Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, and his Democratic challenger, Lucas Kunce, faceoff on Aug. 15, 2024, at the Governor's Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. The photo was awarded second place for "best news photograph" by the Missouri Press Association (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).

The Missouri Independent’s staff won 28 awards Saturday — including 10 first place honors — in the annual Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

The awards were handed out at the association’s annual convention, which this year was held in Wildwood.

The Independent swept the “investigative reporting” category, with first place going to Allison Kite for her coverage of Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ use of a nonprofit to pay for Chiefs tickets, hotel stays, f

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