Thomas, Judy L.

Judy Lundstrom Thomas is a long-time investigative reporter who arrived at The Kansas City Star in 1995 after seven years at The Wichita Eagle. Her areas of focus include domestic terrorism and holding those in power accountable.

Thomas’ stories have led to legislative hearings, the passage of multiple laws in two states, a criminal conviction and the closing of a megachurch over financial accountability concerns. In 2017, Thomas and Laura Bauer were the lead reporters on “Why so secret, Kansas?”, a series that revealed how Kansas’ state government had become one of the least transparent in the nation. The series led to new transparency laws and received nine national honors, including finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

In 2019, Thomas and Bauer teamed up again on “Throwaway Kids,” a six-part series that examined the dismal outcomes for many children who grow up in the troubled foster care system. The series led to legislative changes in several states and has been used to train advocates across the country. It received national recognition, including a National Headliner Award for public service; an Eppy Award for best community service; and a McClatchy President’s Award for Journalism Excellence.

Since 2020, the two have worked on an ongoing investigation of abuse in unlicensed Missouri boarding schools. The stories led to a new state law, felony charges against multiple staffers and owners at two schools and the closing of five unregulated boarding schools in southern Missouri. Their coverage was awarded the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting in 2022, the top prize in the Education Writers Association National Awards for Education Reporting.

In 2012, Thomas received a Society for Features Journalism award for "The Altar Boys' Secret,” a series about a 30-year mystery of priest sexual abuse and suicide. Thomas also was named the 2012 Religion Newswriters Association Religion Reporter of the Year in the metropolitan newspaper division.

Thomas received a Unity Award in Media in 2006 for exposing that covenants in many Kansas City-area deeds and homeowners’ association bylaws still barred minorities from owning property. The story led to the passage of laws in Kansas and Missouri. And her groundbreaking 2000 series, "AIDS in the Priesthood," earned a national Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Thomas also is co-author of the critically acclaimed "Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War," published by BasicBooks. She grew up on a Kansas farm, is married and has two grown sons and a granddaughter.