The strength of our journalism has always been our deep connection to our communities, and that is on full display as this health crisis unfolds nationwide.
Sacramento turned tips from multiple sources into a story about how infections had begun to spread through the medical community. Lexington spent Sunday providing continuous updates about Rand Paul, the first senator to announce a positive test. Wichita provided news about furloughs at one of the largest employers in the city. And the national real-time team told readers the Postal Service is in serious trouble.
Kansas City’s deeply reported ticktock helped a shell-shocked community understand what hit them and what was being done about it. McClatchy DC and the Charlotte Observer explained the suspicious timing of North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr’s stock sale.
Our opinion journalists showed thoughtful leadership, taking elected officials to task for moving too slowly or sowing fear and division. Our visual journalists told sober and illuminating stories about the virus and its impact. We have answered readers’ questions, constantly updated lists of what’s open and what’s closed, and explained how to help and what happens if government orders are violated.
This is what we do, day after day, even as we deal with disruption in our own lives and that of our families. And we know people are seeing the value of it, evidenced by record-breaking readership, viewership and even listenership.
Read on for the March edition of Extraordinary Journalism.
Life shaken: How in just 10 days, the coronavirus upended Kansas City
Story By Eric Adler, Video By Neil Nakahodo and Eric Adler, The Kansas City Star
Burr sold stocks, gave dire warning to private group before coronavirus took off in US
Story By Brian Murphy, McClatchy DC
- Burr faces lawsuit as fallout continues over his sale of up to $1.7 million in stock — Charlotte Observer
Breaking news and deep reporting
UC Davis Med Center employees infected with coronavirus. Hospital expects ‘many more’ — By Ryan Sabalow and Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul tests positive for COVID-19 — By Morgan Eads and Daniel Desrochers, Lexington Herald-Leader
- Rand Paul defends his decision not to self-quarantine after he was tested for COVID-19 — By Daniel Desrochers
Textron furloughs 7,000 Wichita workers in struggles with coronavirus, economy — By Dion Lefler, Wichita Eagle
‘Postal Service will not survive the summer.’ Lawmakers warn it could go bankrupt — By Maddie Capron, McClatchy Real-time
Community connection
Stores empty. Bars closed. People gone. How coronavirus silenced SLO one Thursday night — By Kaytlyn Leslie, The (San Luis Obispo) Tribune
What’s it like waiting on a coronavirus test? Two in York County share their stories. — By John Marks and Cailyn Derickson, The (Rock Hill) Herald
Camden is ground zero for coronavirus in SC. Townspeople are nervous and asking why — By Sammy Fretwell, Video By Tracy Glantz, The State
Opinion
Coronavirus is killing us in Florida, Gov. DeSantis. Act like you give a damn — Miami Herald
Kansas official: Pandemic isn’t a problem here because there are few Chinese people — Kansas City Star
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is blowing it with his response to our coronavirus outbreak — Idaho Statesman
Video
Watch as reported cases of coronavirus spread county-by-county across NC –By Kevin Keister, The News & Observer
Faith in the time of coronavirus: Coral Gables church offers drive-thru confessions — Video By Matias J. Ocner and José A. Iglesias, Story By Alex Harris, Miami Herald
Accountability
After disjointed coronavirus response from Texas cities, Abbott acted. Was it too late? — Story By Mark Dent, Video By Candi Bolden, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
MultiCare nurses forced to reuse disposable masks due to coronavirus-induced shortage — By Josephine Peterson and Craig Sailor, The (Tacoma) News Tribune
Are there enough hospital beds? Maps show how coronavirus cases could overwhelm Coast — By Anita Lee and Sarah Blaskey, Biloxi Sun Herald and ProPublica
Utility
NC Coronavirus Q&A: We answer your questions about grocery shopping, testing and more — By Brooke Cain, The News & Observer, and Elizabeth Thompson, Correspondent
Here are the jobs and businesses Washington state considers essential — The Olympian
Plan to violate the stay-at-home order? Here’s what Illinois State Police will do — By Mike Koziatek, Belleville News-Democrat
Sports
‘I want my son home.’ Parents of Miami football players speak out about coronavirus — By Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald
A night of 48 champions: How hope turned to heartbreak at Kansas state basketball — By Taylor Eldridge and Hayden Barber, The Wichita Eagle
