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 "decorations" ...
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The Curious Case of Sgt. Drenth
A decorated and highly respected Phoenix police sergeant is found dead on the ground in an alley near the State Capitol complex, the victim of a shotgun blast to the head. The weapon is discovered on his body in a manner which several first-responders later claim looked "staged" by another party or parties. Almost a year after Sgt. Sean Drenth's death, the county Medical Examiner rules that the manner of his death was a "suicide," not a "homicide" or "undetermined." The enclosed two-part series was published after the reporter investigated this complex and ultimately tragic case for several months. A few weeks ago, the county Medical Examiner personally told Sgt. Drenth's widow that he personally will revisit the case in light of the revelations in the story and other relevant reasons.
Tags: Death; police sergeant; shotguns
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A Tampa Case of Stolen Valor
“A local man has been joining veteran’s organizations around the Tampa area”. He often comes dressed in a marine uniform, showing off his “Navy Cross”, which he was awarded while serving his country. It turns out that he never won the award, was never a part of the Marines, and never even served for the US Military. Further, he was charged with violating the “Stolen Valor Act” and forging government documents.
Tags: US Justice Department; Angel Ocasio; federal law; medal; nation; service; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); decorations
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Tales of a Mafia Mistress
The biggest mafia case of 2007 was the Roy Lindley DeVecchio murder trial, where the defendant was a decorated ex-FBI agent. The whole case rested on the mistress of gangster Greg Scarpa Sr., Linda Schiro.
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Toxic Treats
Reporters at the Orange County Register perform an investigation into mexican candies which contain extremely high levels of lead. This six part series reveal that most mexican candies which are brought into the United States contain guajillo, a type of chilli. Though the fresh chilli itself has not been found to have high levels of lead, it's during the drying and grinding process high levels of lead exist. Investigators also tested the candy packages and specialty clay pots, which were decorated with a lead glaze.
Tags: mexican candy; California Department of Health Services; guajillo chilli
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The money pit
This story involves an often repeated complaint by consumers concerning home renovation. Dateline NBC sent a few reporters undercover to investigate what goes on behind the scenes. Interviewing people who had been through the remodeling they revealed that most often the time the time and the cost taken to complete the project is way more than the initial estimate. They also found that many a times the contractors were over-billing their customers.
Tags: home remodeling; construction; construction workers; contractors; home decoration; remodeling
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The Wrong Man
Brian Kelley, a decorated undercover CIA officer was investigated by the FBI to the point of nearly destroying his life, and his career. Kelley was the wrong man. The man the FBI actually arrested was Robert Hanssen, for selling secrets to Russia. Breaking his silence, Kelley spoke to 60 Minutes about his ordeal and about efforts by top FBI officials to keep their mistakes secret.
Tags: TAPE; spy; FBI; CIA; secret; CIA officer; arrest; agent; undercover officer; Justice Department; spy catcher; spy map; secret evidence; top secret; espionage; KGB; Brian Kelley; Robert Hansen; strip club; strip joint; porn sites; diamonds; mole; capital offense; capital crime; investigator.
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A question of access
An investigation into a private, non-profit foundation run by the governor of Wisconsin's wife to furnish, decorate and maintain the governor's mansion gets its largest donations from people who lobby on issues that come before the governor and the agencies he oversees.
Tags: Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum; Wisconsin first lady Laurie McCallum; Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation; nonprofits; Wisconsin Executive Residence; Madison; Wisconsin; ethics; lobbyists; governor's mansion
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Justice Denied
After the death of an innocent paperboy in a feud between motorcycle gangs, the deaths of seven others followed to protect the killers. Milwaukee Magazine tracks the developments of this unsolved case from 1974 into the present. This investigation examines a series of unsolved murders, allegedly linked to the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, whose "Milwaukee chapter ... gained notoriety during the late 1960s, growing out of the Chicago chapter and establishing a criminal presence as drug traffickers and car thieves." The story describes how a bomb - decorated like a Christmas present and left in the car of the president of a rival motorcycle club - killed an innocent paperboy in 1974. The report details several more "Outlaws murders" in the 1970s and the 1980s. The investigation alleges that the unsolved murders have been acts of retaliation. It reveals that "police say they know the killer," but no one has been prosecuted. The report sheds light on the police investigators' suspicions that "their years of police work were discarded by Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher..."
Tags: police; money and politics; gangs; detectives; drugs; firearms; theft; automobiles; courts; unsolved murder; motorcycle club
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Decorators in the haute seat
In this article Chun looks at the case against two of New York's most famous interior designers, James Huniford and Stephen Sills. The two are facing charges alleging them of price-gouging and authenticity fraud.
Tags: Fraud; interior-decorating; interior-design
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UL: Still Safety's Symbol
The UL symbol is stamped on more than 15 billion products and small appliances a year. Yet troubling incidents and documents from the CPSC indicate that the typical seal of Underwriters Laboratories, the independent testing service that examines appliances and other items to make sure they're are functioning safely, may be little more than decoration.
Tags: consumer product safety; appliances; fire hazard; federal regulation FOIA