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 "bad debts" ...

  • BestBank

    The Sun-Sentinel looks at two entrpreneurs aho owned or controlled three Ft. Lauderdale companies that ran the credit card program for Colorado bank BestBank. BestBank closed down saying it had bad credir card debts. Links are shown that the two entrpreneurs had issued cards to people with bad credit. The story also examines the bank's closing impact.

    Tags: bad debts; New SeaEscape Cruises; Discovery Cruise Line; Douglas Baetz; Glenn Gallant

    By Katherine Hutt

    Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

    1998

  • Debt Reckoning

    ABC investigated the illegal business practices of Ford Motor Company -- one of the largest home-equity lenders in the country. Most years, Ford makes more money loaning to people with bad credit than it does selling cars. Through its subsidiary, called The Associates, Ford targets low-income people with equity in their homes, then, pays kickbacks to brokers for steering unwitting customers into the most expensive loans.

    Tags: VIDEOCLIP TAPE TRANSCRIPT loan flipping

    By Rick Nelson;Ira Rosen;Chris Wallace;Phyliss McGrady;Steve Cain

    ABC News Primetime Live

    1997

  • No title (id: 12530)

    Business Week looks at Japan's $350 billion bad-loan crisis through the eyes of businessman Hiroshi Asaji. Asaji makes no secret of the fact that he sometimes committed crimes and worked close with the yakuza during the real estate boom in the '80s. The Ministry of Finance blames the yakuza in the post-bubble debt overhang. Japan plans to set up its own version of America's Resolution Trust Corp., with Japanese police backing. (Jan. 29, 1996)

    Tags: Bremner How the Mob Burned the Banks Business 4 pgs.

    By None

    Business Week

    1996

  • Teachers challenging union leaders over pensions

    The Journal-Bulletin investigates a mini-revolt within the ranks of the National Education Association/Rhode Island. The investigation reveals how legislators and union leaders manipulated the system to get union employees publicly-subsidezed state pensions; how NEA leaders lied to their members; how NEA officials had written off as "bad debt" thousands of dollars owed by its former president; how the NEA's former president and current executive director had committed fraud; and how the current president maneuvered to pad his state pension. (Feb. 12, 28, March 8, 14, 18, April 2, 30, May 18, 1995)

    Tags: Education; teacher unions; National Education Association; NEA

    By Morgan McVicar

    Journal-Bulletin (Providence, R.I.)

    1995

  • That's what friends are for?

    "In 1988, Dionne Warwick, an entertainer known for her humanitarian efforts, established the Warwick Foundation, a nonprofit charity whose primary goal was to raise badly needed funds for AIDS service organizations in the black community. Through high profile gala concerts, the Warwick Foundation succeeded in raising 2.1 million dollars but gave only $56,000 in direct grants to charities. In 1990 the foundation closed its doors with $690,000 in debts and 62 creditors. ... The story examines the often bitter experiences of the charities involved and exposes the mismanagement and extravagance that led to a dismal bottom line."

    Tags: VIDEOCLIP TAPE TRANSCRIPT malfeasance celebrities donations minorities Grandma's House AIDS facility Telesis

    By Hal Gessner;William Kistner

    ABC News Day One

    1993

  • No title (id: 7039)

    Wall Street Journal reports thrift regulators are having a difficult time recovering bad debt loaned out to borrowers; some of whom are broke, others resist collection through costly and time consuming litigation, and still others in Texas hide behind lenient state laws, December 22, 1989.

    Tags: None

    By None

    Wall Street Journal (New York)

    1989

  • Anatomy of a failure: How N.D. potato sale to Honduras went sour

    Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald finds the middleman in a state deal to export potatoes to Honduras had a long record of bad debts and deliberately misused state financial documents to cheat the state out of money; state officials circumvented state procedures to obtain financing for the deal.

    Tags: North Dakota; potatoes; exports; Honduras; Messner

    By Randall Mikkelsen

    Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

    1987

  • The Robert Strauss Story

    WTSP-TV (St. Petersburg) stories follow a trail of unsuccessful housing developments, bad debts and failed businesses to a corporation headed by a man who served time for doing the same thing in another state.

    Tags: FL; Kalwary; housing developments; check kiting; Tape

    By Kevin Kalwary;Mark Barroso;Dave Herring

    WTSP-TV (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

    1987