Ben Wheeler is a Law Enforcement Watchdog Reporter. He predominately focuses on law enforcement accountability reporting for McClatchy. He graduated with a BA in Communications from Tennessee Technological University, and a Masters in Journalism from the University of Memphis. He joined McClatchy in 2025. He has ten years of experience in journalism.
He has worked for the last decade in various markets doing a variety of roles. He started out as a general assignment reporter in South Dakota at the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan, then his hometown paper the Herald-Citizen in Cookeville, TN. He then worked as an investigative reporter at The Daily Memphian in Memphis, before working as a digital director at ABC24 in Memphis, Tennessee. Outside of work, him and his wife have two cats and are enjoying checking out the new city.
LATEST FROM BEN WHEELER
Local
Updated October 28, 2026 at 4:55 PM

Local
Ex-emergency medical director says KC excluded her from rally shooting decisions: lawsuit
Updated October 8, 2026 at 2:44 PM

Government & Politics
Ex-Independence police chief has received more than $192,000 in severance, records show
September 27, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Local
Former Independence deputy chief sues city over alleged forced retirement and bias
September 24, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Government & Politics
Political rival had called for investigation into Platte County prosecutor amid dispute
September 22, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Government & Politics
‘End the rumors’: Platte County prosecutor’s family calls for investigation details
Updated September 21, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Local
High-profile cases marked career of Eric Zahnd, who died while under investigation
September 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Local
Platte County prosecutor was under investigation when he died, highway patrol says
Updated September 21, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Local
Evacuation order lifted in Kansas City, Kansas, after contractor ruptures gas main
Updated September 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM

Government & Politics
Lawsuit alleges Hoskins fired Missouri election official over whistleblower report
Updated September 14, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Government & Politics
U.S. Supreme Court again blocks Republican-backed Missouri congressional map
Updated September 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Local
Independence can keep its agreement on payments to former chief secret, judge rules
Updated September 10, 2026 at 11:17 AM