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 "principal" ...
-
Playing with Fire
“Playing with Fire” focuses on a public board well out of the public eye, but one that could cost New Orleans taxpayers millions of dollars every year. After a month of digging through thousands of pages of records at the New Orleans Firefighters Pension Fund, WVUE-TV and Lee Zurik revealed questionable salaries, spending, and management. Among the notable discoveries: a $70,000 raise and $90,000 lump sum payout for the board Secretary-Treasurer/CEO; tens of thousands of dollars in questionable credit card charges by the board; and tens of millions of dollars in questionable investments. This last element is perhaps the most egregious for the citizens of New Orleans who are left to foot the bill for any pension fund shortfalls. This multi part series launched an investigation by the city’s inspector general, forced the board to change polices and led to charges filed by the state ethics board against two of the principals in our series.
Tags: New Orleans; taxes; taxpayers; credit cards
-
Our Money, Their Failures
A six-week investigation by The Virgin Islands Daily News into the people and the money connected to the U.S. Virgin Islands governor's proposal for a $55 million sports complex. The investigative report was published on one day across 11 pages and achieved the result of stopping the project and forcing the governor to pledge no further contracts without vetting the principals. In the case of the sports complex that the governor and some V.I. senators were trying to push through, the investigation uncovered misrepresentations and a string of financial failures by a number of the private parties in the deal with the governor.
Tags: Government; governor; Virgin Islands
-
Jack Young Investigation
Prompted by questions raised about a city councilman's residence, WBAL-TV found that the councilman was listing two different residences as his principal address. This led to a further examination of his shady property transactions and more revelations.
Tags: residence; property transactions; city council; council
-
Juvenile Sex Offenders: Marjor Crimes, Minor Criminal
"A report by Anna Song of KATU-Portland, Ore. reveals that juvenile sex offenders often go right back to school after being charged. Due to their status as minors, school administrators cannot disseminate this information beyond the staff. The story exposes the inconsistency of local school policies when it comes to such offenders: Some schools tell all staff members, some tell just a few. Ultimately, it's up to the principal and can vary by school, not just by district."
Tags: sex offenders; juvenile; school system; privacy; crime; sexual offense
-
Wize Guys
"An investigation of a company selling get-rish-quick stock market software. Findings included a gross misrepresentation of the 'experts' licensing and qualifications; depositions where at least one principal said he lost money using the product; and principals' ties to financial companies cited for fraud."
-
Palace Revolt
This investigation, "tells the definitive story of how a small coterie of conservative Bush appointees led a quietly effective rebellion against the administration’s most controversial polices in the war on terror. Principally residing in the Justice Department, relying on the law and their conscience, these brave public servants took on powerful hardliners in the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, the Defense Department, and elsewhere.
Tags: politicians; politics; federal government; War on Terror; Iraq; Afghanistan
-
Betrayal of Trust
This project focused on sexual abuse by teachers and other school employees against minors. The investigation found that potentially abusive teachers can slip through the cracks due to inadequate tracking of teachers by the state Department of Education, incomplete criminal background checks and poor communication among schools, courts and law enforcement agencies.
Tags: education; harassment; sexual abuse; child abuse; sex offenders; school; abusive teachers; principals; state government; city government; FOIA; background checks; MI Department of Education
-
Pre-K Scandal
This investigation exposed abuse of a taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten for poor and limited English proficiency children. The principal of one of the pre-kindergartens enrolled her own daughter in the program even though she made too much money to qualify as did thirty-four school district employees who also enrolled their children in it. Many of the schools had waiting lists with needy kids who were denied access because unqualified children were enrolled.
Tags: preschool; pre-kindergarten; education; low income programs; San Antonio Independent School District; SAISD
-
The Breaking Point: How Female Midlife Crisis is Transforming Today's Women
This book is the first to examine how and why the current generation of middle-aged women is having more midlife crisis than ever before. The book explains how the midlife crisis is being redefined through the popular vernacular, and also shows the effects of female midlife crisis on American culture. The book also maps out six psychological archetypes as "organizing principals for female midlife development."
Tags: women; gender studies; aging; psychology; middle age; human development; growth
-
Gold in Educators' Unused Sick Days
This investigation uncovered a provision in Chicago public school principals that allows them to save up unused sick days to cash in upon retirement. Not only can they collect up to 315 days of unused sick pay, but 244 of those can also be used as service time to increase their pension.
Tags: education; salary; teachers union; school board; retirement; pension plan