Leah Wankum 

ASTEMED_Majdi-Hamarshi

Gaza crisis

This undated photo shows a girl cutting a cake with her father at ASTEMED, a facility for cochlear implants and hearing loss in Gaza. Imad Sleem (right) was a former coordinator for the Palestinian American Medical Association. Sleem and his family were killed in an air strike. Photo courtesy Majdi Hamarshi.

Hi there! I'm Leah Wankum, and I'm the Post's Deputy Editor.

I'm thrilled to call Johnson County home, and I'm deeply committed to the Post's philosophy that an informed community is a strong community.

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A bit about me and my background:

I'm a native of mid-Missouri, and attended high school in Jefferson City before going on to the University of Central Missouri, where I earned a master's degree in mass communication.

Prior to joining the Post as a reporter in 2018, I was the editor of the Richmond News in Ray County, Missouri. I've also written for several publications, including the Sedalia Democrat and KC Magazine.