Hello + Welcome!

This is — dare I say it — a blog set up for students in Chris Graves's writing and reporting class

Chris Graves interviewing the late Leonard Manley, the father of victim, Dana Manley Rhoden. Credit: Bob Strickley

(JOUR200B) at the University of Nebraska Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications to follow the coverage of the George Washington Wagner, IV, mass murder trial, which is set to begin Aug. 29. I hope to follow the trial via Court TV in the first few days, until I get back to Ohio on Sept. 7.

This is primarily a blog devoted to my students and is meant to enhance their learning.

If you are new here or to the case, you can catch up: Read my most up-to-date story, published in the Washington Post on Aug. 14.

I have covered this case since the first report of the homicides on April 22, 2016. I have interviewed members of all surviving family members, officials and two of the suspected family members repeatedly, before they were indicted.

In addition to teaching in fall 2022, I will attend the trial and write newsworthy updates and breakdown the "how" I covered the case as a teaching mechanism for my students.

A few things before we get started:

• By judge's order, there are no electronic devices allowed in the courtroom to record, take photos and/or provide live updates. If there is major news, I may step out and Tweet or write a quick BREAKING post here.

• Most days, you will find a single story at the end of the day when I am in Pike County, Ohio. I anticipate offering up explainers, taking student questions and prompting their learning with questions for them. [Students: feel free to note any AP style errors as I go].

• I will not offer any opinions/commentary on the trial. This blog is set up for students to watch and learn and provide questions to help in their learning process.

• Anyone can follow along and is encouraged to do so.

Welcome to live learning from a courtroom. I am only slightly terrified.

-- Chris