Shane Johnson got his start at the Indianapolis Business Journal seven years ago, and told his editor he was only interested in covering local issues. "I have covered then-Governor Mike Pence, mayors and politicians, and things truly important to the people of Indiana — cold beer sales and basketball."

[Throughout his life, Rex Babin championed those who focused on state and local issues in editorial cartoons, a field that he and other cartoonists felt was regularly overlooked by journalism contests. The "Rex Babin Memorial Award for Excellence in Local Cartooning" was launched in 2017 to celebrate those working in this niche. To that end, we will be showcasing each cartoonist who entered the contest this year, one or two each day in alphabetical order (more or less), leading up to the AAEC Convention in Sacramento, CA, and the announcement of the award winner on Saturday, Sept. 22.]