BLOOMINGTON – The Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism collaboration with the Indiana Environmental Reporter was a finalist for a 2023 IRE Award.

“Lax ethics rules could create conflicts of interest for lawmakers” was a finalist for the student – small category and was recognized at the IRE convention awards luncheon in Anaheim, California in June.

Center students Sade Ajishegiri, Sophie Kaelble, Nic Napier, Lily Staatz, Jasmine Wright and Lizzie Wright wrote the story. Students Samantha Latson, Marisol Sanchez, Nadia Scharf, Rebekah Shultz and Lauren Ulrich contributed research.

The students investigated how the Indiana General Assembly is passing more laws tied to environmental matters, while many of those same lawmakers have economic interests in the building trades, utility companies and real estate firms, and receive large sums of campaign donations from the industries that stand to benefit most from the laws. But in Indiana, little prevents lawmakers from pushing legislation that could benefit their business interests.