The Daily News garnered 2025 General Excellence awards of second place for advertising and third for news at the Kentucky Press Association’s annual convention Friday in Louisville.

“I am so very proud of the hard work the Daily News staff puts in every day covering our incredible community,” Regional Publisher Joe Imel said. “It is good to be recognized by your peers in the industry for award-winning work.”

The Daily News competed against other dailies in a contest judged by South Carolina Press Association members.

David Mamaril Horowitz collected first in best breaking news coverage for “Ernesto finally released,” one of the Daily News’ highly read stories stories documenting when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Bowling Green teenager Ernesto Manuel-Andres despite authorization to stay in the U.S.

Horowitz also claimed first in the division’s enterprise or analytical story competition with “Schools blindsided by federal funding freeze.” The article documents when the Trump administration suddenly suspended funds that Congress and the president had approved and school districts had already budgeted, before eventually announcing it would restore the funds. Horowitz also collected a third-place best general news story award.

Justin Story claimed second for the best investigative story or series for “Nightmare situation’: New details revealed in Davis shooting.” Story details when Bowling Green Police Department Officer Matt Davis was shot multiple times in 2023 and a civilian ride-along saved his life — filing an open records request and distilling hundreds of pages of documentation, alongside hours of incident footage and interviews.

Grace McDowell took home first for the best sports picture in “Purples finish strong to claim region crown.” McDowell captured heightened emotion among players as the Bowling Green boys basketball team won the Region 4 title. McDowell also placed second for the best picture essay.

The staff garnered first in the best special section/best sports special section for their historical edition, “Then & Now.” Three extensive features, alongside numerous decades- to century-old photographs, detail the histories of Western Kentucky University, Simpson County’s Linkumpinch dueling ground, and the prominent cave explorer Floyd Collins, who died after being pinned by a boulder in Sand Cave 100 years prior.

The Daily News also won first for best website.

Leading newsroom operations was managing editor Wes Swietek, who additionally placed third for best ledes and best editorial page.

In advertising awards, Sales Manager Sara Jones placed second in advertising for real estate and clothing store as well as third for automotive ads.

She also garnered certificates of merit for advertising of hardware/appliance stores, food and alcohol, best cover, sporting goods/athletics, and special events.

Brandy Bemiss placed second for financial advertising and the best use of color. Bemiss also collected a certificate of merit for agriculture/lawn and garden advertising.

Mark Mahagan won first for entertainment/dining advertising.