Idaho Statesman newsroom wins 68 awards for 2024. Here are the winners
The Idaho Statesman won 68 awards Saturday night at the Idaho Press Club Awards, taking home more honors than any other newsroom at the annual competition that recognizes excellence in journalism across the state.
The Statesman’s reporters and staff won first place in 25 categories, including Reporter of the Year (Kevin Fixler), Sports Reporter of the Year (Shaun Goodwin) and Rookie of the Year (Sarah Cutler).
Darin Oswald and Sarah Miller, who make up the photo and video team, took home a combined 15 awards. See all winning photos and visuals here.
Read some of the Statesman’s award-winning articles below, including coverage of a Greenbelt vigilante’s quest, prisoners using drones to obtain contraband cellphones, how the Bryan Kohberger trial could shape DNA case law and more.
A full list of the state’s 2024 winners can be found on the Idaho Press Club’s website.
Statesman winners
General News Story
Ian Max Stevenson, Becca Savransky, first place, Idaho trans teens cope without gender-affirming care
Spot News Coverage
Ian Max Stevenson, first place, ‘We got lucky’: Valley Fire burned right up to Boise houses
Nicole Blanchard, second place, Labrador questions doctors’ accounts of abortion emergencies
Watchdog/Investigative Report
Sarah Cutler, Sally Krutzig, first place, Idaho Labor Department fails to recoup stolen wages
Kevin Fixler, second place, Check fraud charmer: Idaho veteran left trail of lies
Data-Driven Journalism
Nicole Blanchard, third place, Idaho hunter killed weeks-old wolf pups and reaped rewards, records show
Serious Feature Report
Ian Max Stevenson, Becca Savransky, Sarah A. Miller, second place, Laws target gender-nonconforming Idahoans. What they want you to know
Light Feature Report
Sarah Cutler, first place, One Boise man’s vigilante effort to stop speeding on the Greenbelt
Series
Nicole Blanchard, Sarah Cutler, first place, Trash Troubles
Outdoor Feature
Sally Krutzig, third place, The world found the Owyhees. Advocates say it’s time to protect the land
Sports News Coverage
Shaun Goodwin, third place, Boise State forfeits volleyball game against team with transgender athlete
Sports Feature Story
Rachel Roberts, third place, ‘I don’t want to regret anything.’ Boise native gets unusual opportunity
Sports Prep News Story
Michael Lycklama, second place, Coach hits student during match. His punishment? A lifetime ban
Sports Prep Feature Story
Rachel Roberts, second place, Timberline senior will be college athlete in sport that’s ‘nonexistent’ in Boise area
Michael Lycklama, third place, She’s 16 and just made her international soccer debut
General Column
Scott McIntosh, first place, Columns
Michael Deeds, second place, Words & Deeds
Specialty Column
Bryan Clark, third place Politics columns
Editorial
Bryan Clark, third place, The forces of hate will be at Pride in Nampa
Arts / Entertainment Report
Michael Deeds, second place, As restaurants close, owners ‘barely hanging on’ wonder: Where’s the Boise ‘love’?
Rachel Roberts, third place, Boise still loves The Flicks 40 years later
Political Report
Becca Savransky, first place, This influential lobbying group is making it harder to fix Idaho schools
Elections Report
Nick Rosenberger, first place, Developers’ money flows into ACHD race
Sarah Cutler, Ian Max Stevenson, third place, After Ada County GOP upheaval, former leaders aim to reshape Republican politics
Education Report
Sarah Cutler, first place, Parents Decry Racism- and denial -in Boise-area schools
Business Report
Sarah Cutler, first place, Eagle real estate agent offers free listings to liberals leaving Idaho
Angela Palermo, David Staats, second place, Trump said at debate that ‘we hardly make chips anymore.’ What about Micron?
Nick Rosenberger, third place, Fears mount for construction industry as mega-projects move forward
Agriculture Report
Angela Palermo, first place, Ex-workers say ostriches die in huge numbers at farm south of Boise
Rose Evans, second place, Rancid: Neighbors want a Meridian composting site closed
Crime Report
Rachel Spacek, Sally Krutzig, first place, Canyon County law enforcement decries gang problem. How big is the issue?
Samuel O’Neal, Kevin Fixler, second place, Prisoners gain more access to banned phones, drugs. Drone drops may be to blame
Alex Brizee, third place, Records shed light on man suspected of killing sheriff’s deputy
Courts Report
Kevin Fixler, first place, How a DNA technique to pin Bryan Kohberger as suspect could shape case law
Kevin Fixler, second place, Bryan Kohberger case soars into millions in public costs
Religion Report
Sarah Cutler, first place, Boise-area houses of worship arm volunteers as threats rise
Carolyn Komatsoulis, second place, The LDS Church is growing even more in Idaho. This group is one reason why
Environment Report
Carolyn Komatsoulis, second place, Drugs in our water ‘can cause issues.’ Is it a pressing problem?
Nicole Blanchard, third place, Bench Lake wildfire cost millions. Who will pay the bill?
Health/Medical Report
Angela Palermo, first place, Boisean who urges tongue-tie fix on babies is investigated. What 4 families experienced
Angela Palermo, third place, A doctor ‘botched’ her hernia repair. Idaho’s Supreme Court must decide what to do
Rookie of the Year
Sarah Cutler, first place
Rose Evans, second place
Feature Photography
Sarah Miller, first place, Miss Idaho Teen
Darin Oswald, third place, Northern Lights Boise
Feature Photography – Serious
Darin Oswald, second place, Idaho Abortion Law
General News Photography
Darin Oswald, first place, Election Night
Darin Oswald, second place, Landfill Reclamation
Sports News Photography
Darin Oswald, first place, Yellow Card Two
Darin Oswald, second place, Superman Save
Photo Essay
Darin Oswald, first place, Deputy Bolter Tribute
Sarah Miller, Darin Oswald, second place, Mountain West Championship Celebration
Sarah Miller, third place, VIP Prom
News Portrait Photography
Darin Oswald, second place, Baseball Player of the Year
Reporter of the Year
Kevin Fixler, first place, Idaho Statesman
Ian Max Stevenson, third place, Idaho Statesman
Photographer the Year
Darin Oswald, third place, Idaho Statesman
Sports Reporter of the Year
Shaun Goodwin, first place, Boise State Athletics
Michael Lycklama, second place, Varsity Extra
Best Graphics
Nick Rosenberger, Sarah Cutler, second place, Ada County is getting redder and redder. See how your neighborhood has changed
Best Newsletter
Scott McIntosh, third place, The Idaho Way
Best Use of Drone
Sarah Miller, second place, There’s a push for this Boise area landscape to become national monument
Special Coverage
Kevin Fixler, first place, Kohberger case coverage
Staff, third place, Hospital ambush
Best Online-Only Video News Story
Sarah Miller, first place, I’m Still a Person’: Get to Know These Transgender Idahoans
Best Online-Only Video Feature Story
Darin Oswald, third place, Falconers Police Pesky Flock of Seagulls at Ada Co. Landfill
Best Audience Engagement
Nicole Blanchard, Dana Oland, first place, Recycling event
Scott McIntosh, Dana Oland, third place, Prop 1 debate
This story was originally published May 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM.
