Former Louisville Cardinal editor Kyeland Jackson credited on Star Tribune's Pulitzer-winning work

The Louisville Cardinal reported on May 15 that former editor-in-chief Kyeland Jackson was part of the Minnesota Star Tribune staff recognized with a 2026 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting. The student news outlet said Jackson, a University of Louisville alumnus and former editor-in-chief, was credited on the Star Tribune’s Pulitzer-winning work. The Pulitzer Board listed the award on May 4 to the staff of the Minnesota Star Tribune for coverage of the Aug. 27, 2025 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. The board said the coverage was marked by “thoroughness and compassion.” ### How was Jackson tied to the Pulitzer-winning coverage? The Louisville Cardinal said Kyeland Jackson was included in the Star Tribune team that won the Pulitzer and published its report a day after speaking with him on May 13. The paper described him as a former editor-in-chief who led the Cardinal for three semesters after taking the role in summer 2016 and graduating in December 2017. (louisvillecardinal.com) Kyeland Jackson’s current Star Tribune author page identifies him as a general assignment reporter and says he was previously editor-in-chief of The Louisville Cardinal. The bio says Jackson was raised in Rineyville, Kentucky, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from the University of Louisville. ### What exactly did the Star Tribune win for? The Pulitzer Prizes website says the 2026 Breaking News Reporting award went to the staff of the Minnesota Star Tribune. (louisvillecardinal.com) The citation says the prize recognized coverage of “a shooting at a back-to-school Mass at a Catholic school that left two children dead and 28 wounded.” The Star Tribune said on May 4 that it won the prize for coverage of the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. (startribune.com) MPR News, citing the Pulitzer announcement, also reported that the paper’s reporting on the attack won the breaking news award. ### What happened in Minneapolis on Aug. 27, 2025? MPR News reported that gunfire broke out on Aug. 27, 2025 during morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. (pulitzer.org) MPR’s later coverage said two children — Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10 — were killed, and 28 other people were injured. The Star Tribune’s early reporting on the shooting said the attack happened as students attended the first school Mass of the year. (startribune.com) The paper identified the suspected shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, according to police. ### What does the Louisville Cardinal’s report say about Jackson’s path? The Louisville Cardinal said Jackson began writing for the paper in October 2015 after encouragement from faculty adviser Ralph Merkel. (mprnews.org) Merkel told the paper that Jackson “was passionate about learning journalism and perfecting his reporting and writing.” In June 2020, the Cardinal said, Jackson moved to Twin Cities PBS as a data reporter before later joining the Star Tribune. (startribune.com) A 2022 media industry report also said he left a Report for America role at Twin Cities PBS to join the Minneapolis paper as a policing reporter. ### Where can readers verify the credit and the award? The Pulitzer Prizes website lists the Minnesota Star Tribune staff among the 2026 winners, and the Star Tribune published its own May 4 announcement of the award. (louisvillecardinal.com) Jackson’s author page remains live on the Star Tribune website, and the Louisville Cardinal’s May 15 story names him as one of the credited staff members tied to the winning work. May 15 is the date on the Louisville Cardinal report linking Jackson to the Pulitzer-winning staff, while May 4 is the date of the Pulitzer announcement and the Star Tribune’s notice of the award. (louisvillecardinal.com) Readers looking for the next primary source can find the official citation on the Pulitzer website and Jackson’s current newsroom bio on the Star Tribune site. (pulitzer.org)