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 "PA" ...

  • Allentown Gas Explosion

    Natural gas explosion killed 5 people in Allentown, PA, destroyed a neighborhood due to a leak from an 83-year old cast-iron pipe.

    Tags: gas; explosion; accident; allentown; leak;

    By Frank Warner; Andrew McGill; Christoper Baxter; Daniel Patrick Sheehan; Arlene Martinez; Matt Assad; Manuel Gamiz Jr.; Scott Kraus; Paul Muschick; Tim Darragh; Colby Itkowitz

    The Morning Call

    2011

  • Vitalistic Therapeutic Charter School

    The story focused on an obscure 10-year-old charter school in Bethlehem, Pa that taught mostly poor, mentally disabled and minority students through curriculum laden with intensive mental health therapy.

    Tags: Vitalistic Therapeautic Charter School; taxpayer; education funds; Bethlehem

    By Steve Esack; Devon Lash

    Morning Call (Allentown

    2011

  • Tax Travesty

    The story looks at how attempts to abolition Philadelphia's corrupt property tax agency, the Board of Revision of Taxes, was stymied by connected insiders and political connections.

    Tags: property taxes; Philadelphia, Pa.; Board of Revision of Taxes; corruption; assessment;

    By Mark Fazlollah; Joseph Tanfani; Dylan Purcell

    Philadelphia Inquirer

    2009

  • Justice for Peggy

    An investigation into the 40-year-old unsolved torture sex slaying of 14-year-old Margaret Lynn "Peggy" Reber in Lebanon, Pa., the hometown of the reporters.

    Tags: homicide; unsolved murder; justice; witnesses; prostitution; DNA evidence

    By Kevin Uhrich; Martha Shaak

    Philadelphia Weekly

    2008

  • Restitution System Flawed

    "People convicted of crimes often are fined and told to pay back their victims. But in York County, Pa. the system doesn't work. Victims, the court systems and local government are owed millions of dollars by those who haven't paid, can't pay or won't pay.

    Tags: court; restitution; fines; court cost;

    By Teresa Ann Boeckel

    Daily Record (York, Pa.)

    2007

  • Capitol Cash Grab

    The reporters investigated backroom dealings of the PA General Assembly, including a large stash of public money squirreled away in various leadership accounts.

    Tags: money; public funds; Pennsylvania general assembly; mid-term elections; corruption

    By Brad Bumsted;Debra Erdley

    Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh, PA)

    2005

  • Garvey Past Questioned

    For more than 40 years, William Garvey was a powerful man in Erie, serving as a grade-school basketball coach and president of Mercyhurst College. This series looks into the allegations of sexual molestation and inappropriate behaviors that several of Garvey's former students/players have made against the 68-year-old man. Though he denied any wrongdoing, Garvey retired two months after the investigation became more intense.

    Tags: Mercyhurst College; William P. Garvey; Erie; Pa.

    By Ed Palattella

    None

    2004

  • Native American Casino Impact: Ongoing Questions for Brownsville Borough

    These stories look at various aspects of Native American gaming. Specifically, the reporter chose to focus on how Foxwoods casino in Connecticut affected that community. The reporter drew parallels to Brownsville, PA to show how a potential Indian casino would affect her own town. She looks at property values, small- business owners and taxes.

    Tags: Bureau of Indian Affairs; United Property Owners; gambling; gaming; Native Americans; tourism; sales tax

    By Christine Haines

    Herald-Standard (Brownsville, PA)

    2003

  • A jury of peers?

    Due to a flawed selection system, blacks and whites in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, do not have a reasonably equal chance of being called to jury duty, as the U.S. Supreme Court requires. This investigation spurred several major changes, including an ongoing statewide study of jury pool imbalances, several proposed bills in the PA Senate, and a jury registration drive by the local NAACP.

    Tags: Juries; race; discrimination

    By Mark Houser

    Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh, PA)

    2002

  • Land Grab

    This article looks at the national battle over property rights and the use of eminent domain authority. Opposition to local condemnation powers is on the increase, particularly when it is used to hasten redevelopment and/or favors one private owner over another. Highlighted are cases in Port Chester, NY, Merriam, KS and Pittsburgh, PA.

    Tags: development; eminent domain; property-rights; local condemnation powers

    By Rob Gurwitt

    Governing Magazine

    2001