Chris Hippensteel

Chris Hippensteel

Chris Hippensteel is an award-winning journalist and reporter on the National desk of The New York Times, as part of the paper's annual fellowship program.

Before joining the Times, he was an investigative reporter for the Times Union of Albany, where he wrote about human smuggling networks across the New York-Canada border, the toll of fatal police vehicle pursuits, and accusations of abuse against a local pastor, an Olympic chiropractor and a former state trooper, among other subjects.

He's also covered politics for the Tampa Bay Times, breaking news for CNN and The Daily Beast and enterprise reporting for an investigative nonprofit newsroom in Pittsburgh. His freelance stories have appeared in outlets including VICE, Yahoo! News and the USA Today network.

In 2023, he graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University, where he led the news section of the student newspaper, The Daily Orange.

You can contact him at chrishipp15@gmail.com.

Selected Works

In a Deep Red Town, Locals Vent Over a Planned ICE Detention CenterThe Tremont, Pa., area has roughly 2,000 residents and limited resources. The Trump administration plans to convert a warehouse there to hold nearly four times as many people.

The New York Times, April 2026

Trump Is Expanding the National Guard’s Role. Some Former Generals Worry.Responding to crises at home is part of the Guard’s mission. Helping crack down on crime in U.S. cities isn’t, say some former leaders, who fear this shift could hurt the force.

The New York Times, October 2025

As border crossings spike, human smugglers thrive in northern N.Y.Migrants, mostly from Mexico, are increasingly entering the U.S. across New York’s border with Canada. Authorities suspect smugglers and organized crime are driving the shift.

Albany Times Union, October 2023

Food Banks Brace for Overwhelming Demand as SNAP Cutoff LoomsGrowing need and decreased resources are squeezing the charitable food system beyond its capacity, leaders say.

The New York Times, October 2025

Mangled cars, broken lives: The human toll of New York’s fatal pursuitsAs police chase more fleeing vehicles, a growing number of people are dying in the resulting crashes.

Albany Times Union, June 2024

How and Where the National Guard Has Deployed to U.S. CitiesSee where the troops called upon by President Trump are working, what they are doing, and under whose authority.

The New York Times, October 2025

‘Twelve Dollars for Two Gallons’: E.V.s Lure Drivers as Gas Prices RiseFrom the gas pump to the auto show, drivers are talking about electric vehicles.

The New York Times, April 2026

Couple Says ICE Agents Gassed Them as They Drove With 6 ChildrenShawn and Destiny Jackson said they were trying to escape a clash between ICE and protesters when agents used tear gas near their car. Their children gasped for air.

The New York Times, January 2026

Parts of Minneapolis Carry On, but Talk of Killings Is Everywhere“I’m a 48-year-old white guy, and I don’t feel really safe,” one resident said about the continuing federal law enforcement tactics in the city.

The New York Times, January 2026

An Immigrant Nurse Is Among the Dead From Blasts at a Troubled Nursing HomeMuthoni Nduthu was one of two killed by explosions at an eastern Pennsylvania facility that was plagued by poor ratings, citations and fines from the federal government.

The New York Times, December 2025

The Professors Who Stayed Close With EpsteinEven as the disgraced financier’s crimes were revealed, newly released emails show how academics at top universities stuck by Jeffrey Epstein, often seeking his help and offering it in return.

The New York Times, November 2025

Should You Need to Prove Citizenship to Vote? Ask Kansas.A Kansas law required a passport, a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship to register, but it was struck down after a court found that around 31,000 eligible voters had been blocked.

The New York Times, March 2026

Pastor dissuaded women from ending what they said were abusive marriagesSeveral women said Rev. Thomas Trouwborst, pastor at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, dissuaded them from leaving marriages they said were abusive.

Albany Times Union, July 2024

An Albany neighborhood at the heart of New York's lead poisoning epidemicThe 12206 ZIP code, which encompasses West Hill, Beverwyck and Upper Washington Avenue, has one of the state's highest concentrations of childhood lead poisoning.

Albany Times Union, April 2025

For another year, border crossings overwhelm New York's rural northEven as crossings on the southern border have plunged, the number of migrants entering from Canada has remained at record highs.

Albany Times Union, September 2024

Chiropractor sued by Olympic bobsledder faced similar accusation in 2021Story detailing a previous accusation of sexual assault against Jonathan Wilhelm, who was...

Albany Times Union, October 2023

In the North Country, human smuggling becomes a backdrop to everyday lifeResidents who live along the U.S.-Canada land border say the increase in migrant traffic has been unprecedented.

Albany Times Union, November 2023

Human smugglers use social media to solicit northern border crossingsHuman smugglers on the U.S.-Canada border are using apps like Facebook and TikTok to...

Albany Times Union, February 2024

State Police concealed child sex abuse by trooper who molested more victimsState Police and Saratoga County prosecutors are accused of covering up a former trooper's sex abuse of boys. He went on to abuse more children for two decades.

Albany Times Union, April 2024

The end of pandemic SNAP benefits has pushed Syracuse toward a hunger crisisAfter the end of pandemic SNAP benefits, the food budgets of thousands of Syracuse residents vanished.

The Daily Orange, May 2023

A Military Tech Giant Is Using Prison Labor To Make ElectronicsIncarcerated workers are making components for the military contractor BAE Systems—and only keeping a fraction of their paychecks.

VICE, January 2021

He Wants a New Generation of Dems in Congress—Starting With HimJoe Vogel is trying to become the second Gen Z member of Congress—and he thinks Democrats need a lot more young members like him.

The Daily Beast, July 2023

Inside the push to open up Hart Island, NYC's COVID cemeteryTwo years since burials of COVID-19 victims began, an effort is underway to transform Hart Island — which has for over 150 years held the remains of New York City’s unclaimed dead — into an open, manicured public cemetery.

Yahoo! News, May 2022

Kamala Harris highlights Biden’s Middle East trip, abortion rights battle during Florida visitVice President Harris also received a briefing from military leadership at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base.

The Tampa Bay Times, July 2022

Protesters in Tampa call DeSantis’ removal of Hillsborough state attorney ‘authoritarian’Supporters of Andrew Warren argued DeSantis’ executive order represented an attempt to remove a democratically elected political opponent.

Tampa Bay Times, August 2022

You break it, you ... can't fix it. PA considers bill that could give the 'right to repair' to consumers, small businessesRight to repair legislation would make it easier for consumers to fix their devices. But industry groups contend it could harm privacy and safety.

PublicSource, July 2021

As Allegheny County’s vaccine rollout slows, community outreach is crucial to fight hesitancy and access barriersMore than 52% of Allegheny County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but challenges linger. Local organizations and community leaders are working to address them.

PublicSource, July 2021

Amid labor shortage, workers with criminal records face job barriersThough many businesses struggle to find workers opportunities aren’t always reaching people who have spent time in the justice system.

PublicSource, October 2021

Karen refugees in Syracuse fight for justice, recognitionThe Karen are a minority ethnic group in Myanmar, also known as Burma, that have been fighting for independence for the last 72 years.

The Daily Orange, March 2021

Artifacts in the libraries are deteriorating. SU delayed a plan to save them.

The Daily Orange, March 2021

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