The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal’s investigation into the culture, politics and laws around drinking in that state, “Wasted in Wisconsin,” has been awarded a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Lifesavers” public service award.

Additionally, the state Senate just passed a bill “requiring more drivers to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles and to make some fourth drunken driving offenses felonies,” according to the Journal Sentinel. The state Assembly passed a similar bill, and leaders hope to send a version to the governor soon.

I had the good fortune to analyze data for the series and write one of the 72 (one for each county in Wisconsin) “Sobering Reminders” about someone who had been killed by a drunken driver.

The series also won a 2009 Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award.

Some of my contributions:

• Alcohol and death collide on Highway 41
• Alcohol-related fatal crashes 2003-’07
• State data show Highway 41’s danger