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
Rutgers Law launches New Jersey Innocence Project to help wrongfully convicted people
Rutgers Law School in Camden has launched a statewide effort to help exonerate people who have been convicted of crimes they did not commit.
4 years ago
N.J. coronavirus update: Eviction moratorium could end sooner for some renters
A bill moving through the New Jersey Legislature could end the eviction moratorium earlier for higher-income renters.
4 years ago
N.J. reaches vaccination milestone; new Health Department building to be named for Persichilli
As N.J. reaches its vaccination milestone, the state Health Department’s new building will be named for the commissioner who guided the effort.
4 years ago
As N.J. still lags on vaccinating Black and Latino residents, Salem County tries to make inroads
Salem County health officials say transportation and language barriers are among the issues they’ve run into in getting people vaccinated, along with trust.
4 years ago
Listen 1:47
N.J. coronavirus update: Utility shutoff moratorium will end July 1
The moratorium on utility shutoffs will formally end on July 1. But that does not mean people who are behind on their bills will lose service right away.
4 years ago
Carstarphen’s 100-day Camden balancing act: Navigating COVID and improving quality of life
Interim Mayor Vic Carstarphen released his 100-day plan, which focuses on improving residents’ quality of life while navigating them through the pandemic.
4 years ago
Trenton’s police director has been fired
Sheilah Coley was praised for diversifying and modernizing the department, but was criticized for the city’s violence and telling officers to stand down during unrest.
4 years ago
N.J. data show breakthrough COVID-19 cases are very rare
COVID-19 vaccines are effective and state officials have the data to prove it. Of more than two million residents who were fully vaccinated, a small fraction got the virus.
4 years ago
Ciattarelli wins N.J. GOP primary for governor. Now it’s Murphy’s race to lose
Former N.J. Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli will now challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy in November.
4 years ago
Listen 2:05
It’s primary day in N.J. Here’s what you need to know
All 120 seats in the N.J. legislature are up for grabs and the governor is also on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls today.
4 years ago
Birds of prey protect beachgoers from seagulls in Ocean City, N.J. for fourth year
Hawks, falcons, and an owl are being used to keep seagulls away from humans on the Ocean City, N.J. boardwalk for the fourth year.
4 years ago
Many N.J. Republicans still on the fence as a crowded primary for governor draws near
In the Republican stronghold of Ocean County, many GOP voters said they are still weighing their options with Tuesday’s primary just days away.
4 years ago
Listen 3:34