Meet the team of reporters who make up the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab, a local news initiative started in June 2021, is a team of five reporters who contribute important news stories on topics that historically have been under-represented in our coverage.

The lab began with funding by about $350,000 in grants from three of Fort Worth’s most prominent philanthropic organizations, The Morris Foundation, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. In 2022, the R4 Foundation joined our partnership.

The foundations help us fill reporting gaps that have developed due to the disruptive forces faced by newspaper organizations across the country. The goal of the lab is to generate awareness, engagement and discussion around some of our community’s most pressing concerns. The lab’s reporters are editorially independent from the funding organizations.

Steve Coffman, president and editor of the Star-Telegram, explained that the Crossroads Lab name sprang from the concept that as Fort Worth and Tarrant County navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, they face not a singular fork in the road, but a series of crossroads, where important decisions are to be made.

“The Star-Telegram wants to be a strong voice as our community tackles those challenges and opportunities,” Coffman said. “That voice will be even stronger thanks to the visionary leadership of the foundations we have partnered with and their commitment to making our community better for all people.”

The Crossroads team members are:

• Silas Allen, who covers issues facing schools in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. His work is thanks to a grant from the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. He has covered education and other topics at newspapers in Stillwater and Oklahoma City, Okla. He also worked as the news editor at the Dallas Observer, where he wrote about K-12 and higher education.

• Ciara McCarthy, who covers health and wellness issues. McCarthy came to the Star-Telegram after working three years at the the Victoria Advocate, where she covered public health and health care as a Report for America corps member.

• Kate Marijolovic, who covers business, economic development and efforts to bring jobs and tax-paying industry to Tarrant County. She joined the Star-Telegram in May 2024. Her position is funded by the R4 Foundation.

• Lina Ruiz, who covers issues around early childhood development and education in Fort Worth. She came to the Star-Telegram in July 2023 from the Treasure Coast in Florida, where she covered local government and education. Ruiz is a graduate of the University of Florida.

• Kamal Morgan, who covers racial equity issues. Morgan joined the Star-Telegram in July 2023 from the Pensacola News Journal in Florida, where he reported on how race, gender and marginalized communities intersect with topics such as politics, criminal justice, government policies, the environment and entertainment.

The Star-Telegram’s philanthropic funding partnerships are made in cooperation with 501(c)3 funds with missions of advancing local journalism, including funds at the North Texas Community Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners, a national organization.

Those interested in exploring a partnership to expand the mission of the Crossroads Lab may contact Coffman at scoffman@star-telegram.com.

This story was originally published August 27, 2021 at 5:45 AM.