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 "MN" ...
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System Failure
Investigation into the shoddy work on an MN medical examiner, which resulted in wrongful convictions.
Tags: Murder; Medical Examiners
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"Beyond the Verdict"
After a minivan struck a school bus causing a wreck that killed four children, Olga Franco was accused of driving the van, convicted and sentenced to prison. Franco, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, maintains her innocence and says her then-boyfriend was operating the vehicle; however, he was not found in the vehicle when authorities arrived to the scene. The KMSP team investigates her claims to determine if the wrong person is in prison for the terrible tragedy.
Tags: Cottonwood MN; Olga Franco; Shakopee; Francisco Mendoza; DNA; illegal immigration
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Borrowing Trouble
This series looks at how corporations like Payday America use payday loans to target the poor and charge phenomenal interest fees. These stories also look at how traditional banks have helped to keep these businesses going, acting as the main source for business loans for payday lenders. At the same time, these banks are pulling their own branches out of lower income areas and violating the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 by not "serving the credit needs of all communities where they operate, including low- and moderate-income communities." Another story looks at RALs, or Refund Anticipation Loans from places like H&R Block, which also rack up interest rates and fees of 70-700 percent.
Tags: refund anticipation loans; loans; payday loans; Payday America; check-cashing businesses; Community Reinvestment Act; H&R Block
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Inside MnDOT - Losing Ground
The first set of stories by the Star Tribune, looks at how one of Minnesota's richest agencies, the Department of Transportation broke state laws in building highways and in other projects. When questioned they even tried to destroy or hide incriminating documents. The second set looks at how the agency underpaid land owners while taking over their land for highway right-of-way projects.
Tags: MnDOT; Department of Transportation; highway projects; highway right-of-way projects; Government agencies and state laws
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MnDOT's tactics squeeze landowners
The Star Truibune conducts an investigation of the unfair practices in land compensation carried out by the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation. For years, the the department has taken private land for road projects and offered the owners substantially less than the land was worth. Many times, MnDOT did so while concealing information suggesting the land was worth far more.
Tags: transportation; Chanhassen
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How to avoid being railroaded
Governing magazine looks at the effects that railroads and train traffic increases have on a community. It highlights how communities like Cleveland, Reno, Witchita and Rochester, MN have dealt with the impact.
Tags: railroads; trains; transportation; train traffic; commercial rail transportation; derailment; traffic impact; Surface Transportation Board; STB
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A name like Mike doesn't wane
The Post-Bulletin of Rochester, MN, reports an "Analysis shows most popular and most uncommon names in (Olmsted) county...Michael was the most common name for boys and Ashley and Elizabeth were the most common names for girls born in Olmsted County from Jan. 1 through Dec 3, 1995, according to a Post-Bulletin computer analysis of birth records at the county recorder's office. An analysis of 18,577 births recorded between 1989 and last year also showed some names have had a lot of staying power..."
Tags: baby names
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No title (id: 10819)
Minnesota Public Radio examines the issue of commuter airline safety snd found an unsettling inability of the Federal Aviation Administration, Northwest Airline and the airline's major partner to adequately ensure the safety of passengers. The investigation also found the commuter pilots are using a dangerous and unapproved approach during icy conditions called the "slam dunk approach" which involves a rapid descent through icy conditions to the runway; as a result of the series, the FAA increased its oversight of commuter airlines in the Northwest, Apr. 4 - 7, 1994.
Tags: MN Collins Stawicki NTSB Flight 5719 safety standards Tape Script
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No title (id: 10799)
City Pages finds that the corruption, mismanagement, inefficiency and discrimination are the order of the day in the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority; management in the housing authority is dominated by politically well-connected people, April 13, 1994.
Tags: MN Bauerlein Vogel African-American Bribes Low-income HUD 14 pages
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Minnesota Under the Gun
In a three part series, the St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press examined the issue ofhandguns and homicides. The series found, among other things, that whites are the most frequent victims, though the number of black victims has tripled, half the guns used in homicides are legally purchased, and the number of victims killed by strangers is rising, even though most victims know their killer, Sept. 11, 12, 18, 1994.