
Kenneth Burns is WHYY’s New Jersey reporter. He joined the station in 2018 as an anchor. He also contributed stories and won a 2020 Keystone Media Award for one of them.
Prior to WHYY, he covered city government and urban issues for WYPR in Baltimore, his first stop in public media. His coverage of the Freddie Gray police trials won a 2017 National Headliner Award. Burns began his career shortly after high school as an intern and later news assistant at WTOP in Washington, D.C. He would go on to work for several commercial broadcasting outlets as a reporter, anchor, and producer in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.
The native Marylander and recently adopted New Jerseyan is a graduate of Towson University and Anne Arundel Community College.
More from the Contributor
New Jersey parents seek a virtual option for school this year despite gov’s ‘unequivocal’ decision
Despite Gov. Phil Murphy’s ‘unequivocal’ decision that school be in-person with no virtual option, a group of N.J. parents are asking him to change his mind.
4 years ago
Listen 1:13Haitians in N.J. and Del. hope for the best as post-earthquake recovery efforts continue
Haitians in New Jersey and Delaware hope to help family and friends back home as the recovery continues.
4 years ago
N.J. gun buybacks yield more than 900 weapons, mostly handguns
Calling it “incredibly successful,” N.J. Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck announced that another gun buyback event will take place in October.
4 years ago
Four N.J. cities to pilot new reentry program for juvenile offenders
Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver signed into law a bill that would pilot service hubs in four cities to help young offenders reintegrate into their communities.
4 years ago
N.J. coronavirus update: Some parents vow to fight school mask mandate
A lawyer representing a group of N.J. parents suing over school masking policies is vowing to fight Gov. Phil Murphy’s latest executive order to require them this fall.
4 years ago
N.J. hosting four gun buybacks this weekend across the state
While there is limited evidence they help prevent shootings, N.J.’s acting attorney general says the buyback events are part of a broader strategy to address gun violence.
4 years ago
New Jersey to require masking for students and staff this fall
N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy announced that students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to mask up when schools reopen in September.
4 years ago
‘Jack and Diane’ take on N.J. Gov. Murphy over state services, treatment of women
The longtime state senator from Burlington County and former Philly TV news anchor is being praised as a smart pick for Ciattarelli in the race to unseat Gov. Murphy.
4 years ago
‘Always go for gold’: Trenton celebrates hometown Olympic hero
Athing Mu had a cheering section in her hometown of Trenton, N.J., as she raced for the gold in the women's 800-meter race.
4 years ago
Listen 1:11N.J. requires vaccine and testing for workers in health care facilities and congregate settings
New Jersey officials are requiring vaccinations for those who work in health care and congregate settings by Sept. 7 or be tested for COVID at least once a week.
4 years ago
Businesses and residents reeling in aftermath of tornadoes, floods
There were a dozen or so injuries reported around the Bensalem area after the tornadoes. Hopewell Township in Mercer County was also among the hardest hit in N.J.
4 years ago
Camden City School District offers Pfizer shots to students
The district joins others in the region in getting vaccine doses to eligible students ahead of schools reopening for in-person learning.
4 years ago