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 "discount business" ...
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Bob Waterson stories
The Bee found that Bob Waterson, chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, had engaged in personal and business dealings that raised ethical questions. For example, he bought a luxury vehicle at an apparent discount from a tribal official as he was opposing plans for a competing tribe's casino.
Tags: Corruption; chairman; Fresno County Board of Supervisors
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Bribe figure's son got his firm, city business
This investigation by the Tribune examined how the son of a man who had pleaded guilty to bribing a city official was benefiting from city construction contracts. Before fleeing the country, the father sold his construction firm to his son at a deep discount. Later, the son, through a separate corporate entity, won more than $40 million in city contracts.
Tags: government; contracts
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Schwab vs Wall Street
Having redefined the business, first by founding the brokerage to exploit the end of fixed-price stock trading commissions in 1975, Schwab is looking for innovation again. BusinessWeek investigates and analyzes the latest strategy of Wall Street's famous challenger who aims to extend his business to advising from discount brokerage alone. The story says that though Schwab's might not be the most experienced for large-scale advise, his often overlooked innovations have run over his competitors.
Tags: Chuck; brokerage; online trading
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Day of the Dead: The declining autopsy rate is hurting medical science
This article discusses the declining rate of autopsies being performed nationwide, and their implications for medical science. "Doctors are reluctant to request them, scared to discover a misdiagnosis that could lead to an expensive malpractice suit. Health maintenance organizations and government agencies are reluctant to pay for them. And there is a shortage of doctors trained to perform them." The article examines the various benefits autopsies offer the medical community -- from measuring the effects of new drugs to understanding various diseases and other health problems, and the possible benefits to families who want to determine just how their loved one died, and from what. The growth of one Los Angeles-based discount autopsy business, 1-800-AUTOPSY, is also discussed.
Tags: autopsy; medical examiner; coroner; HMO; health insurance; science; medical science; death; deceased; organs; research; pathologist; discount business
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Tales from the Boom-Boom Room: Women vs. Wall Street
Antilla documents the history of sexual harassment and discrimination in the brokerage industry over the past two decades. The book follows the story of Pamela K. Martens, who along with her coplaintiffs in Martens et al vs. Smith Barney, et al, went public with shocking allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
Tags: BOOK; securities business; Wall Street; sexual harassment; sexual discrimination; EEOC; Olde Discount Corporation; Martens et al vs. Smith Barney; Pamela K. Martens; BOOK PAGES-342
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Code Blue
Reporters David Carr and Edward Cone examine Kmart's strategic plan for turning around profits and becoming competitive with the likes of Wal-Mart and Target. The restructuring all falls on the shoulders of one man, Chuck Conaway, who was named Kmart CEO in May 2000. Conway promised a two-year recovery plan for the discount retailer that placed heavy importance on revamping the corporation's supply and inventory management systems, as well as "micromerchandising" in specific communities. But the retailer has had a difficult time turning around, Kmart's sales numbers dropped drastically after the events of Sept. 11, while its competitor's, Wal-Mart and Target, went up significantly.
Tags: Business; retail; merchandising; Kmart
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Blue-Light Special
The Riverfront Times reports on the Overland Police department's firearm turmoil. Not only did the department spend many thousands of dollars on guns for its 50 officers, including heavy assault weapons that had no practical purpose according to department officials, guns that were recorded as destroyed or scrapped for parts showed up in police vehicles and hunter-education programs. "Overland was buying and selling guns... so they were in the gun business. That's the bottom line," a former officer said. Discounts given to the department for gun purchases were extended to the mayor several other prominent Overland citizens. Overland also had problems with guns disappearing out of the evidence locker.
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Pack of Renegades: Tobacco Deal Has Unintended Effect: New discount Smokes
This Wall Street Journal story looks at the proliferation of small makers of low-price cigarettes, while large tobacco companies experience times of trouble. The story reveals that "some cut-rate smokes are selling for as little as $1 a pack, compared with an average retail price of more than $3 fro big-name brands." The analysis finds that the "rise of small manufacturers means big companies pay less to the states." The reporter points out that the low-price producers decline to sign the national tobacco settlement and complain that it unfairly penalizes them, while in the meantime their market share is increasing.
Tags: tobacco; settlement; states; business; litigation; Fifth amendment; escrow payments
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The Catalyst Behind Cipla's Offer of Cheap AIDS Drugs: Potent Mix of Motives
"Yusuf K. Hamied is a man with impressive humanitarian credentials. His pharmaceuticals company, Cipla Ltd. runs a free cancer-free hospital in India. And yet, even Dr. Hamied's friends say it wasn't simply compassion that drove the generic-drug pioneer to make his attention-grabbing offer last month to sell AIDS drugs at deep discounts.... One friend...says Dr. Hamied's offer was 'very much a business deal' designed to build Cipla's brand name outside India."
Tags: AIDS; Generic drugs; Pharmaceuticals
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Dot-Com Liquidator
As online retailers go belly-up, new businesses called "dot-com liquidators" are popping up, which resell the failing Internet companies' goods after buying them at big discounts. The story profiles dot-com liquidator Patrick Byrne and his company Overstock.com, in particular
Tags: dot-com; e-tailer; start-up; liquidator; patrick byrne; overstock