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 "josh harkinson" ...
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"BP Oil Spill coverage"
MotherJones.com published "more than 500 articles" and related posts to their website during the coverage of the 2010 BP oil spill. Reporters broke news stories on the ground in Louisiana and all along the Gulf, while a Mother Jones West Coast reporter kept tabs on "what BP and its contractors knew and when they knew it."
Tags: BP; oil; Gulf Coast; oil spill; Deepwater Horizon
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Chamber of Commerce series
Reporter Josh Harkinson details how the US Chamber of Commerce represents far fewer business interests than it claims, possesses an undemocratic leadership structure and sets policies beneficial to the most powerful members of the organization.
Tags: chamber of commerce; lobby; josh harkinson; mother jones; main street; businesses; lobbying; employee free choice act; Consumer Financial Protection Agency; corporate; Donohue;
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The Highwaymen
This investigation explores a recent trend: auctioning the maintenance of public highways and bridges to private companies. The article shows how privatization benefits the companies far more than the public. Private road operators charge high tolls and insist on non-compete clauses, so the government can't build other roads in the area.
Tags: transportation; privatization; bridges; roads; constructions; infastructure; driving; transit; state government
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Wretched Excess
The story investigated the growing industry of municipal sewage sludge recycling, and particularly the practice of spreading sludge on farmland. The story followed a rancher who claims that sewage sludge made him and his family sick, and it reviews the case of a scientist who faced resistance at the EPA to his study of sludge health effects. It showed how science unfavorable to the sludge recyclers was suppressed by the EPA at the behest of the companies.
Tags: sludge; sewage sludge recycling; Environmental Protection Agency; environment; pollution; science; corruption
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HCCS' Gift Basket Bonanza
As revealed by this piece, the Houston Community College System is rank with nepotism as family and friends of board members enjoy unearned job offers and promotions. Trustees also used influence to get tuition waived for family members.
Tags: FOIA; Houston Community College; community college; tuition; scholarship; trustee; financial aid; nepotism; family; relatives; campaign finance
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Thrilled to Death
This story took a look at amusement parks in Texas and found evidence of numerous serious injuries, faulty ride maintenance, and negligent behavior on the part of employees. It found several amusement park operators had failed to report numerous injuries to state regulators, in violation of Texas law. It also found evidence that state and federal regulations and enforcement are inadeqate to ensure ride safety.
Tags: amusement parks; ride safety; Texas Department of Insurance; Six Flags; government safety regulations for amusement parks