Kentucky

Lexington Herald-Leader takes home 27 press awards for breaking news, more

By STAFF REPORT
Jordan Wade, left, and Kelvin Gabbard made their way through the flooded waters of closed Main Street after high flood waters after severe overnight rain hit Beattyville, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. The pair were delivering groceries to friends stranded due to the closed road. The photo won first place for breaking news photography from the Kentucky Press Association.
Jordan Wade, left, and Kelvin Gabbard made their way through the flooded waters of closed Main Street after high flood waters after severe overnight rain hit Beattyville, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. The pair were delivering groceries to friends stranded due to the closed road. The photo won first place for breaking news photography from the Kentucky Press Association. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com

The Lexington Herald-Leader won 27 awards Jan. 23 at the Kentucky Press Association’s annual Winter Convention, including first-place wins for breaking news, photography and extended coverage.

Among the topics lauded by judges were coverage of the Fayette County Public Schools budget crisis, a botched search warrant that left a London man dead, and live and ongoing coverage of deadly tornadoes in Southeastern Kentucky last spring.

The Herald-Leader took home a second-place win in its division for General Excellence, the highest prize.

“I’m proud to be part of a newsroom that works hard each day to improve the lives of those in Central and Eastern Kentucky,” managing editor Alex Valentine said. “It’s great to see them honored for the excellent work they do.”

Staff of the Lexington Herald-Leader won 27 press awards from the 2026 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention Jan. 23, 2026. Pictured, from left, crime and courts reporter Taylor Six, former audience editor Andrew Henderson, higher education reporter and editor Monica Kast, service editor Jackie Starkey, managing editor Alex Valentine and politics and public affairs editor Tessa Duvall.
Staff of the Lexington Herald-Leader won 27 press awards from the 2026 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention Jan. 23, 2026. Pictured, from left, crime and courts reporter Taylor Six, former audience editor Andrew Henderson, higher education reporter and editor Monica Kast, service editor Jackie Starkey, managing editor Alex Valentine and politics and public affairs editor Tessa Duvall. Contributed

The judging period for entries ran from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025.

A full list of the Herald-Leader’s KPA award winners is below:

Best editorial writer, certificate of merit: Linda Blackford

Best breaking news coverage, first and second place: Herald-Leader staff

Best columnist, second place: Linda Blackford

Best sports columnist, first place: Mark Story

Best sports story, third place: Ben Roberts

Best sports feature story, second and third place: Ben Roberts

The Feb. 16, 2025, front page by Michael Yparrea won first place for best front page at the 2026 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention.
The Feb. 16, 2025, front page by Michael Yparrea won first place for best front page at the 2026 Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention. Herald-Leader

Best enterprise or analytical story, first place: Bill Estep

Best investigative story or series, second and third place: John Cheves, Monica Kast and Kendall Stanton

Best on-going/extended coverage story, first, second and third place: Bill Estep, Christopher Leach, Taylor Six, Valarie Honeycutt Spears, Linda Blackford, Beth Musgrave and John Cheves

Best business/agribusiness story, second place: John Cheves

Best use of social media, third place: Herald-Leader staff

Best video, second and third place: Ryan Hermens, Andrew Henderson and Orizo Hajigurban

Best website, second place: Herald-Leader staff

Best breaking news picture, first place: Brian Simms

Best sports picture essay, first and third place: Herald-Leader staff

Best editorial page, second place: Linda Blackford

Best front page, first place: Michael Yparrea

Best headline writer, first and second place: Tessa Duvall, John Cheves and Austin Horn

General Excellence, second place: Lexington Herald-Leader

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