It's a great program and all, and kudos to the Mercury for giving the students some exposure to real journalists and some space on the blog, but any reason you didn't mention in the blurb that the whole program is the brainchild of former Mercury editor Phil Busse?

I could have ambrown, but I wanted the post to be about the kids' work and videos, not the guy who's running the program (which, yes! is former Mercury news editor Phil Busse, if you're wondering what he's up to these days).

Thanks, Sarah! I hadn't had any lawn signs ripped off out of my yard recently so I really was wondering what Phil Busse was up to lately.