Following early conversations with Lee Enterprises journalists about a collaborative investigation into the U.S. Midwest ethanol industry, AP reporter Josh Kelety uncovered a major development: the company behind a massive proposed carbon pipeline had been suing local farmers in South Dakota to gain access to their land—or seize it via eminent domain—for a nearly $9 billion project.
Kelety set out to track the extent of the litigation, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive, all-formats story that examined both the legal strategy of the pipeline company and the wave of local resistance it provoked.
Kelety worked closely with Lee reporter Eric Ferkenhoff, who teamed up with freelance photographer Nicole Neri to report from rural South Dakota and capture powerful visuals and voices from the community. AP administrative correspondent Scott McFetridge in Des Moines added essential regional context.
Phil Holm used the lawsuit data collected and analyzed by Kelety to build an interactive graphic. Noreen Nasir collaborated with Kelety to produce an explainer video, and Dario Lopez created a digital presentation that helped bring the story to life across platforms.
The project stood out as another example of AP’s commitment to supporting state and local news. Lee Enterprises praised the collaboration as a sweeping and well-executed investigation that resonated with readers and quickly became the top-performing story on its sites.
Related articles
