The early bird deadline for 
Promotions and new staff strengthen IRE
Luke Timmerman and David Heath of The Seattle Times use sources and documents to investigate at least 26 claims that drug researchers leaked secrets to Wall Street. “In 24 of the 26 cases, the firms issued reports to select clients with detailed information obtained from doctors involved in confidential studies. The reports advised clients whether…
Read MoreBeth Musgrave and Delano R. Massey of the Lexington Herald-Leader used local records to find that the city’s pension fund for police and firefighters is ripe for abuse: “Police officers who have run afoul of the law or departmental policy have retired on disability pensions before internal investigations could be completed or discipline handed down.”…
Read MoreDina Cappiello of the Houston Chronicle used state records to show that “the portion of the Texas City refinery that burst into flames July 28 was the site of repeated malfunctions that could have been prevented if BP correctly and more frequently performed maintenance on the unit.” The incidents included the installation of an incorrect…
Read MoreKeith Rogers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal used federal data to show that compared to nuclear workers at other sites around the country, Nevada Test Site employees have not received compensation for illnesses at the same rate. “Only 6 percent of test site workers have been approved for claims that typically pay $150,000 in tax-free…
Read MoreDaniel Chacón of the San Diego Union-Tribune analyzed county grant receipts finding a multimillion-dollar system riddled with shoddy bookkeeping and lax oversight. The investigation “found that records for 54 grants totaling nearly $1 million are missing. Receipts that have been collected show that money has been spent on everything from Cheetos to seared ahi crostini.”…
Read MoreTrent Seibert and Brad Schrade of The Tennessean use state department records to investigate an “honorary captains” program that gives campaign donors, political insiders and friends troop-like badges. “Officials say the program is an atta-boy, a way to recognize people’s contributions to the state. But critics say it’s an invitation for the well-connected to brandish…
Read MoreSteve Myers, Bill Finch and Brendan Kirby of the Mobile Register surveyed local governments to find that “numerous jurisdictions in Mobile and Baldwin counties have not been enforcing significant portions of their building codes, those designed to protect residential homes from hurricane damage.” Only two communities enforce the highest level of wind-resistance protection, and they…
Read MoreMichael Beebe and Robert J. McCarthy of The Buffalo News report that New York’s lax regulation of alcohol sales has resulted in a system in which producers and wholesalers provide “retailers illegal payoffs of money, trips, even gold Krugerrands to push certain brands of wine, vodka or whiskey. Some of the biggest liquor wholesalers in…
Read MoreLee Davidson of The Deseret Morning News used the federal Freedom of Information Act to obtain data on weapon seizures at airports, finding that “daily for the past three years, passengers at U.S. airports surrendered an average of 14,000 potential weapons. That is enough to arm every passenger on 33 filled-to-capacity Boeing 747 jumbo jets…
Read More