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 "international relations" ...

  • Hidden suffering, hidden death

    The deaths of severely disabled Illinois residents who lived at home cared for by friends and relatives were not being investigated by the state agency specially created to protect them — the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Human Services. The reason given for not investigating?The agency's internal documents showed that that OIG considered the dead to be "ineligible for services," even when victims died shortly after being hospitalized on an emergency basis and after the agency had received calls on its hotline alleging that the disabled person had been abused or neglected. The Belleville News-Democrat's wide-ranging investigation initially focused on the deaths of 53 of these home bound disabled adults.

    Tags: Department of Human Service; Office of the Inspector General; OIGl; victims

    By George Pawlaczyk; Beth Hundsdorfer

    Belleville News-Democrat

    2012

  • Other People's Wars

    The book is the story of a close US ally's role in the wars and international politics of the decade after September 11, 2001. Nearly everything about New Zealand's post 9-11 military and intelligence roles was kept secret from the New Zealand public, while news was controlled through an intense military public relations campaign.

    Tags: New Zealand; Iraq; Afghanistan; War on Terror

    By Nicky Hager

    Freelance

    2011

  • Criminalizing Cartoons

    The investigation exposes a police chief's desperate attempt to acquire the name of an anonymous cartoonist, mocking his department on the Internet. A person going by the moniker MrFiddlesticks (and other names) was airing internal affairs dirty laundry in the form of parody. To find out who, the city prosecutor, police chief and a local judge teamed up to craft a criminal search warrant. KIRO-TV's investigative unit not only uncovered questionable legal tactics (like prosecutor shopping), but later caught police shredding hundreds of records related the case. First Amendment and FOIA issues are central to this ongoing investigation.

    Tags: cartoonist; search warrant; shredding

    By Chris Halsne; David Weed

    KIRO-TV (Seattle)

    2011

  • Money for Nothing

    This investigation examined loans made by the US Government to foreign businesses. It found that the US government made nearly a quarter-billion dollars of loans to Mexican businesses without doing any fact-checking. The loans fell into default, which could have been avoided if the government had done basic research. Furthermore, the government also made loans to suspected drug cartel-connected members.

    Tags: loans; international relations; federal government; open records; data analysis; business; finance; backgrounding

    By Byron Harris; Mark Smith; Kraig Kirchem; Michael Valentine; Carlos Rosales

    WFAA-TV (Dallas)

    2007

  • Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power

    This book investigates the response by U.S. companies and the U.S. government to the raising of environmental health standards by the European Union. The book reveals the Bush Administration's policy of retreating from environmental responsibility, while the rest of the world embraces it. The book explores the effects of this attitude on the environment, health of U.S. citizens and international relations.

    Tags: environment; international relations; foreign affairs; chemicals; pollution; waste; environmental affairs; international trade;

    By Mark Schapiro

    null

    2007

  • Collateral Damage: Human Rights and U.S. Military Aid After 9/11

    This project investigated the impact of foreign lobbying and terrorism on U.S. post-9/11 military training and aid programs. Controversial U.S. allies such as Pakistan received billions of dollars in additional, new military aid to fight the global war on terror. Additionally, foreign governments spent millions lobbying the White House and the Pentagon, taking advantage of the chaotic policymaking environment to ask for their own military aid. The investigation revealed that the change in priorities often came at the cost of human rights and fiscal accountability.

    Tags: human rights; foreign countries; international relations; war on terror; military expenses

    By Nathaniel Heller; Ben Welsh; Marina Walker Guevara; Tom Stites; Sarah Fort; Patrick Kiger; Michael Bilton; Prangtip Daorueng; Ignacio Gomez; Andreas Harsono; Alain Lallemand; Yossi Melman; Mutegi Njau; Paul Radu; Gerardo Reyes; Leo Sisti

    Center for Public Integrity

    2007

  • Nuclear Threat Made in U.S.

    This story revealed how the U.S. government scattered tons of highly enriched uranium around the globe and then failed to get the material back. The Tribune documented how a misguided Cold War program called Atoms for Peace provided bomb0grade uranium fuel to dozens of nations in an attempt to win allies and curry favor. Today, 40 tons of this same uranium remain outside of U.S. control.

    Tags: nuclear weapons; federal government; international relations; nuclear smuggling; open records

    By Sam Roe

    Chicago Tribune

    2007

  • Made in China

    The author travelled to China undercover to expose how steroids make their way from China to US athletes. The author also developed a faux steroid website in order to sting the largest supplement wholesaler in America, who was also selling illegal designer steroids.

    Tags: sports; drugs; steroids; black market; international relations; drug trade; online commerce; undercover; sting operation

    By Shaun Assael

    ESPN Magazine

    2007

  • Return of the Godfathers

    This is duplicate of 22922, please go there for the story

    Tags: mafia; organized crime; mobster; crime families; international relations

    By Leo Sisti

    L

    2006

  • What's a Life Worth?

    The series began with an investigation into the affects of asbestos contamination on the small country town of Ragland, AL., and its relation to the international asbestos trade and legislation in congress to stem the tide of asbestos related lawsuits. It ended with an investigation of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which is responsible for protecting the public from environmental asbestos and other hazards.

    Tags: asbestos; contamination; public health; Alabama Department of Environmental Management; law suits; lead; PCB; mesothelioma; FOIA

    By Matthew Korade;Jessica Centers

    The Anniston (Ala.) Star

    2005