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 "railroads" ...
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The Gravy Train
An in-depth look at the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad revealed $100,000 of questionable purchases on the general manager's public credit card and a blatant disregard for state and city public bid laws.
Tags: railroad; bid laws; spending; taxpayer; public entity; New Orleans
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"Derailed - A Star Tribune Speical Report"
The Star Tribune and ProPublica revealed that the nation's "second-largest railroad company," Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), has gone to great lengths to cover up its legal mishaps and wrongdoings. In addition to losing evidence, the company and its lawyers worked to gain "unfair advantage "over opponents in "more than 20 court cases."
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Cross at Your Own Risk: Rails pose deadly threat
This investigation reveals a number of statistics from "nearly 3,000 public rail crossings" in Louisiana. Along with these statistics, it also reveals the people behind the numbers and how it has impacted dozens of lives. Some of the major statistics found are "nearly 1,500 defects statewide, some rail crossings haven’t been inspected over the 10-year period studied, few safety violations resulted in a fine or other penalty, and despite the denials drivers were not always responsible for the accidents."
Tags: FOIA; Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); Louisiana; railroads; rail crossings; safety equipment; accidents
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In Their Dust
The Baltimore Sun discovered that unbeknownst to state regulators and legislators, non-profit hospitals were suing tens of thousands of patients in local courts over unpaid bills even though those bills were covered through the rate-setting system. Some of the hospitals that filed the most lawsuits were also collecting consistent surpluses on unpaid and charity care through the rate-setting formula, something that the rate-setting commission could not explain. Patients were often railroaded through the legal system. And hospitals violated state laws or contracts with insurance companies by suing patients for amounts they were not permitted to collect.
Tags: hospitals; patient billing fraud; non-profit corruption; health care; debt collection; ground rent; hospital rates; suing patients
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Toxic Town
"A six-week investigation into the environmental contamination and public-health effects in Somerville, Texas caused byt a 110-year-old- wood-treatment facility that for three decades was the nationa's largest manufacturer of railroad cross ties."
Tags: Cancer; carcinogen; air pollution; incinerator; creosote-treated wood; Dennis DAvis; James Dahlgren
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The Buried and the Dead
This series raises questions about Texas' oversight of the gas pipeline industry. The reporters found that state regulators often ignore safety violations because of unethical relationships with the companies involved. Despite several recent fatal pipeline accidents, and federal and industry warnings, conditions in the state have not improved.
Tags: gas; safety; state government; utilities; Texas Railroad Commission
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Terror on the Tracks
Prine investigated the reality of how secure rail shipments of poisons and explosives were. The investigation " uncovered shoddy security at facilities and rail lines previously inspected - and found wanting= by the Federal Railroad Administration." Prine created a database and shared it.
Tags: railroads; transportation; terrorist attacks; federal government; security; chlorine; poison; EPA; FRA
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They Failed to Act
The nation's largest commuter railroad system failed to address a major public safety hazard that it had known about for years. Through tenacious shoe-leather reporting, the staff of Newsday documented a danger long ignored by the Long Island Railroad and by state and federal regulators. Armed with Stanley tape measures, they found dangerous gaps between the platform and trains at the railroad's busiest stations, holes large enough for passengers to fall through.
Tags: railroad system; public safety; injuries; gap injuries; repairs; Federal Railroad Administration; Public Service Pulitzer finalist
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Reports show law firm's tie to railroads
According to reports by the Department of Transportation and the Amtrack inspector general, it turns out that Congress was found to have mismanaged $100 million legal fees. This can be seen in how Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips benefited after a frim partner went to work in Amtrack's legal department.
Tags: Don Young; John Mica; Department of Justice; House Transportation; Amtrak
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Gas Company knew about defective pipe 30 years ago
Dyer reports that 750 miles of faulty gas pipes were installed by a Texas company in the 1970s. Thirty years later, these same gas pipes went unrepaired and eventually exploded, killing five people. Dyer raises questions about why these pipes were installed in the first place and why no one cared enough to fix the problem before it became dangerous.
Tags: gas; pipe; underground; explosion; regulator; assess; watchdog; safety; Austin; fire; Texas Railroad Commission; Lone Star Gas; Ensearch; TXU; polyethylene; utility