Travis Breese
Investigative MMJ
Hello! I am a passionate, creative, detailed investigative reporter who prides himself on his news judgement. I have worked in broadcast news for almost 10 years and am looking for my next opportunity. I want to work in a competitive newsroom that's also embracing solutions to the changing media landscape. I'm excited to connect with you!
Investigative Reporting Reel
About Travis
I am originally from Southern California, but decided to leave home and move to the middle of the country in 2015 to pursue a career in journalism at the University of Missouri. My time at Mizzou gave me a foundation of journalistic principles I still rely on every day.
In each of the three newsrooms I have worked in (KOMU, KWWL, WHAS) I have been a “Swiss Army knife”, filling multiple rolls. Primarily being a news MMJ, while also doing sports coverage and fill-in news anchoring.
In my first full-time job in Eastern Iowa, I learned how to make tight deadlines, consistently find story ideas, and work as a solo MMJ. For the last four years in Louisville, I have honed my investigative skills. This includes reporting on bigger topics with bigger risks, convincing delicate sources to go on the record, and establishing myself as an “expert” on several beats.
UPS flight 2976
UPS flight 2976 was an MD-11 cargo jet with 3 crew members on board that crashed on 11/4/25, killing 15 people south of the Louisville airport. My job in the newsroom was to investigate why this plane crashed. By interviewing industry experts and using open records from the FAA and FlightAware, we got many answers in the first two weeks. I also compared the crash to another incident from 1979.
UPS MD-11 that crashed was recently on the ground for six weeks, likely for maintenance
NTSB releases preliminary report into UPS cargo jet crash
Link between 1979 American Airlines crash and 11/4 UPS crash
Jamey Noel investigation
Jamey Noel was the sheriff of Clark County, IN from 2015 - 2022, and also a fire captain for 20 years. It came out in early 2024 that he was stealing from his fire department for at least five years to the tune of over $3.5 million. In 2024, this story became my sole priority and I gained a lot of clout in Southern Indiana by covering it. I became WHAS11’s Indiana expert from this point on.
Judge sends former sheriff back to jail for “60 Days In” after contempt of court hearing
New head of New Chapel EMS says Jamey Noel lied to organization for years
FOCUS finds lack of oversight for years in Jamey Noel’s largest government contract
Jamey Noel pleads guilty to 27 felonies, gets a 12-year prison sentence
Jamey Noel case | Why a former Indiana sheriff and his family face numerous felonies
Noel’s car collection nets $1.2 mil. for his restitution
Curbing gun violence
Like many large cities, Louisville experienced an increase in shootings during the pandemic and the numbers have stayed high. Our city leaders say they’re committed to solving the issue on multiple fronts, and its up to investigative journalists to explain their plans to viewers and evaluate their effectiveness. One effort has been “Group Violence Intervention”, or GVI, which is a strategy that involves speaking directly to young gang members and offering them another way in life.
Critics say Group Violence Intervention moving too slowly, lacks resources
GVI turns attention to juveniles, increases attendance
Indiana “GLOCK switch” law closes gap between state and federal courts
Day-turn stories
While my main job at WHAS11 is to do long-form investigations, I often help with breaking news and cover dayside shifts for my colleagues. In the fall of 2023, our largest school district rolled out new bus routes, and parents warned us they would not work. I was the lead reporter on this story and turned multiple PKGs every week for a month. With roughly four years’ experience as a daily MMJ, I can easily adjust my schedule.
JCPS school buses miss stops, make kids late on first day of school
Drivers frustrated with immediate, full closure of Sherman Minton bridge
Parents of Louisville bank shooter who killed five ask medical examiner for brain evaluation
Airport noise
With the UPS WorldPort, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is a top five cargo airport in the world. The airport authority has bought-out land and offered free sound insulation to people in certain areas to try and mitigate noise. I found the program to install the free insulation moves at a snail’s pace, and people must sign a restrictive contract that lasts forever to get it.
Residents near Louisville airport wait years for sound insulation
“The cost of silence”, what landowners give up to get free sound insulation
Social Media
Contact Travis
travis.breese1@gmail.com
310-490-4444
Investigative News Reporter
7 years of experience reporting
University of Missouri, Columbia, 2015 ‒ 2019