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 "safety priorities" ...
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Welcom to Boondoggle Unified
" At L.A. Unified, the nation's second largest school district, Joe Santos worked at a construction company that had won a $10 million dollar seismic bracing project, despite no experience in seismic safety work. When Santos witnessed false claims, left his company and became a federal whistle blower, he was troubled to find that not only were the school district and FEMA reluctant to root out the fraud and waste he exposed; the District Attorney was willing to prosecute him on computer theft charges, even though key evidence had been tainted. The story exposed a vacuum of accountability between FEMA, its inspector general, the general, the school district and its facilities management division. Selective prosecution raised questions about priorities and methods within the L.A. District Attorney's Office."
Tags: earthquake; seismic protection; fraud; construction; school district; FEMA
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Danger Zones: Hundreds have been hurt or killed on roads where the state was warned of trouble but moved slowly on fixes
"At least 375 people were injured and four killed on stretches of highway where the state was warned of danger but took as long as 11 years to make fixes, an Orange County Register investigation found. After the trouble spots first were flagged, 816 accidents happened along 16 zones Caltrans identified as its top safety priorities in Orange County - almost four times as many crashes as would be expected if the roads were fixed promptly." Includes multiple detailed infographics.
Tags: highways; accidents; traffic; traffic accidents; roads; transportation; travel; crashes; cars; safety; safety priorities; California Department of Transportation; California; danger; Caltrans
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Thirty Mile Fire
Seattle Times investigates the death of four firefighters who "were trapped by wildfire in a pinched valley in north-central Washington State" on July 10, 2001. The series reveals that "despite obvious evidence of danger, front-line bosses misjudged the explosive conditions present that day ... [and] pushed firefighters to battle a blaze even though the fire threatened no homes or businesses." Numerous safety rules were ignored, and officials knew that firefighter fatalities follow a pattern, the Times reports. The main finding is that "a fire-fighting culture in which extinguishing fires - not safety - remains the top priority."
Tags: FOIA requests; Forest Service; wildlife; Endangered Species Act; protected natural areas; Okanogan National Forest Plan; decision-making under pressure; organizational behavior; meteorology
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Enemy Mine
Westword reports on environmental problems in Jamestown, a mountain town in Colorado. The story reveals that old mines are polluting the water of the town, and that the local Elysian Park was built on top of an old mill. A main focus of the article is the difficult communication between the local government and the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a funding program for hazardous waste sites. Not only did the project face bureaucracy at federal level, but it also had to deal with the negative local public opinion. Townspeople did not want to be burdened with the label of the special hazardous-waste program known as Superfund, the newspaper reports.
Tags: mining; pollution; environment; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); National Priorities List; Roosevelt National Forest; Mine Safety and Health Administration; Burlington Mine; contamination; Comprehensive Environmental Response; Compensation and Liability Act
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Cargo Handling: Safety Issues at Emery Accumulated for Years Before Its Grounding
The Wall Street Journal looks at the reluctance of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take any definitive action against Emery Worldwide Airlines Inc. until August 2001, in spite of "a stream of safety incidents and complaints from pilots dating from 1996." The story examines "broader questions about air-cargo oversight" and finds that "the air-cargo business has grown much faster than passenger traffic in recent years." The reporter looks at the rising concerns that "the FAA gives cargo regulation lower priority, assigning it fewer and sometimes less-experienced inspectors."
Tags: FAA; airports; freight haulers; pilots; unions; carriers; flight standards
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Where Would Jesus Dance?
It's almost a modern-day Footloose story; the small town of Olathe, Kan., is considering curfews and other restrictions on the town's nightlife. Some think the town is being unduly influenced by Mid-America Nazarene University's perspective on living, which prohibits drinking, smoking, dancing and even being in a bar. The mayor, city manager and police chief are all involved in the church or the bible college, but say they that town safety is their first priority. The city is trying also to be the first and only city of character. Each month, the mayor announces a new word that is to set the tone of the month (e.g. "attentiveness")
Tags: Bible belt; Jesus; dancing; nightclub; college life; religion and government; morality; bouncers; student handbook; God; Bill Gothard; Institute in Basic Life Principles; IBLP; Christian; fundamentalism; National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics; NAIA; personal conduct; economic impact
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IRE Feed 6: IRE TV Award Winners and Finalists
IRE Feed 6: The TV Award Winners and Finalists is a compilation of 14 reports from 14 stations in 11 markets ranging in size from Lexington, KY to Chicago, IL. 1)"Danger in Schools," KTRK-TV, Houston. A story that investigated Houston Schools putting known pedophiles back into the classroom. 2) "Where the Money Goes," WKYT-TV, Lexington, KY. Reveals that Lexington Schools spent tens of thousands of taxpayer's dollars on catered meals. 3) "Prescription for Trouble," KDFW-TV, Dallas. Investigates how Eckerds Pharmacy used teenagers to dispense prescriptions. 4) "Code of Silence," WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, FL. The medical system fights to protect a drunk doctor. 5) "Fighting for a Smile," WCCO-TV, Minneapolis. The VA's bureaucracy keeps dentures from veterans. 6) "Blood Priority," KSTP-TV, Minneapolis. Army choppers crash after cost cutting compromises safety. 7) "Missing Evidence," WMAQ-TV, Chicago. Chicago Police sell evidence right out of the vault. 8) "Failure to Protect," WBAL-TV, Baltimore. Maryland Police fail to enter protection orders to safeguard domestic violence victims. 9) "Prisoners in Their Own Homes," WFLA-TV, Tampa. Criminals strike again -- while on home detention. 10) "The $600 House," WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI. HUD sells houses at pennies on the dollar to insiders. 11) "Preying on Your Pity," KPRC-TV, Houston. Telemarketers pretend to be handicapped to solicit cash. 12)"Crusade for Cash," KGTV-TV, San Diego. Lawyers use the ADA to file nuisance suits for big bucks. 13)"First USA," WFAA-TV, Dallas. Credit Card company jacks up interest rates, slaps phony late fees. 14)"Legal Loanshark," WAMI-TV, Miami. Lax laws permit car title loan companies to charge exorbitant rates.
Tags: tape; Investigative reporting; computer-assisted reporting; IRE; FOI; CAR
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Blood priority
"A four-month investigation by KSTP-TV found the engines in many of the (Minnesota National Guard) choppers are crippled with faulty or defective parts. Our stories discovered the US Army has known about the problems for years but chose to save money by cutting corners on maintenance and ultimately compromising the safety of the engines and putting pilots at risk nationwide.... The Army's maintenance policy was flawed and it resulted in hundreds of in-flight emergencies and crashes nationwide."
Tags: TAPE TRANSCRIPT FOIA helicopters Huey Cobra Safety of Flight messages Pentagon
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Cross At Your Own Risk
Reporters looking into railroad crossings in Lehigh Valley found that, of the 750 crossings found, less than half are marked with signs. From 1989 to 1998, there were 76 accidents and 23 deaths at these unmarked crossings. The state transportation agency keeps no priority list of dangerous crossings and frequently spends money earmarked for such improvements on other projects.
Tags: CAR; Federal Railroad Administration; safety; federal regulations; automobile; train
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No title (id: 9124)
Detroit Free Press reports on parolees from the Michigan Department of Corrections and how only 6.3 percent of convicted felons serve their full sentences, compared to 17 percent nationally; finds that the parole board frequently breaks the law by releasing inmates without jobs or educational plans; finds the easing of prison crowding is a priority over public safety; budget cuts have reduced the number of parole officers and the psychiatric treatment of violent criminals, July 18 - 19, 1992.
Tags: None