Reporting

When a chilling discovery thrust the quality of a public utility's drinking water supply into question, it became clear that fair and accurate coverage required more than just one story. I wanted to include these two stories among my writing samples for two reasons, however: Not only do they represent a long series, but they illustrate how that coverage can sometimes become the story, no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Investigation Uncovers Contaminants in Water, OMU

W hen she and her children were forced to leave their last apartment in Owensboro nearly 10 years ago, she thought there was nowhere else...

The Paradise Fossil Plant near Drakesboro, Kentucky, was a fixture along the Green River in western Kentucky for more than 50 years. It inspired a hit John Prine song and supported a thriving local economy. This series for the Messenger-Inquirer explained its eventual demise as the Tennessee Valley Authority sought to reshuffle its energy portfolio. Bevin Laments TVA's Paradise Vote: Governor Urges Board to Delay DRAKESBORO, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin called on the Tennes

The Owensboro RiverPark Center Board of Directors is in negotiations with Spectra, the Owensboro Convention Center and Sportscenter venue management company, that could result in the company taking over partial management control of operations there. Sources say the board initiated a request for proposals several months ago that resulted in three total bids from outside contractors. Spectra, a sports and entertainment firm based in Philadelphia, was among them, and Board Chai

The Owensboro City Commission has delayed any action on a mobile food vending ordinance that would have repealed the city's four-year old provision limiting food trucks from parking anywhere within 100 feet of brick-and-mortar restaurants. Commissioners unanimously approved a measure removing discussion on that matter from Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting agenda. Mayor Tom Watson said he not only wants to give himself more time to gauge the commissioners on how they will

A new plan city leaders say they are considering could result in several notable downtown institutions relocating in the wake of the much-anticipated International Bluegrass Music Center grand opening this fall. Details of that plan revealed to the Messenger-Inquirer this week indicate that the Owensboro Museum of Science and History could be forced to downsize and move from its current location at the former S.W. Anderson Building across the street into space where the blueg

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Time is slipping away for Kentucky lawmakers. The General Assembly has until the end of this legislative session to bring the commonwealth into compliance with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, which called for security upgrades to states' driver's licenses. Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed a measure that would have satisfied the regulations last year, giving in to pressure from tea party groups and the Kentucky ACLU. Now, Republican leaders in Frankfort are calli

If there's one thing certain about the future of expanded Medicaid and qualified health plans in Kentucky, it's that nothing is certain. The line between who's for and who's against repealing former President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul is more divisive than just politics; it drives to the heart of a question over what role government will play, or even can play, in ensuring health and wellness. Millions of Americans say there's little to no place for g