Estefanía Pinto Ruiz covers environmental policies and regulations impacting the Mississippi River basin and explores potential solutions to ensure its sustainability. Before joining KWQC-TV 6 in Davenport, Iowa, Estefania interned as a culture reporter in Colombia’s most widely read newspaper, EL TIEMPO. She holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Florida and worked as an editor at WUFT News, focusing on their Spanish content. She also mentored students in reporting Latin American news in Spanish. Estefania is a proud Colombian, so she is always looking for Colombian food and hosting a listening club for her favorite podcast, Radio Ambulante, to speak her native language to stay connected to her roots.
Beat: Mississippi River Basin focused on Iowa and Illinois
The Mississippi River Basin is a defining feature of the Quad Cities, which encompasses rural and urban communities on both sides of the River in Iowa and Illinois. The river is a crucial resource for multiple businesses and industries and is vital to improving community health and wellness. Flooding continues to be a significant challenge for communities, with much disagreement about the best ways to protect riverfront districts, homes and businesses. This environmental reporter investigates policies and regulations impacting the river basin, and explores potential solutions to ensure its sustainability. The reporter works in multiple platforms including broadcast, digital and social media.