Latest news with #TonyCook
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IndyStar wins Indiana journalism awards: Check out some of our best work of 2024
IndyStar's coverage of sexual harassment in Indiana politics was recognized as one of the top investigative stories of 2024 at an annual competition honoring the state's best journalism. Last year, IndyStar reporters reported on sexual misconduct allegations on three different elected or appointed officials in state and local government: state Rep. David Niezgodski, state Sen. Greg Taylor and Thomas Cook, former chief of staff to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. Taylor was removed from his position as the Senate Minority Leader, and in December, the Indiana Democratic Party created an ethics committee and adopted a new code of conduct. Hayleigh Colombo, James Briggs, Tony Cook and Kayla Dwyer took home second place for A-Mark Investigative Story of the Year at the state's Society of Professional Journalists ceremony on May 2. IndyStar also took home nine first-place awards in categories including sports reporting, environmental reporting and news photography: Coverage of government or politics, for statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer's work, including stories about cuts to a family caregiver program and the gubernatorial race. Coverage of children's issues, for reporting on failures in child welfare by Tony Cook and Caroline Beck. Sports reporting, for Dana Hunsinger Benbow's coverage including stories about a dying 22-year-old's experience of watching the Final Four from the hospital and an FBI investigation at a racing facility. Multiple picture group, for Mykal McEldowney's gallery of Avon High School's mascot. Environmental reporting, for Karl Schneider's coverage of the beat, including stories about a new fish and wildlife area and the history of Indiana's buffalo. News photography, for Christine Tannous' pictures showing the aftermath of a car crash that injured six children and two adults. Newsletter, for the politics team's Checks and Balances. Non-deadline story or series, for a story by politics editor Kaitlin Lange and Mirror Indy deputy managing editor Ryan Martin on a gubernatorial candidate's failure to repay $69 million of a development loan from the city of Indianapolis. First Amendment award, for 20 media outlets including IndyStar that worked together to cover the trial of Richard Allen despite strict restrictions from the court. Other top awards included: Story of the year: Mirror Indy's Out of Options, by Mary Claire Malloy and Jenna Watson, which described firsthand accounts of widespread abuse and neglect at a mental health facility in Lawrence. Journalist of the year: Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith, whose coverage of state politics and courts in 2024 included stories about Indiana's first execution in years and the felony arrest of congressional candidate Gabe Whitley. Student Journalist of the Year Award: Wil Courtney of the Purdue University Exponent, who reported that Purdue students would be unable to vote on campus in the 2024 election. Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar wins 2024 journalism awards: Check out some of our best work
Indianapolis Star
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
IndyStar wins Indiana journalism awards: Check out some of our best work of 2024
IndyStar's coverage of sexual harassment in Indiana politics was recognized as one of the top investigative stories of 2024 at an annual competition honoring the state's best journalism. Last year, IndyStar reporters reported on sexual misconduct allegations on three different elected or appointed officials in state and local government: state Rep. David Niezgodski, state Sen. Greg Taylor and Thomas Cook, former chief of staff to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. Taylor was removed from his position as the Senate Minority Leader, and in December, the Indiana Democratic Party created an ethics committee and adopted a new code of conduct. Hayleigh Colombo, James Briggs, Tony Cook and Kayla Dwyer took home second place for A-Mark Investigative Story of the Year at the state's Society of Professional Journalists ceremony on May 2. IndyStar also took home nine first-place awards in categories including sports reporting, environmental reporting and news photography: Coverage of government or politics, for statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer's work, including stories about cuts to a family caregiver program and the gubernatorial race. Coverage of children's issues, for reporting on failures in child welfare by Tony Cook and Caroline Beck. Sports reporting, for Dana Hunsinger Benbow's coverage including stories about a dying 22-year-old's experience of watching the Final Four from the hospital and an FBI investigation at a racing facility. Multiple picture group, for Mykal McEldowney's gallery of Avon High School's mascot. Environmental reporting, for Karl Schneider's coverage of the beat, including stories about a new fish and wildlife area and the history of Indiana's buffalo. News photography, for Christine Tannous' pictures showing the aftermath of a car crash that injured six children and two adults. Newsletter, for the politics team's Checks and Balances. Non-deadline story or series, for a story by politics editor Kaitlin Lange and Mirror Indy deputy managing editor Ryan Martin on a gubernatorial candidate's failure to repay $69 million of a development loan from the city of Indianapolis. First Amendment award, for 20 media outlets including IndyStar that worked together to cover the trial of Richard Allen despite strict restrictions from the court. Other top awards included: Story of the year: Mirror Indy's Out of Options, by Mary Claire Malloy and Jenna Watson, which described firsthand accounts of widespread abuse and neglect at a mental health facility in Lawrence. Journalist of the year: Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith, whose coverage of state politics and courts in 2024 included stories about Indiana's first execution in years and the felony arrest of congressional candidate Gabe Whitley.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
IndyStar's yearslong investigation reveals extent of Indiana nursing home scheme
It's a great Sunday to love basketball, isn't it, Indiana? While IndyStar readers open their Sunday editions or log on to for their morning news ritual this Sunday, I'm sure I'll have already grown wistful over the encroaching end to my favorite weekend of the year. But I'm writing this on Thursday, filled with anticipation ahead of the first tip-off of the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. While it's hard to focus beyond the apex weekend for my favorite pastime, I'm also filled with gratitude for IndyStar subscribers' support of our mission to inform and empower Central Indiana through essential and exclusive local journalism. So, before we return to the warm glow of televised basketball, indulge me for a few updates on what we've been up to at 130 S. Meridian St. and places beyond. Just what is essential and exclusive local journalism, you ask? IndyStar investigative reporter Tony Cook has been delivering it for years. Cook's latest reporting is a continuation of a 2020 investigation into Indiana county hospitals diverting Medicaid funds meant for the nursing homes they operate. That scheme has allowed the hospitals to to pad their bottom lines and pay for construction and other projects unrelated to nursing home care at a time when nursing home staffing in Indiana is among the worst in the nation. Cook's reporting published this week uses data that was partially obtained through a public records lawsuit filed by IndyStar in 2022 to show, as he wrote, that "County-owned hospitals in Indiana have diverted away more than $2.5 billion in Medicaid money intended to provide care at nursing homes, leaving sick and elderly residents to languish in some of the most poorly staffed facilities in America." A companion piece published Thursday shows that despite efforts to slash federal spending in President Donald Trump's second term, there's little appetite so far to address this scheme that's impacting the care of Indiana's most vulnerable residents. Cook's dogged reporting is emblematic of IndyStar's commitment to watchdog and accountability journalism. Our investigative and expanded government accountability teams have worked independently and in collaboration to bring readers revelatory reporting about how decisions by Indiana's most powerful organizations impact our daily lives. Two weeks ago, I put out the call for Indiana historians interested in contributing to our weekly Retro Indy feature. With more than 20 people sharing their qualifications and interest, it's clear I have some extra reading to do. With a busy end to March ahead and May being dominated by Indy 500 coverage, we'll look to make some headway toward a selection in April. Until then, those interested in Indiana history should turn to today's sports section or head to for high school sports reporter Kyle Neddenriep's piece on how basketball's inventor, Dr. James Naismith, discovered his game's future here in Indiana. It's a great read. Finally, IndyStar columnists James Briggs and Gregg Doyel both publish popular mailbag columns where they answer reader questions. Given that it's something I already do on a daily basis via e-mail, and perhaps I can provide answers more broadly, I'll try to emulate their success. E-mail me at ericlarsen@ with the subject line "Ask the editor," or fill out the form at the end of the online version of this column to send in your question. Maybe you'll see it, and my answer, in a future edition. Thanks for reading. Have a great week. Eric Larsen is IndyStar executive editor. E-mail him at ericlarsen@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar investigation reveals extent of Indiana nursing home scheme
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Loan shark' bill lets payday lenders prey on struggling Hoosiers
Indiana House Bill 1174 is more proof that Republicans don't care about ordinary people. I would like to thank IndyStar's Tony Cook for his investigation into this terrible legislation. Hicks: Why are we lowering Indiana's one really low tax? This bill falls in line with efforts at the federal level to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the rules that limit bank overdraft fees. Allowing payday lenders, which are already predatory institutions, to prey even more on struggling Hoosiers for profit is immoral, and they know it. The party that pays lip service to Christian values has a consistent pattern of ignoring the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." We need a government that works first and foremost for the very people this bill is designed to exploit. We need a government that is hostile to the demands of greedy industries, not one that falls in line to protect their interests. Daniel Dougan lives in Indianapolis. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'Loan shark' bill lets payday lenders prey on struggling Hoosiers | Letters
