(KNSI) — The KNSI Newsroom had a great weekend. They earned six Eric Sevareid Awards for outstanding work last year.
One of the stories we followed was the explosive growth on the southeast side of St. Cloud, which also increased the need for a new fire hall. Initially proposed in April 2024 in the outgoing mayor’s State of the City speech, we followed the process all year long, from the initial proposal to the voters approving the property tax increase to fund it.
Another story was the White Feather Tribal Cannabis Dispensary planning to open on the east side of St. Cloud, with the operators saying it had the go-ahead from the city and state. Through KNSI’s rigorous fact checking, we discovered the dispensary had no authority to open, shuttering an illegal operation. It opened again in early July, only to be closed by the Health Department.
The Foley Mansion was heavily damaged by fire in 2004. Local historians say what the flames didn’t consume or scar was stolen. The Highbanks neighborhood home became an eyesore and a hangout for squatters. In 2019, Carmen and Allen Arvig learned about the property and couldn’t bear to let its historic significance be lost. Shortly after, it became Carmen’s mission to resurrect the place and share it with the world.
The 5:00 a.m. newscast from November 7th, 2024, touched on the cold case involving Terry Brisk, the closure of a busy road in St. Cloud, what was going to happen to Jake Anderson’s seat after winning the mayoral race, and the big Veterans Day Parade coming up.
Here is a list of what the KNSI Newsroom won:
First Place General Reporting Medium Market Radio – Booming Growth Ignites Burning Need for New Fire Hall
First Place News Series Medium Market Radio – Booming Growth Ignites Burning Need for New Fire Hall
First Place Investigative Medium Market Radio – White Feather Dispensary: An Open and Shut Tale
First Place Hard Feature Medium Market Radio – White Feather Dispensary: An Open and Shut Tale
Award of Merit General Reporting Medium Market Radio – From Ruin to Resplendent: The Foley Mansion’s Grand Return (Jake Judd)
Award of Merit Medium Market Radio – Morning Newscast November 7th, 2024 5:00 a.m. (Jennifer Lewerenz)
Eric Sevareid was born and raised in North Dakota and attended the University of Minnesota. During WWII, Edward R. Murrow personally selected him as one of a few elite war correspondents to cover what was happening on the European front. Sevareid was the first to report on the Fall of Paris and succeeded Murrow as a commentator for CBS.
“My deepest gratitude to Grant Dossetto and Jake Judd for their tireless dedication to outstanding reporting day in and day out to keep central Minnesota informed and engaged,” said KNSI News Director Jennifer Lewerenz.
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