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 "utilities" ...
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"130 Million Tons of Waste"
When coal is burned for electricity, it produces a byproduct called coal ash. "Every year, 130 million tons" of the ash is produced. It's "one of the largest waste-streams in the U.S.," and currently, there is little to no federal oversight. This report focuses on two major coal ash spills have occurred in the U.S. One of the spills caused "two communities to lose access to clean drinking water."
Tags: Coal ash; burning coal; toxic waste; Chesapeake; Kingston; EPA; Coal and Utilities
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Power in Play
The series is an ongoing investigation into a proposed nuclear power expansion, which “doubles the size of the nuclear power supply”. The project became the “biggest investment the city ever made”. But what the public didn’t know was it was likely to “cost $4 billion more than what the utility company had been telling” them.
Tags: nuclear energy; utilities; CPS Energy; reactors; financing; costs; South Texas Project
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OC Assemblyman In Bed With Lobbyist
When Michael Duvall, an Ex-Orange County assemblyman, described portions of his affair, he did not know it would be broadcasted for the public to hear. Duvall has been a consistent supporter for conservative issues and has long supported California families and their values. But after becoming the vice chairman of the Utilities and Commerce committee women, especially a lobbyist for the utility giant in California, began to notice him. This is how the affair started and resigning as assemblyman is how it ended.
Tags: Michael Duvall; Heidi DeJong Barsuglia; assembly district representative; conservative; Rules Committee; Republican; politician; affair; California
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Believing the Children
This story takes a look at an investigation, which took place in 1991. In 1991, satanic daycare abuse was becoming a national panic and many parents were in frenzy over this. So when Fran and Danny Keller were charged with sexually assaulting a child, everyone just believed it did happen. But many years later, the Kellers maintain their innocence while serving their time in prison. This story reinvestigates the case by retracing the original prosecution and the original police investigation report. As well as utilizing some fresh interviews from the central participants of the case, these include the Kellers themselves.
Tags: daycare; child abuse; sexual assault; prison; crime; innocent; physical; satanic; parents; children; kids
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Inside National Grid's Secretive $25 Million
The reporters exposed a secret fund controlled by local power company National Grid. An add-on charge to each customer's monthly bill built a $25 million slush fund for two utility officials to spend on favored economic development projects.
Tags: electric company; utility fee; energy; rates; no-bid contract; favoritism
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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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CPS Must DIe
City-owned utility CPS Energy plans to double the size of its South Texas Nuclear Project bye adding two nuclear reactors without knowing how much the new plants will cost. A reports by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy shows that the state's future energy needs don't include the need for new power plants to be constructed.
Tags: natural gas; resource; electricity; solar; coal; Mike Kotera
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Broken Dreams
This story utilized HMDA data, foreclosure reports and experts to explain how a wave of unstable mortgage loans were causing increasing numbers of uninformed borrowers to lose their homes. The investigation illustrated the problems faced by many people who, being unfamiliar with buying a home, ended up accepting very harsh terms on their loans and mortgages. Experts predict that this situation will lead to a rise in forclosures in the area.
Tags: housing market; mortgage; real estate; HMDA; foreclosure; Excel
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Low Rates Cost E.M. $2 million
"East Moline, Ill. lost out on more than $2 million over eight years by not charging other municipalities the water and sewer rates approved by aldermen. The city undercharged the municipalities it serves for sewage treatment, and overcharged them for water usage."
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Cape Utilities
"Property owners in the City of Cape Coral, FL were being asked to pay as much as $40,000 when public utilities (water, sewer, irrigation) lines were installed in front of their homes." The city paid major profits to one contractor, and then overcharged for the utilities and "ignored millions of dollars in savings."
Tags: Utilities; water; sewer; irrigation; utility bills; no-bid contracts