Karen Hensel

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Emmy award winning investigative reporter Karen Hensel co-anchors 24-Hour News 8 at 10PM on MyINDY-TV .

Karen has covered stories and investigations all over the globe including spending time covering U.S. troops in Baghdad, Balad and Fallujah in Iraq, going to New York on 9/11 and anti-terrorist training with Weapons of Mass Destruction including live VX nerve agent and Sarin gas.

While in Iraq, Karen documented concerns about the traumatic brain injuries caused by the blast impact of roadside bombs.  The ground-breaking and award-winning investigation took her from the halls of Congress to the deserts of Iraq and military hospitals in Germany to uncover why the U.S. Marine Corps failed to adequately protect troops from the devastating injuries from the roadside bombs.  The Marines now issue protective helmet padding.

Karen has prompted national legislation with her investigation into arsenic tainted wood used to build decks and playgrounds.  She was honored with the Peabody for “Christopher”, the story of an 11-year old boy who died one summer night and of his parents’ decision to donate his organs.  The powerful documentary increased organ donation 500% and is used in every high school in Indiana.

The award winning investigation "Bullied: Silent Tears" went undercover to school playgrounds across central Indiana.  Karen showed how recess can be one of the most fearful parts of a school day for children who are bullied.  Her investigation prompted statewide changes for every child in Indiana with a new Indiana state law that prohibits school bullying.

Her investigation for the last four years into security breaches within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs culminated in 2006 with the largest security breach in the history of the federal government.  Karen and her I-Team 8 investigation were both named and cited in the congressional hearings.

Her work has been honored with five EMMY awards, two Peabody awards, the first Robert Wood Johnson Medical Peabody, a national EMMY nomination, Regional Murrow Awards along with RTNDA’S National Edward R. Murrow, Scripps Howard Awards, Gabriel, Iris Awards, six Gracies, more than a dozen awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, many Associated Press Awards including being named Associated Press reporter of the year…among numerous others.  She has also been voted by co-workers employee of the month twice and WISH-TV employee of the year.

Karen is busy with her three young children but believes in supporting her hometown by working with Zoobilation, Second Helpings, Ovar’Coming Together, Prevail and other community groups.

Karen can be seen nightly anchoring the 5pm and 10pm newscasts.