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 "public infrastructure" ...
-
Dangerous Dams
There are several "high hazard" dams in Maryland which the state Department of the Environment considers unsafe and a threat to public safety. Some of these dams are in imminent danger of failing. A "high hazard" dam indicates that a collapse would cause loss of life and damage to residential, industrial or agricultural areas, public utilities and infrastructure. The story detailed lax enforcement of rules and regulations when a dam owner is told by state inspectors to fix problems.
Tags: Dams; safety; breach; unsafe; high hazard
-
U.S. Government Hysteria In Computer Security
Vmyths.com reports on the U.S. government's "panicked approach" to computer security before and after September 11th, 2001. The articles look at "plagiarism and other shenanigans" in the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, the role of the National Security Council in giving computer virus technology to the Chinese government, an examination of the attempt to limit FOIA in the name of computer security, and an effort to keep the trials of hackers away from public scrutiny.
Tags: computer security; September 11; 2000; FBI; National Infrastructure Protection Center; National Security Council; FOIA; sixth amendment
-
Swing Districts Favored Over Minority Areas
Chicago Reporter looks at how "$780 million was doled out of Illinois over the past two years." The money was portion of the $12-billion Illinois Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools and Transportation (FIRST), the story reveals. The millions were given to political party leaders to spend on projects aimed to boost legislators in politically vulnerable districts. Lawmakers in white districts received more than those in black and Latino districts, the publication reports. A major finding is that, at the time when Illinois entered a fiscal crisis, the "decisions about who got the money and for what projects were settled behind closed doors, without public oversight."
Tags: Illinois public records law; economy; public infrastructure; money and politics; Illinois House; Illinois Senate; voters; state government; state legislature; minorities; civil rights; CAR
-
Socialized Water
Forbes Magazine reports on the true costs of government controlled water utilities. "In privatizing its water supply, the U.S. lags behind Europe, but this may change as evidence mounts about the relative inefficiency of public water," Forbes reports. Higher government salaries and more employees per customer are cited as reasons government controlled water cost more.
-
Easy Street
Under Mayor Bob Lanier, the city of Houston invested more than $4 billion in various infrastructure rebuilding programs administered through the Public Works and Engineering Department. Armed with a virtual blank check, the department spent freely - with little attention to fiscal or ethical propriety.
Tags: None
-
The Black Hole
Boston Magazine discloses how the Big Dig, the largest public works infrastructure project in American history, became rife with political deals, conflicts of interests and questionable accounting practices, leaving an embarrassing mess for all of the key figures, a still uncompleted project and possible indictments for the formerly charmed head of the project July 1994.
Tags: MA Cober Zuk Weld Central Artery / Tunnel Project 9 pages; Big Dig; public project financing
-
Bechtel's $45 million screw job
A four-month SFBG investigation concluded that the city of San Francisco is wasting money on a contract with Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation to help manage reconstruction of the city's water system. The story looks at the problems of privatization.
Tags: Bechtel; Mike Quan; San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; PUC; San Francisco Water Alliance; privatization