Becca Costello
Local Government ReporterExpertise: Local politics, housing policy
Education: Cincinnati Christian University, Indiana University, UC Clermont
Contact: bcostello@wvxu.org
Favorite Tri-State Neighborhood: Covington (just don't tell anyone at Cincinnati City Hall).
Highlights
- Reports on all things local government with a particular focus on Cincinnati
- Experienced reporter in public radio and television across the Midwest
- Winner of awards at the local, regional and national level
- Lifelong listener of Cincinnati Public Radio
Experience
Before joining the WVXU newsroom, Becca worked in public radio and TV journalism in Bloomington, Indiana, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Becca has earned numerous awards for her reporting, including from local chapters of the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists, and contributed to regional and national Murrow Award winners. She grew up in Clermont County listening to WVXU and considers public radio journalism her "dream job." Her dog Cincy (named for the city they once again call home) is even more anxious than she is.
Education
Becca has a bachelor's degree from Cincinnati Christian University, where she studied Biblical studies and communications, and a master's degree in journalism from Indiana University. She also proudly studied at UC Clermont, of the University of Cincinnati's community colleges, for two years.
About WVXU
The central pillar of Cincinnati Public Radio’s local network — accounting for the lion’s share of its 211,000 listeners each week — 91.7 WVXU is among the most reliable media institutions in the Tri-State region. Our mission is to always be a trusted, independent source of journalism, music and culture, empowering a vibrant, engaged and informed community.
Why trust us
Our team of reporters and editors have decades of experience writing and reporting the news. Our first responsibility is to our listeners and readers. There is no connection between our funding and editorial decisions. When we do cover a funding partner, a disclosure will be mentioned on-air and online. We take pride in our work, editing and fact-checking every story. If an article warrants a correction, we will immediately correct it and explain the correction for complete transparency.
-
The Barrister project includes 44 units of income-restricted housing on East 9th street.
-
City Council must pass a final budget by the end of June.
-
Dozens of residents spoke again Wednesday ahead of the council vote. Some called the resolution "a mockery" and "paltry, insufficient, and insulting."
-
Traffic crashes in Cincinnati were at a seven-year low last year, according to police department data.
-
Mayor Aftab Pureval announced "Connected Communities" last month, offering changes focused in neighborhood business districts and along major corridors.
-
A planned $200 million renovation of the Duke Energy Convention Center needs one more vote to reach full funding.
-
For several weeks, hundreds of Cincinnatians have urged City Council to pass a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. Hundreds more have also asked Council not to support a ceasefire.
-
Cincinnati City Council took an uncommon vote Wednesday to send an ordinance back to committee for more discussion. The measure allocates $410,000 for the King Records Legacy Foundation, which is working to preserve the historic city-owned building in Evanston.
-
Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece called on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to intervene in property taxes, as counties across the state face historic increases in both property value and taxes.
-
Citywide, violent crime is down about 33% compared to the three-year average for this time of year. In the Central Business Section, the numbers are trending higher.