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During August-December of 2011, as part of a Convergence Reporting class, I worked in three professional newsrooms affiliated with the MU School of Journalism. On alternate weeks I would work at one of these newsrooms- pitching, researching, writing, producing, shooting and voicing stories- and then the following week I would complete a full feature package story with a partner to pitch at KOMU, KBIA-FM, or The Columbia Missourian.

Below are stories I scripted, voiced and produced during this period for KBIA-FM, an NPR affiliate serving mid-Missouri. ​​


​In mid-November, the Missouri Land Reclamation Commission denied Belle, Missouri residents a formal hearing in regards to a limestone quarry being built in their town. KBIA’s Sydney Miller tells how one resident wants to highlight the difficulties rural communities face when fighting Commission decisions.



"Digging Up Controversy" 
Aired Dec. 21, 2011 on KBIA Business Beat
View at KBIA.org
​



Barrett Materials' quarry in New Haven, Mo (seen here) is the only one the company owns currently. The company's proposed quarry in Belle, Mo. has prompted local residents to appeal to the Missouri Land Reclamation Commission
Sydney Miller/KBIA​




"Osage County Residents Object to Quarry Permit, Citing Health Concerns"
Aired Nov. 18, 2011 on KBIA Business Beat

View at KBIA.org​​



The rural community of Belle in Osage County may soon have a new quarry—whether residents like it or not. KBIA’s Sydney Miller was at a meeting in Jefferson City regarding the quarry, and files this report.

By Sydney Miller (Columbia, Mo.)

At a Missouri Land Reclamation Commission meeting Thursday, Barrett Material Inc. was granted a permit to mine a 178 acre plot in Belle. Barrett Materials has a quarry in New Haven, Missouri, and wants to expand. The commission also denied the Belle residents’ request for a formal hearing on the matter.      
 




Most of the residents that spoke at the meeting objected to the permit because they say the dust from mining will create a myriad of health problems. Many say their doctors advised them to move if the quarry was built.

Mary Rath is on several prescriptions for her heart and blood pressure problems. She is a Belle resident and a business owner, but says she will close her business and leave Belle if the quarry is built. “The dust particles, the size of the limestone dust particles are very small, so again, gusts of that are threatening to anyone with breathing problems. ”

Barrett Materials owner James Barrett introduced himself to the residents at the meeting, saying he hoped they would be good neighbors. He pointed to a record free of violations at his quarry in New Haven.

This was the first meeting between the residents, Barrett and the commission. Rath says the residents plan to take the issue to the US Army Corps of Engineers for recourse.


Newscast for November 1, 2011:
A potential 60 to 80 cent  property tax increase to benefit
Columbia Public Schools may appear on next April's ballot. ​

​Aired Nov. 1, 2011
View on KBIA.org​​







During the Summer 2012, I worked as a news intern for St. Louis Public Radio. Below are web posts and Cut/Copies from my time at KWMU.


Below are my stories produced for the KBIA website and also for Cut/Copies to air for Fall 2012. 












Two outlet malls are racing to build in what some say is one of the most valuable retail areas in America -- the Chesterfield Valley. If both are built, the companies would compete with each other, the Chesterfield Commons strip mall and the nearby Chesterfield Mall, risking financial failure.

Sydney Miller examines what it is about the Chesterfield region that makes it so attractive. Read more. 



Chesterfield of Dreams? Exploring a City's Capacity for Retail
By Sydney Miller
Published August 22, 2012