips and visits to strip clubs.

    Tags: The Republic; State and Federal Campaign Finance Law; Fiesta Bowl; BCS

    By Craig Harris, Dennis Wagner, Pat Flannery, Bill Pliske

    Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

    2011

  • "Fiesta Bowl Under Fire" "BCS The Money. The Games"

    Discovery of violations of state and federal campaign finance laws at the Fiesta Bowl and widespread financial mismanagement, including employees being reimbursed for taking luxurious out-of-town trips and visits to strip clubs. The investigation of the BCS found that public universities lose money playing in BCS games; bowls spend heavily on gifts for schools' top athletic officials; pay for the highest executives at the BCS bowls more than doubled since they reunited in the late 1990s; and three of the top bowls accepted large government subsidies even as their revenue and assets have grown.

    Tags: BCS; Fiesta Bowl; college; football; fraud; financial mismanagement

    By Craig Harris; Dennis Wagner; Pat Flannery; Bill Pliske

    Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

    2011

  • Walker Emails

    The story investigates whether Wisconsin's newly inaugurated Gov. Scott Walker was telling the truth when he said that most of the emails he'd received were in support of his plan to strip the collective bargaining rights from public workers.

    Tags: bargaining rights; public workers; politicians; Wisconsin

    By Kate Golden; Lauren Hasler; Julie Stupp; Amy Karon; Cailly Morris; Andrew Averill; Wesley Brooks; Andy Hall

    Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

    2011

  • "Disposable Soldiers"

    Reporter Joshua Kors exposes the story of Sergeant Chuck Luther who was severely injured by "mortar fire while serving in Iraq." His injury took the form of intense headaches that caused his vision to black out. He was asked to sign documents that claimed he had a "pre-existing condition," and when he refused, he was locked in a closet for more than "a month, with armed guards enforcing sleep deprivation." Finally, Luther signed the documents, which stripped him of disability benefits and long-term medical care.

    Tags: Iraq; disability; fraud; Camp Taji; U.S. Army; Fort Hood; medical care; pre-existing condition

    By Joshua Kors

    The Nation

    2010

  • "Trail of Chief's Ouster"

    In this article, Kauffman reveals the story behind the town manager who "abruptly ousted" the local police chief. The chief was investigating allegations of sexual harassment against the town manager, Jeffery O'Keefe, when he was "stripped of his job." After analyzing "thousands of emails" sent and received by O'Keefe, it seems the town manager started building a case to remove the chief the day after learning of the allegations against him.

    Tags: Jeffery O'Keefe; FOI; Matt Reimondo; police chief; East Hampton; sexual harassment; town manager; town hall

    By Matthew Kauffman

    Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

    2010

  • "Drivers Beware"

    Thomas Caywood revealed that a local towing company, Falcon Recovery, was using an "undercover spotter" to keep watch on a strip mall parking lot. Just moments after motorists parked and left their cars, the spotter would call in a tow truck. Caywood also revealed that the company was "tacking on an illegal charge."

    Tags: Falcon Recovery; tow trucks; strip mall; Worcester; RMV; Registry of Motor Vehicles; Madison Place; Francis R. Whitenett Jr.

    By Thomas M. Caywood

    Worcester Magazine

    2010

  • Weekend Warriors

    An investigation on the ManKind Project, a national organization for men which has branches in Texas. Michael Scinto attended one of the weekend campouts and committed suicide a week later. It turns out that men were being stripped naked and blindfolded for walks, naked men would stand around hammering cooked chickens, and other unsettling acts.

    Tags: support group; 12-step recoveryp; reprogram; MKP;

    By Chris Vogel

    Houston Press

    2007