Kathy’s Past Work

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to report on a variety of topics for a variety of publications of size and type. Below, I have sorted some of my clips into categories and linked them below with a brief summary of the article. Each article has its own backstory that I would be happy to share as to how it came about and the lessons it taught me as a reporter, interviewer and writer.

Investigative/Data Reporting

The Other Side of the New Jim Crow: Students With Incarcerated Parents

College students with incarcerated parents are an often-ignored segment of the college population and they face trials unique to their circumstances. This feature story investigated some of the things those students deal with.

Anderson County restaurants have paid $40K in penalties for food safety violations in 2018

Using public records data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, I put together and analyzed a list of the food safety penalties assessed against Anderson County restaurants in 2018.

Numbers of homeless students growing in Anderson and across South Carolina

This article looked at a rarely talked about segment of the public school population: homeless students. I defined homelessness according to the McKinney-Vento Act, spoke with a college student who spent her last two years of high school as a homeless student and compiled the numbers of homeless students across all five of Anderson County’s school districts.

News

Anderson County had 33 dairy farms 20 years ago. Now there’s only 1 left.

In recent decades, the dairy industry has gotten smaller and local farms have had to close. In Anderson County in particular, there’s now only one left.

Anderson’s ‘forgotten area’: Homeland Park median household income sinks to state’s second-lowest

One of Anderson County’s census-designated areas has one of the state’s lowest median household incomes. This article explored some of the reasons why from the viewpoint of the county councilwoman, a local activist and a local business owner.

Anderson wages fall short of the recommended living wage as SC lawmakers try to close gap

As wages went up in 20 states at the beginning of 2019, South Carolina’s wages did not increase and have not since the federal minimum wage increased. Some state legislators are attempting to pass legislation that would put more money in the pockets of South Carolina residents.

Millennials take action through National Moment of Silence 2014

National Moment of Silence 2014 was a rally in various cities nationwide against police brutality.

Young journalists can benefit from diversity in the classroom and newsroom

After the firing of NYT executive editor Jill Abramson, students have wondered what role gender played in dismissal, as well as how gender, race and ethnicity plays a role in the newsroom and classroom dynamics.

Business Reporting

Anderson native opens bridal shop to fulfill dream she shared with her late mother

Allie Walker, an Anderson native, came back to Anderson to open the bridal shower she and her mom planned to open before her mother died unexpectedly.

Anderson County native opens boutique dog supply store in downtown Anderson

Amid a revitalization of Downtown Anderson, a county native with big-city experience returned to open the city’s first boutique dog supply store.

Anderson’s Sargent Metal surprised 2 employees with new cars for their 40-year anniversaries

An Anderson business that has been operating for 40 years surprised two of its employees who have worked at the company for 40 years with brand-new cars.

Anderson Mall’s new manager is bullish on the future of malls, plans new additions

The Anderson Mall hired a new general manager for the property who has big ideas on how to make the mall a more central part of life in Anderson, South Carolina, even as many brick and mortar businesses are closing.

Anderson resident wins Feeding Innovation grant to start produce market in South Anderson

A lifelong Anderson resident won a $12,000 grant to start a produce market that resembled the one she used to shop at in the South Anderson food desert.

Features

A Clemson Hall of Fame track star finds his voice as popular Greenville DJ Tone Hollywood

Popular local radio personality Tone Hollywood allowed me to follow him for a day while he did community service at a local middle school and broadcasted his daily radio show.

Anderson resident and top Clemson pastry chef followed her dreams to get on Food Network

Clemson University’s top pastry chef made it to Food Network’s Halloween Baking Show. She talks about her experience on the show and the things she has planned for her future as a chef.

The song of Ron Shorr

A profile of researcher and director of the local VA who incorporates music in his practices.

Austin Channing Brown Talks About Being a Black Woman in Predominantly White Spaces

A Q&A with author, activist and educator Austin Channing Brown ahead of the release of her debut memoir, I’m Still Here.