12/23/2025
A letter from our editor:
If there’s one thing the past few months have reinforced for me, it’s this: accountability reporting doesn’t happen in neat, tidy bursts.
It happens in long days, late nights, stacks of documents, follow-up questions and records requests that raise more questions than they answer. It happens when stories keep unfolding instead of wrapping themselves up with a bow.
And it happens because this community makes it possible.
We’re in the middle of our year-end fundraiser – Truth Takes a Village – and I want to pause for a moment to say thank you. As of today, we’ve raised $18,500 toward our $35,000 goal. That support has already made a real difference, and I’m deeply grateful.
But we’re not there yet.
You may have noticed that this year’s goal is higher than last year’s. Last year, we set a goal of $25,000 and exceeded it. This year, our goal is to raise $35,000 – not because we want to grow for growth’s sake, but because the work has grown.
I'm going to level with you. For me to continue doing the kind of investigative reporting you’ve seen over the past few months – digging into records, following paper trails and holding institutions accountable – we need more capacity. That means bringing on a part-time reporter who can help cover day-to-day news, so this outlet doesn’t grind to a halt when long-term investigations demand time and focus.
It also means building something new.
In the coming year, we want to begin training community members to help cover public meetings – a program we’re calling The Watchdogs. These are citizens who care about transparency and want to help keep an eye on local government agencies. Launching and administering that program will take time and coordination, and I can’t do it alone.
The Murray Sentinel exists to do exactly the kind of work you’ve seen in recent months – sustained, independent reporting that asks hard questions, follows paper trails and keeps local institutions accountable, even when it’s uncomfortable or time-consuming. That kind of reporting requires time, persistence and resources, and it only works when it’s backed by readers who believe local news is a public service worth investing in.
From day one, I said this may have been my idea, but The Sentinel belongs to the community. It always has. And every step forward we’ve taken – growing our readership, expanding coverage and strengthening our infrastructure – has happened because people like you chose to support it.
As we head into the final stretch of the year, I’m asking you to consider making a gift to help us close the gap. Whether it’s your first contribution or another show of support, your donation directly fuels the reporting – and the people – who keep Murray and Calloway County informed.
And right now, thanks to , Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home and Cremation Services, CFSBank and The Murray Bank all donations are being matched dollar-for-dollar (up to $1,000), doubling the impact of your gift and helping us reach our goal even faster.
Truth doesn’t defend itself. It takes time. It takes work. And it takes a village.
Thank you for being part of ours.
-Jessica❤️
Local news, powered by neighbors like you. At The Sentinel, we believe a strong community depends on access to trustworthy local reporting – and that takes all of us! When you give to our Truth Takes a Village campaign, you’re helping keep indepen...
