Ella McCarthy is the City Hall/City Government Reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. An award-winning reporter and graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, McCarthy has spent the last two years covering local, state and national politics. Before joining the American-Statesman, she had a fellowship with ABC News in Washington, D.C., where she covered national politics. A native Missourian, McCarthy’s work has appeared in several papers across the state including the Kansas City Star, the Jefferson City News Tribune and the Columbia Missourian. Her work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, the Missouri Press Association and LION Publishers in the LION local journalism awards.