Last call

The night NMSU student Steve Judd wasn’t in control was his last
This article won first place for feature writing in the 2004 New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors competition. It was published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Dec. 5, 2004.
Steven David Judd had been discussing his 21st birthday plans with his parents all week. […]

End of an era

After eight years, controversial politician leaves commission
Published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Dec. 12, 2004
Former Dona Ana County Commissioner Carlos Garza recalls the first time he voted against Commissioner Gilbert Apodaca, at a meeting in 1999.
Afterward, he explained to Apodaca his disagreement on the issue.
“Don’t let it happen again,” Garza says Apodaca […]

Simple marker evokes daughter’s pride, loss

Published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on May 7, 2002
ARLINGTON, Virginia – Eboni Lewis wasn’t able to attend her father’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery after he was killed last year in a helicopter accident in Vietnam.
So when she and 36 other Sierra Middle School students visited the cemetery Sunday, she hoped she […]

Trouble not new to judge

Published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on April 24, 2005
On the night of Aug. 25, Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Reuben Galvan had sex with a woman in his red Porsche.
The two had met earlier that night at Hurricane Alley in Las Cruces. They recognized each other because the woman recently had been […]

Mentally ill man flees police, kills pedestrian

This article won second place for spot news in the 2005 New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors competition. It was published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on July 26, 2005.
A pedestrian was killed Monday during a high-speed, early morning police chase that began when a Las Cruces man with a history of mental illness assaulted […]

AG alleges violations of open meetings law

My coverage of this topic received an honorable mention in the 2001 New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors competition. This article was published in the Las Cruces Sun-News on Feb. 1, 2002.
The state attorney general filed criminal charges Thursday against two current and three former members of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education […]

Design clips

Here are some design clips from my time as a copy editor at The Santa Fe New Mexican:
Clip 1 • Clip 2 • Clip 3