Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Herald Times Reporter Entry Title: Could federal cuts impact invasive species monitoring on Lake Michigan? A special report. Entry Credit: Alisa Schafer Judge Comment: Really clear writing -- and I liked how you framed up all the political chaos at the start of the year in the context of real-world problems.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Sheboygan Press Entry Title: Plastics can take hundreds of years to break down. This Wisconsin company's biodegradable film aims to change that. Entry Credit: Alex Garner Judge Comment: Nice writing, and such a fascinating topic -- I wish you would have been brave and brought all the interesting stuff that was way down in the story up to create a less news-release-y lede and nut graf/make me care statement... A Sheyboygan company thinks it can help solve the persistent problem of how to recycle thin-film plastics with an additive that allows the material to breakdown in years, rather than decades.... They're testing the material at a malt house that uses zillions of yards of plastic to bla bla bla
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Sheboygan Press Entry Title: Sheboygan will use $175K in Inflation Reduction Act funds to expand tree coverage and boost air quality Entry Credit: Alex Garner Judge Comment: Same advice here as for the plastics story ... your town got an F in air quality! Get that idea up there before we worry about two years of stump grinding ... A grant that will help plant xxx trees in Sheboygan neighborhoods will (do all those things like cooling and greening) And it could help the city improve its failing air quality grade.
