Beth Hundsdorfer
Investigative Reporter | Capitol News IllinoisBeth Hundsdorfer joined the Capitol News Illinois team as a full-time reporter in November 2021.
Hundsdorfer is a veteran investigative reporter who spent nearly 20 years at the Belleville News-Democrat, 13 of which were spent on the investigative beat. She also covered cops and courts.
Her investigative journalism included work on issues such as solitary confinement in the Illinois Department of Corrections, fatal flaws in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that resulted in the death of 53 children, discriminatory housing practices in the city of Belleville and dismal prosecution rates in sex crimes cases in southern Illinois.
Her resume includes two John Jay College Journalism awards for excellence in criminal justice, a National Headliners Grand Award, a George Polk Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for local reporting among other accolades.
Prior to joining Capitol News Illinois, she had a brief stint at St. Louis Public Radio, and she spent two years as the public information officer at the Illinois State Police, fielding news media inquiries on issues ranging from traffic crashes to policy and procedure.
Hundsdorfer plans to bring that experience to Capitol News Illinois to help expand the news service’s investigative and enterprise coverage, as well as its coverage of state agencies.
“I am so happy to return to journalism at this pivotal time. Journalism, particularly investigative journalism, shines a light to expose corruption, protect the most vulnerable of our society and inform the citizenry,” Hundsdorfer said.
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Hugh Moran, the director for the Centralia-based Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home, asserted complaints about his business were spurred by soured business deals. But, admitted the embalming room was “unkempt" and will require a dumpster to clean up. -
At least 80 families have received the wrong remains from the Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville, Illinois, according to the Sangamon County coroner. -
The state of Illinois is asking for the end of court oversight of its system of care for people with developmental disabilities. But some advocates say it’s too soon. -
The troubled Illinois agency charged with the protection of abused and neglected children will have new leadership in the new year. -
Bodies were found decomposing and families given strangers’ ashes in the months following a coroner’s complaint on the Heinz Funeral Home. -
Marc Smith is one of the three Illinois agency leaders to announce their end-of-year departure plans. -
Matt Mitchell, the former Illinois trooper who killed Jessica and Kelli Uhl in a 2007 high-speed crash near O'Fallon, is yet again seeking a reinstatement of his driving privileges. -
A new report by an advocacy agency details how abuse and neglect at Choate have continued despite calls for and promises of reform. Now, the Illinois Department of Human Services has reversed its decision to keep Choate’s top leadership in place. -
Peter Neumer will step down from his role overseeing investigations into the abuse and neglect of some of Illinois' most vulnerable people on August 17. -
Prompted by an outcry over abuse, Illinois proposed moving residents from Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center to similar facilities in the state. New reporting shows the problems at Choate are common throughout the statewide system. -
On Wednesday, the state announced plans to dramatically reduce the number of patients with developmental disabilities who live at the embattled state-run Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center. -
Ongoing investigations of the state-run facility have revealed culture of abuse and cover-ups.
