Lawrence Journal-World staff writer Ron Knox has won an investigative reporting award from the Inland Press Assn.

Knox’s story about a Texas company collecting thousands of dollars in middleman fees for homeland security contracts in Kansas won third place in the nationwide competition sponsored by the University of Kentucky.

The Journal-World’s sister newspapers, the Steamboat (Colo.) Pilot & Today and the Payson (Ariz.) Roundup, also were honored this week. The Pilot & Today and the Roundup, both owned by WorldWest Limited Liability Company, finished first and second, respectively, in the explanatory reporting category.

The awards will be presented Monday in Chicago.