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 "underage" ...

  • Under the Influence, Under 21

    In a three-part, eight-story series, I found that underage drinkers on Ohio University's campus were safer drinking at the bars than they were at a house party. It also broke down a three-year Ohio Liquor Control Commission oversight; allowing a bar to remain open for three-years under an intended suspension. The series also looks at drinking in dorms, which are the location of the most underage drinking citations.

    Tags: Underage drinkers; Ohio Unversity; underage drinking

    By Alex Stuckey

    The Post (Ohio University)

    2012

  • Children in the Fields

    One Congresswoman calls it America’s dirty secret: children, some as young as eight years old, working full-time in agricultural fields across the United States. During the last year, NBC’s Bay Area Investigative Unit uncovered that secret activity, put together a project that gained national attention and prompted action in the United States Congress. And we discovered it is not just California where this is happening. NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit partnered with CNBC to expose similar instances of children working in the fields across the United States.

    Tags: child labor; underaged labor; agricultural fields

    By NBC BAY AREA (KNTV): STEPHEN STOCK; DAVID PAREDES; MATT GOLDBERG; JAMIE PERAZA; CNBC: SABRINA KORBER; JEFF POHLMAN; SCOTT MATTHEWS

    NBC Bay Area

    2012

  • The Accidental Sex Offender

    "The Accidental Sex Offender" sheds crucial light on how America's sex-offender laws can ensnare underage high-school sweethearts, labeling young lovers as felons for life- and placing them on public sex offender registries, alongside violent predators and pedophiles.

    Tags: Sex offenders; laws; felons; pedophiles; predators;

    By Abigail Pesta

    Marie Claire

    2011

  • Sold On Craigslist

    The popular classified website Craigslist was found to be selling underage prostitutes through it's adult services section. The website was not screening ads as promised to uncover trafficking and it was profiting from the sales.

    Tags: Craigslist; underage prostitution; prostitution; human trafficking; adult services; classified; advertising; prostitute

    By Amber Lyons; Steve Turnham; Phillip Littleton; Jack Alger; Scott Matthews

    CNN (Atlanta)

    2010

  • Public Disservice

    The Pitch discovered that the family of a teen girl was pursuing a rape charge against Missouri state representative Roman LeBlanc. When the story broke, LeBlanc announced less than a week later that he would not run again for office.

    Tags: underage; rape; Roman LeBlanc; inappropriate relationship; rape charge

    By Peter Rugg

    Pitch Weekly (Kansas City, Mo.)

    2010

  • Sex Ghetto Raided

    Police in Ghana new about the abuse of young girls ranging from 11- 14 in age in local brothels but did not have the proper evidence to close down the facility until the reporter presented the authorities with video proof. There were 60 minors after the arrest of 239 sex workers and clients.

    Tags: underage; hostel; prostitution; exploitation; servicing; nudity; naked;

    By Anas Aremeyaw Anas

    The Crusading Guide (Ghana)

    2009

  • Child Sex Abuse

    After a high school coach was charged for having sexual relations with an underage student, many more victims stepped forward. The Times also found that the Bossier sheriff's office had mishandled a case with a 15-year-old girl.

    Tags: sexual assault; sexual abuse; victim's advocate; police; Shreveport-Bossier City community

    By Alison Bath

    Times (Shreveport, La.)

    2007

  • The Mark Foley Investigation

    Almost a year after the media received the first emails Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) sent to underage Congressional pages, ABCNews.com's investigative team went online with the story. Using the interactive function of their website, former pages forwarded to ABC more email exchanges they’d had with Foley, some of which were sexually explicit. After the first posting, Foley staffers claimed the pages "misunderstood", and that political opponents were smearing Foley. When the more explicit emails were read back to Foley, he tried to bargain with the investigative team: he would resign if the site didn't post the emails. ABC said no deal, and Foley resigned the next day. The issue morphed into "who knew" and why Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert had done nothing before to stop Foley's behavior. The story sparked an investigation by the FBI's Cyber Division, and criminal charges were filed against Foley in Florida. This series includes interviews with Brian Ross on breaking the story, and other media stories about the ABCNews.com coverage.

    Tags: Capitol Hill Page; Congressional Pages; Page Alumni Association; House Ethics Committee; sexually explicit messages to minors; Congressman Mark Foley; email messages; AOL Instant Messenger; Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert; FBI investigation; FBI's Cyber Division; House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children; Department of Justice; pedophile; Wired Safety

    By Brian Ross; Rhonda Schwartz; Maddy Sauer; Simon Surowicz; Krista Kjellman

    ABCNews.com

    2006

  • Penalty Shots

    The authors investigated the relationship between the owner of a bar near the University of Minnesota campus, and the school's Men's Hockey Team, many of whom were underage. The hockey players were allowed to drink, regardless of age and were given preferential treatment/discounts. This situation broke city and state laws as well as defied the National Collegiate Athletic Associations' code of conduct.

    Tags: alcohol; underage drinking; University of Minnesota; code of conduct; by-laws; Hockey; Men's Hockey Team; National Collegiate Athletic Association

    By Scott Wasserman;Jeff Baillon;Trish Van Pilsum;John Michael;Kim Kruger;Spencer Driskill;Brad Swagger;Tyler Ryan;Benjamin West;Troy Hale;Matt Knisely

    Fox 9 News (Eden Prairie, MN)

    2005

  • Polygamy in Arizona

    These stories are the latest in the investigation Dougherty began in 2002, which uncovered widespread sexual abuse within a religious society that coerces underage girls into polygamous unions with much older men. In these stories, Dougherty discovered that the sect was in the process of relocating to Eldorado, TX. He also found that the community is afflicted by a rare genetic disorder as a result of its history of inbreeding. Finally, the stories discuss the relationship between the state and the community, especially in the state-funded school district which employs a lot of community people.

    Tags: Colorado City; Mormons; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; sexual abuse; child abuse; cults; state government; local government; polygamy; sect

    By John Dougherty

    New Times (Phoenix)

    2005