WHITE SULFUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — WTVR CBS 6 News was named Virginias Outstanding News Operation at the 2021 Associated Press Broadcasters Awards on Saturday at the awards banquet and annual members meeting at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia.

Thirty-seven Virginia and West Virginia news agencies submitted 587 entries for the competition, which featured 2021 news and sports reporting.

In addition to being named Outstanding News Operation, WTVR CBS 6 was honored with first or second place in 11 other categories:

Best one-off news:
First, Jon Burkett, Sarah Danial and Ian Ramprashad, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Bullets Fly on Belt Atlantic: Community Mourns”
Second, Kelsey Souto, WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV, “Flood Damage”

Exceptional Sports Operation of the Virginias:
First, Lane Casadonte and Sean Robertson, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA
Second, John Appicello, Eric Johnson and Brooke Leonard, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA

Better lighting functionality:
First, Tom Schaad and Jack Noonan, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, “Hampton’s Little England Chapel”
Second, Brad Wilson and Greg McQuade, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Tommie’s Trash Crusade: If I Don’t, I’ll Be in a Wheelchair”

Best News Photography:
First, Malcolm Key, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “God’s Gonna Give Me Something Better”
Second, Janelle Pierangelino, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “We Could See the Smoke”

Best Feature Cinematography:
First, Curtis Akers and Greg McQuade, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Tomb of the Unknown Turns 100: The Mission Is Going to Embrace You for Life”
Second, Jack Noonan, Kevin Romm and Jason Marks, WAVY-TV, Hampton Roads, VA, “The Show Must Go On”

Best Website:
First, Scott Wise, Nick Dutton, Taylor O’Bier and Caroline Kealy, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA
Second, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA

Best news promotion:
First, David Stotts and Rob Byrne, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Cumberland Hospital 911”
Second, Brandy Brown, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “9/11 Heroes 20 Years Later”

Promotion of the best station:
First, David Stotts, Brandy Brown and Victoria Bostic, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Looking Back and Moving Forward”
Second, Terrell Thompson, Mason Adams and Rob Edmonds, WWBT-TV, Richmond, VA, “Get Your Forecast”

Best weather:
First, Zach Daniel, Mike Stone and Curtis Akers, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “February Ice Storm”
Second, Spencer Adkins, Bryan Hughes and Joe Fitzwater, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV, “Ice Storm”

Best Team News Coverage:
First up, Tiaira Shoultz, WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA, “Virginia Beach Oceanfront Shooting”
Second, Brendan King and Ian Ramprashad, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Robert E. Lee Statue Taken Down”

Best Old Dominion Legacy:
First, Greg McQuade and Brad Wilson, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA, “Finding Her Roots at Hickory Hill”
Second, WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA, “Honoring Black History”

Virginias Exceptional Information Operation:
First, Stephen Hayes, Sheryl Barnhouse and David Stotts, WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA
Second, WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV.

Dave Dierks, meteorologist at WCYB-TV, received the Robert Gallimore Distinguished Service Award from The Associated Press. The Iowa native has worked at the Bristol, Virginia station for 35 years.

The West Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Brenda Danehart, news director for WRTF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia. She started at the Nexstar station in 1981, first as a reporter and presenter before taking on the position of news director, a position she has held for 20 years.

The VAPB also awarded two $2,000 scholarships to students majoring in media and broadcast journalism: Jhanvee Patel from West Virginia University and Shelby Walker from James Madison University.

The VAPB is an independent association made up of local members of the Associated Press, a nonprofit press cooperative that represents thousands of newspapers and broadcast stations across the United States.