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 "retailers" ...
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Stamping Out Fraud: Uncovering Rogue Food Stamp Retailers
A Scripps Howard News Service investigation has found found dozens of individuals who have been banned as food stamp merchants yet nonetheless remained in business in communities across the country because of lax governmental oversight. Scripps later identified more flaws in the program's oversight: Convicted thieves and cheats are running food-stamp stores around the nation, even though federal law is supposed to prohibit them from doing so.
Tags: Food stamp retailers; USDA; crime; criminals
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Wal-Mart Abroad: How a Retail Giant Fueled Growth With Bribes
Part One revealed how Wal-Mart’s highest executives shut down an internal investigation that had uncovered strong evidence of systemic bribery by Wal-Mart’s largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico. As a result, authorities were never notified and no one was punished. Instead, the executive identified as the driving force behind years of bribery was promoted to vice chairman of Wal-Mart. Part Two offered an in depth examination of precisely how Wal-Mart de Mexico used bribes to accelerate its growth. The article described Wal-Mart as “an aggressive and creative corruptor” in Mexico, and it focused on how Wal-Mart paid more than $200,000 in bribes to build a single supermarket in the town of Teotihuacán, not far from two ancient pyramids.
Tags: Wal-Mart; bribery; corruption
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McDonald's Eggs
A story exposing major health concerns at a major American egg farm supplying large retailers such as McDonald's and Target with eggs.
Tags: animal abuse; McDonald's; target; hen farm; salmonella; health concerns; egg farm; animals
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Bomboozled, a Story of Liquor and Money
Profits from North Carolina's monopoly on retail liquor are supposed to flow back to the state. However, the investigation uncovers waste and corruption are causing the liquor boards to lose money.
Tags: alcohol; liquor; waste; Alcoholic Beverage Control; retail liquor
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The Hidden Life of Guns
The investigation details the way guns move through society, from retail sales to street crimes. The Post set out to break the secrecy imposed by Congress and an examination of how gunes are used in crimes. Their investigation included creating a database of more than 35,000 guns traced to crimes; a comprehensive database of 511 police officers killed by firearms; lists from confidential sources of the top 12 gun dealers who have sold the most weapons trace from Mexican crime scenes over the past two years.
Tags: guns; gun laws; crime; gun dealer; illegal gun trade; Mexico; criminal statistics; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; National Shooting Sports Foundation; Tiahrt Amendment;
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My Battle for a Sales Job
Since unemployment has reached its highest level in decades, many laid-off professionals are turning to holiday retail sales jobs. To really see how tough a sales retail job could be, Anne Kadet applied for two dozen jobs. She finally got a job with J. Crew, where she endured unpredictable hours, daily bag checks, and meals in the grungy break room.
Tags: Unemployment; Retail; Holiday jobs; Sales; New York City; J Crew
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Gas price Secrets Revealed
Using daily retail prices at more than 700 stations for two months in the Greater Cincinnati area obtained through years of diligent sourcing, we were able to prove or disprove several "myths" about how street prices are set. Some findings include: which chain was the market leader for retail gas; individual retailers lost money on gas even when prices hit $4; the day of the week when gas was cheapest and most expensive; which communities had the most expensive and cheapest gas.
Tags: gas; oil; inflation; gas prices; oil price information service; mapping
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World of Pain
“Retail sales of five leading painkillers nearly doubled from 1997 to 2005, reflecting a surge in use by patients nationwide who are living in a world of pain, according to a new Associated Press analysis of federal drug prescription data. The analysis reveals that oxycodone usage is migrating out of Appalachia to areas such as Columbus, Ohio, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and significant numbers of codeine users are living in many suburban neighborhoods around the country.â€
Tags: prescription drugs; oxycodone; federal prescription drug data; codeine; Drug Enforcement Administration; painkillers; prescription; drug abuse; narcotics; ARCOS; Census Bureau
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Playing with Poison
KHOU-TV conducted its own extensive testing of toys in the Houston area to check their lead content. They tested items from national chains, to local mom-and-pop stores. Throughout the process they consulted with experts to make sure they had the accurate testing and interpreted the data correctly. They found that 9 toys, which were sold on a national level, had "excessive and dangerous levels of lead."
Tags: safety; toys; consumer; lead; lab testing; scientists; toy stores; retailers; lead content; health
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Hi-Tech Heist
"60 Minutes showed how hackers easily steal customer personal and financial data from retailers, through stores' wireless systems. And while both the retail industry and the credit card companies know this is a growing problems, they are caught up in a fight as to who's to blame, and who should pay to fix it."
Tags: credit cards; hackers; wireless; Internet; ecommerce; e-commerce; online shopping; retailers; TJX; theft