KARE 11 Investigative Team Awarded the prestigious George Polk Award

MINNEAPOLIS, April 10, 2017 -- Minnesota’s Own KARE 11, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN was awarded the George Polk Award on Friday, April 7^th, for television reporting for its investigative series “Invisible Wounds.”

A KARE 11 News year-long investigation entitled "Invisible Wounds" by Steven Eckert, A.J. Lagoe and Gary Knox was awarded the George Polk Award this weekend.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d6d5a01f-996b-49a4-92eb-7bf91558f744

KARE 11’s year-long investigation, led by Steven Eckert, A.J. Lagoe and Gary Knox, revealed the Department of Veterans Affairs used unqualified medical personnel for examinations and denied benefits for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Following this report, a federal investigation was opened to investigate similar issues at other VA facilities across the country and found nearly 25,000 veterans nationwide received improper examinations for TBI.

Additionally, Congress held a hearing on the issue and the VA is now ensuring that qualified doctors are examining veterans for TBI. VA officials also disclosed half of the Minnesota veterans who were originally denied TBI benefits have now confirmed, after re-examination, that they did suffer a traumatic brain injury. Re-testing is now underway for former service members nationwide.

“We’re proud to share the honor with the entire KARE 11 news team,” said KARE 11 Executive Producer Steven Eckert.  “But the best award of all is knowing our investigation made a difference for Minnesotans – and veterans nationwide.”

KARE 11 was the only television broadcaster to win a George Polk Award this year.  Established in 1949 by Long Island University, the George Polk Awards honor special achievement in journalism. Winners are chosen from newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online news organizations. The awards place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results.

For link to the story: <http://www.kare11.com/news/investigations/invisible-wounds-a-report-on-the-va-and-vets-with-traumatic-brain-injuries/215102774>

KARE 11 is the Minneapolis/St. Paul, TEGNA-owned, NBC affiliate.

About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that deliver. TEGNA offers highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it, to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television stations and is the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers, CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and G/O Digital, a customized local digital marketing company. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com. 

Janeen Vogelaar
KARE 11 Director of Marketing
PH:  763-797-7270