WEKU has been honored with three awards in the 2016 Kentucky Associated Press Broadcasters competition.
The awards were presented during a ceremony Saturday evening at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Lexington.
WEKU's Stu Johnson was recognized for:
Best Short Serious News Feature: "Lexington Vigil Pays Tribute to Victims of Nation's Worst Mass Shooting"; and
Best Breaking News: "Lexington Vigil Pays Tribute to Victims of Nation's Worst Mass Shooting."
WEKU Associate Manager for Content John Hingsbergen received an award for:
Best Short Light News Feature: "Hundreds Gather in Lexington for Interfaith Encounter"
Below is a complete list of the 2016 KAPB Award winners:
RADIO (Commercial, Non-Commercial):
Best Short Light News Feature: 1, John Hingsbergen, WEKU-FM, "Hundreds Gather in Lexington for Interfaith Encounter"; 2, Matt Markgraf, WKMS-FM, "Paducah's Maiden Alley Hosts Inaugural 'Cinema Systers' All-Lesbian Film Festival"; 3, Joe Jackson, WKYX-FM, "Children in the Middle."
Best Long Light News Feature: 1, Samantha Lederman, WUKY-FM, "Valerie's Quest"; 2, Rick Howlett, WFPL-FM, "Thurby"; 3, Joe Corcoran, WKYU-FM, "Owensboro Students Find Their Roots with 'Bluegrass in the Schools'."
Best Short Serious News Feature: 1, Stu Johnson, WEKU-FM, "Lexington Vigil Pays Tribute to Victims of Nation's Worst Mass Shooting"; 2, Bill Hughes, WKYX-FM, "Bridge Blast"; 3, Joe Jackson, WKYX-FM, "Where's Governor Bevin."
Best Long Serious News Feature: 1, Mareea Thomas, WNIN-FM, "A Disturbing Ending to a Life Well Lived"; 2, Lisa Gillespie, WFPL-FM, "In Ultra-Red Jackson County, Health Care Didn't Move Voters"; 3, Becca Schimmel, WKYU-FM, "Shafted: Dark Future Possible for Miners Who Kept Our Lights On."
Best Breaking News: 1, Stu Johnson, WEKU-FM, "Lexington Vigil Pays Tribute to Victims of Nation's Worst Mass Shooting"; 2, WHAS-AM, "Breaking News Times Three"; 3, Steve Burger, Brick Briscoe and Samantha Horton, WNIN-FM, "Fans Remember Bluegrass Legend."
Best Sports Feature or Special: 1, Samantha Lederman, WUKY-FM, "U.S. Eventer Hopes To Recapture Glory Aboard Kentucky-Bred Ex-Racehorse"; 2, Nicole Erwin, WKMS-FM, "Nita Head: A Pioneer for Women's Sports at Murray State"; 3, Bill Hughes, WKYX-FM, "Cardinals Caravan Hrabosky."
Best Sports Reporting: 1, WHAS-AM, "Kentucky Derby 142"; 2, Chuck Mraz, WMKY-FM, "MSPR Sports."
Best Special Series or Documentary: 1, Roxanne Scott and Ashlie Stevens, WFPL-FM, "The Next Louisville: Where Are the Black People in Bourbon?"; 2, Tara Anderson, WFPL-FM, "The Next Louisville: Why Cubans Are Moving to the City Like Never Before"; 3, Samantha Lederman and Josh James, WUKY-FM, "Animal Cruelty in Kentucky."
Best Short Public Affairs: 1, Tim Brockwell, WKYX-FM, "Massac Tax Vote"; 2, Tim Brockwell, WKYX-FM, "Sexual Assault Wrap"; 3, Tim Brockwell, WKYX-FM, "Uber Wrap."
Best Long Public Affairs: 1, Chad Lampe, WKMS-FM, "Adolescent Addiction and Its Impact on the Brain"; 2, Joe Corcoran, WKYU-FM, "Ft. Campbell's Screaming Eagles Back in Iraq to Support the Fight Against ISIS"; 3, Paul Hitchcock, WMKY-FM, "MSU's Social Work Internship Program."
Best Political Coverage: 1, Josh James, WUKY-FM, "Best Political Coverage"; 2, Lisa Autry and Kevin Willis, WKYU-FM, "Kentucky Republicans Try Something New: A Caucus"; 3, Joe Jackson, WKYX-FM, "Fancy Farm Absent Democrats."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Nicole Erwin, WKMS-FM, "Growing Concerns: Trump's Immigration Rhetoric Sows Anxiety in Agriculture"; 2, Nicole Erwin, WKMS-FM, "Piggy Express: 'Right to Farm' Law Shields Giant Hog Operation"; 3, John Null, WKMS-FM, "Unsolved Mystery: The Murder of an Eggner's Ferry Bridge Toll Collector."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Kate Howard, WFPL-FM, "U of L Foundation Bought an Empty Factory in Oklahoma_Because a Donor Asked"; 2, R.G. Dunlop and John Boel, WFPL-FM, "Kentucky Constables: Untrained And Unaccountable."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, Rick Howlett, WFPL-FM, "Muhammad Ali"; 2, WHAS-AM, "The Death of Muhammad Ali"; 3, Joe Jackson, WKYX-FM, "2016 Mayfield Tornado Coverage."
Best Digital Coverage: 1, WFPL-FM, "The Next Louisville: Race, Ethnicity and Culture."
Best Short Newscast: 1, Alan Lytle, Karyn Czar and Josh James, WUKY-FM; 2, WHAS-AM.
Best Long Newscast: 1, WHAS-AM; 2, Dan Conti, Arlo Barnette and Samantha Morrill, WMKY-FM; 3, WKYU-FM.
Best Use of Sound: 1, Samantha Lederman, WUKY-FM, "U.S. Eventer Hopes To Recapture Glory Aboard Kentucky-Bred Ex-Racehorse"; 2, Becca Schimmel, WKYU-FM, "Ripple Effect: The Big-Ticket Fix for the Ohio's Aging Dams"; 3, Nicole Erwin, WKMS-FM, "Titan the Rooster Cock-a-doodle-doos to Employee of the Month."
Best Radio Reporter: 1, Rick Howlett, WFPL-FM; 2, Lisa Autry, WKYU-FM; 3, Rhonda Miller, WKYU-FM.
Best Radio Anchor: 1, Suzanne Duvall, WHAS-AM; 2, Alan Lytle, WUKY-FM; 3, Dan Conti, WMKY-FM.
Overall Excellence: 1, WHAS-AM; 2, WKYU-FM.
TV DIVISION ONE (Louisville & Lexington):
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Scott Eckhardt and Eric King, WLKY-TV, "Abby's Gift"; 2, Natalia Martinez and Miles Jackson, WAVE-TV, "Yankee for a Day"; 3, Gil Corsey and Dominik Fuhrmann, WDRB-TV, "Remember Me."
Best Breaking News: 1, WAVE-TV, "Muhammad Ali Death"; 2, Rick Van Hoose and Bill DeReamer, WLKY-TV, "Police Chase"; 3, WKYT-TV, "Stockyard Fire."
Best Sports Prep Show: 1, Kent Taylor, Kendrick Haskins and Brian Winner, WAVE-TV, "Touchdown Friday Night"; 2, Fred Cowgill and Natalie Grise, WLKY-TV, "WLKY High School Playbook"; 3, WKYT-TV, "WKYT Game Time."
Best Sports Feature: 1, Lee K. Howard, WKYT-TV, "Lifesaving Fall: Gymnast Beats Brain Cancer"; 2, Josh Kidd and Chris Sutter, WDRB-TV, "Louisville TKO Boxing"; 3, Sterling Riggs and Josh Kidd, WDRB-TV, "Adaptive Rowing."
Best Sports Special: 1, Dick Gabriel and Cameron Mills, WKYT-TV, "The Team: The 1996 National Champions"; 2, Fred Cowgill and Natalie Grise, WLKY-TV, "Muhammad Ali - Sports Saturday."
Best Feature or Sports Videography: 1, Scott Eckhardt, WLKY-TV, "Old Friends Farm"; 2, Josh Kidd, WDRB-TV, "McAlpine Locks and Dam"; 3, Lee K. Howard, WKYT-TV, "Lifesaving Fall: Gymnast Beats Brain Cancer."
Best News Videography: 1, Barton Bill, WKYT-TV, "UK Doctor vs UK Healthcare"; 2, Josh Kidd, WDRB-TV, "Louisville TKO Boxing."
Best News Special or Documentary: 1, WAVE-TV, "Goodbye to the Greatest"; 2, Scott Eckhardt and Eric King, WLKY-TV, "Bourbon Boom."
Best Special Series: 1, Sterling Riggs and Doug Smith, WDRB-TV, "What's in the Water?"; 2, WLKY News Team, WLKY-TV, "War on Heroin"; 3, Valerie Chinn, Travis Ragsdale and Staff, WDRB-TV, "Confiscated Guns Used in Crimes Again."
Best Public Affairs: 1, Julian Glover, WAVE-TV, "A Mother's Last Hope"; 2, Miranda Combs and Barton Bill, WKYT-TV, "What's in Your Water?"; 3, Miranda Combs and Barton Bill, WKYT-TV, "Natalie's Place."
Best Political Coverage: 1, Jennifer Keeney and Cara Catlett, WDRB-TV, "WDRB Election Night"; 2, Phil Pendleton, WKYT-TV, "Kentucky's Campaign Kick-off"; 3, Bill Bryant, WKYT-TV, "Bill Bryant."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, John Boel, Jeff Knight and R.G. Dunlop, WAVE-TV, "Kentucky Constables: Untrained and Unaccountable"; 2, Miranda Combs and Barton Bill, WKYT-TV, "Kentucky's Weigh Stations"; 3, Marcus Green, Lindsay Allen and Dominik Fuhrmann, WDRB-TV, "Promises Broken?."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, John Boel and Doug Druschke, WAVE-TV, "Undercover Block Watch"; 2, Miranda Combs and Barton Bill, WKYT-TV, "Kid Sheriff"; 3, Eric Flack and Jeff Knight, WAVE-TV, "Ali Funeral Ticket Scalping."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, WAVE-TV, "Taking Back Your Streets"; 2, WAVE-TV, "Muhammad Ali: Goodbye to the Greatest"; 3, Valerie Chinn, WDRB-TV, "Shepherdsville Mayor Scandal."
Best Digital Coverage: 1, WKYT-TV; 2, WAVE-TV; 3, Melissa Ratliff, WLEX-TV.
Best News Promotion: 1, Nathan White, Wilfred Sieg and Paul Chaplin, WLKY-TV, "The Bourbon Boom"; 2, Dave Medley and Nancy Cox, WLEX-TV, "Home"; 3, Jamie Jaggers and Paul Chaplin, WLKY-TV, "Abby's Gift."
Best Daytime Newscast: 1, WLEX-TV, "LEX 18 News at Sunrise"; 2, Erin Austin and Cara Catlett, WDRB-TV, "WDRB News11:30"; 3, WKYT-TV, "WKYT This Morning."
Best Evening Newscast: 1, Zak Owens, Becca Gibson and Aaron Ellis, WAVE-TV, "WAVE 3 News Thanksgiving Day Shooting"; 2, WKYT-TV, "WKYT News at 6"; 3, Erin Gritton and WLKY News Team, WLKY-TV, "WLKY Evening News."
Best Multimedia Reporter: 1, Garrett Wymer, WKYT-TV; 2, John Charlton, WHAS-TV; 3, Kasey Cunningham, WAVE-TV.
Best News Videographer: 1, Scott Eckhardt, WLKY-TV; 2, Josh Kidd, WDRB-TV; 3, Dominik Fuhrmann, WDRB-TV.
Best TV Editor: 1, Daniel Paxton, WAVE-TV; 2, Dave Medley, WLEX-TV; 3, Scott Eckhardt, WLKY-TV.
Best TV Producer: 1, Megan Short, WHAS-TV; 2, Jennifer Keeney, WDRB-TV; 3, Jessica Denson, WDRB-TV.
Best Weather Anchor: 1, Jim Caldwell, WKYT-TV; 2, Jeremy Kappell, WDRB-TV.
Best Sportscaster: 1, Whitney Harding, WHAS-TV; 2, Fred Cowgill, WLKY-TV; 3, Kent Taylor, WAVE-TV.
Best TV Reporter: 1, Rachel Collier, WDRB-TV; 2, William Joy, WAVE-TV; 3, Gilbert Corsey, WDRB-TV.
Best TV News Anchor: 1, Elizabeth Woolsey, WDRB-TV; 2, John Boel, WAVE-TV; 3, Sterling Riggs, WDRB-TV.
Best Overall Excellence: 1, WDRB-TV; 2, WLKY-TV; 3, WKYT-TV.
TV DIVISION TWO (Paducah, Bowling Green, Hazard):
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Caleb Noe, WYMT-TV, "Scars & Cars"; 2, Jake Boswell and Austin Albany, WBKO-TV, "Surviving a Shooting"; 3, Todd Faulkner and Mike Spissinger, WPSD-TV, "Shirley Petway Paying It Forward."
Best Breaking News: 1, WPSD-TV, "Mayfield Tornado"; 2, Blake Stevens and Michael Bradford, WPSD-TV, "Metropolis Tornado."
Best Sports Prep Show: 1, Josh McKinney, Jamie McCracken and Karli Bell, WYMT-TV, "Sports Overtime"; 2, WPSD-TV, "Gridiron Glory."
Best Sports Feature: 1, Jamie McCracken, WYMT-TV, "Fishin' Buddies"; 2, Sean Baute, WBKO-TV, "Sean Baute - Kicking Queen"; 3, Justin Beasley, WPSD-TV, "Melton Ready for Wheelchair Rugby Paralympics."
Best Sports Special: 1, Jeff Bidwell, Adam Wells and Justin Beasley, WPSD-TV, "Racing to March"; 2, Josh McKinney, Jamie McCracken and Lauren Cash, WYMT-TV, "Sports Overtime: Year in Review."
Best Feature or Sports Videography: 1, Mike Spissinger, WPSD-TV, "Pay It Forward"; 2, Jamie McCracken, WYMT-TV, "Fishin' Buddies"; 3, Allison Rogers and Jarrett Eldridge, WYMT-TV, "Backroads: Mountain Motor Speedway."
Best News Videography: 1, Mike Spissinger, WPSD-TV, "Paying It Forward."
Best News Special or Documentary: 1, WYMT-TV, "Jordan Smith: From Harlan to Hollywood"; 2, WYMT-TV, "2016 Year in Review"; 3, Lyndsey Gough, Austin Albany and Jon Doss, WBKO-TV, "Remembering Morgan Violi."
Best Special Series: 1, Angela Reighard, WYMT-TV, "Making a Marine"; 2, WPSD-TV, "Heroin's Hold On US"; 3, Allison Rogers, Freddy Hunt and Jarrett Eldridge, WYMT-TV, "Backroads with Allison Rogers."
Best Public Affairs: 1, Rachael Krause, WPSD-TV, "Breaking Windows to Show Dangers of Hot Cars"; 2, Angela Reighard, WYMT-TV, "Could Black Lung Benefits Be in Jeopardy?"; 3, Jacqueline Nie and Austin Albany, WBKO-TV, "Special Report: Women's Running Safety."
Best Political Coverage: 1, Rachael Krause, WPSD-TV, "Illinois Budget Effects"; 2, Matthew Rand and Tanner Hesterberg, WYMT-TV, "Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Eastern Kentucky"; 3, WYMT-TV, "U.S. Senate Race."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Chad Darnall and WPSD Staff, WPSD-TV, "Women and Guns"; 2, Jennifer Horbelt and Mason Watkins, WPSD-TV, "Say Anything"; 3, Michael Bradford and Jennifer Horbelt, WPSD-TV, "Screen Time Overload."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Hayley Minogue, WYMT-TV, "Dexter Smith Caught Cheating on GED Test"; 2, Caleb Noe, WYMT-TV, "Restaurant Shuts Down"; 3, Ashley Sanchez and Jason Thomason, WPSD-TV, "Uncovering Wage Theft."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, Caleb Noe, WYMT-TV, "Harlan County Forest Fires"; 2, WPSD-TV, "Mayfield Tornado"; 3, Amanda Roberts, Chad Darnall and Jason Thomason, WPSD-TV, "Fulton 5 Fraud Charges."
Best Digital Coverage: 1, Chad Bishop, WBKO-TV; 2, Chris Johnson, WYMT-TV; 3, Nathan Lyttle, WYMT-TV.
Best News Promotion: 1, Jarrett Eldridge and Kelly Allen, WYMT-TV, "Dedicated to Eastern Kentucky"; 2, Ashley Appel, WPSD-TV, "Screen Time Overload"; 3, Jarrett Eldridge, WYMT-TV, "Election Recap."
Best Daytime Newscast: 1, Mitchell Grogg, WYMT-TV, "Mountain News This Morning"; 2, Berry Stockton and Laura Rogers, WBKO-TV, "AM Kentucky Live - Midday Live, WBKO"; 3, Greg Phelps, WPSD-TV, "Breaking Election Coverage/Breakfast With Santa."
Best Evening Newscast: 1, WPSD-TV, "WPSD Newscast"; 2, WBKO-TV, "WBKO at 6:00"; 3, WYMT-TV, "Mountain News at Six."
Best Multimedia Reporter: 1, Caleb Noe, WYMT-TV; 2, Sarah Anderson, WYMT-TV; 3, Brianna Clark, WPSD-TV.
Best News Videographer: 1, Mike Spissinger, WPSD-TV.
Best TV Editor: 1, Mike Spissinger, WPSD-TV; 2, Josh McKinney, WYMT-TV.
Best TV Producer: 1, Ana Medina, WBKO-TV; 2, Manda Barger, WPSD-TV; 3, Kyle Collier, WYMT-TV.
Best Weather Anchor: 1, Trent Okerson, WPSD-TV; 2, Jennifer Rukavina, WPSD-TV; 3, Jason Lindsey, WPSD-TV.
Best Sportscaster: 1, Adam Wells, WPSD-TV; 2, Justin Beasley, WPSD-TV; 3, Dominique Yates, WBKO-TV.
Best TV Reporter: 1, Jake Boswell, WBKO-TV; 2, Tanner Hesterberg, WYMT-TV; 3, Amanda Roberts, WPSD-TV.
Best TV News Anchor: 1, Gene Birk, WBKO-TV; 2, Laura Rogers, WBKO-TV; 3, Tanner Hesterberg, WYMT-TV.
Best Overall Excellence: 1, WPSD-TV; 2, WYMT-TV; 3, WBKO-TV.
COLLEGE TV:
Best Feature Story : 1, Paige Hagan, Western Kentucky University, "Young Artist Exposes Millennials' Narcissism"; 2, Sofie Tapia, University of Kentucky, "Artisanal Crafts in Berea"; 3, Catharine Gardner, Western Kentucky University, "Hats Off to the Kentucky Tradition."
Best Sports Coverage : 1, Caryn Eisert, Western Kentucky University, "Football: WKU vs Alabama"; 2, Marcus Browning, Lexie Ratterman and Will Puckett, Western Kentucky University, "WKU The Extra Point"; 3, Catharine Gardner, Western Kentucky University, "The Math Behind March Madness."
Best Public Affairs: 1, Catharine Gardner, Western Kentucky University, "Up 'Til Dawn"; 2, Noah Richard, University of Kentucky, "2016 Republican Caucus."
Best News Story: 1, Marc Thomas, University of Kentucky, "Trinity Gay Memorial Service"; 2, Lauren Shepard, Asbury University, "Distracted Driving"; 3, Michael Squire, Western Kentucky University, "Mercury in Kentucky Waters."
Best College Newscast: 1, Noah Richard, University of Kentucky, "UK Student News Network"; 2, Will Puckett, Western Kentucky University, "WKU News Channel 12"; 3, Lexie Ratterman and Allyson Wells, Western Kentucky University, "WKU News Channel 12 Election Show."
Best College Videographer: 1, Paige Hagan, Western Kentucky University; 2, Piper Cassetto, Murray State University, "Clear the Track: The Legacy of Racer One."
Best College Television Reporter: 1, Darby Beane, Western Kentucky University.
COLLEGE RADIO:
Best Feature Story: 1, Samantha Morrill, Morehead State University, "Einstein's Dreams, MSU Theatre Recognition"; 2, Courtney Howell, Morehead State University, "PAC Summer Arts Camp"; 3, Lee Mengistu, University of Kentucky, "Tikur Traveler: The Young Folks."
Best Sports Coverage: 1, Nathan Gutierrez, Morehead State University, "Win the Day."
Best Public Affairs: 1, Noah Richard and Morgan Henry, University of Kentucky, "Campus Voices: Ovarian Cancer Awareness"; 2, Melissa Payne, Stepper Toth and Caitlin Schwartz, University of Kentucky, "Campus Voices: Student Debt and Graduation Rates"; 3, Penny Schmitz and Caitlin Schwartz, University of Kentucky, "Campus Voices: Kentucky Rape Kit Backlog."
Best News Story : 1, Ashley Chapman, Morehead State University, "Fentanyl-Laced Heroin"; 2, Tanner Boyd, Morehead State University, "Former President Bill Clinton at MSU"; 3, Parker Franklin, Murray State University, "How Universities Address Kentucky's Doctor Shortage."
Best College Newscast: 1, Samantha Morrill and Arlo Barnette, Morehead State University, "Mountain Edition News."
Best College Digital Journalist: 1, Ambriehl Crutchfield, Western Kentucky University.
Best College Radio Reporter: 1, Alana Watson, Western Kentucky University; 2, Noah Richard, University of Kentucky.
College Best of Show TV: Paige Hagan, Western Kentucky University
College Best of Show Radio: Samantha Morrill, Morehead State University
Tom Peterson Memorial Scholarship: Lee Mengistu, University of Kentucky
