Invasive mussel series (pdf)
North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, May 23 to 30, 2008
Quagga and zebra mussel infestations have devastated water bodies and economies across the United States. This four-part series analyzes the affects the locust-like creatures could have on Lake Tahoe, if Tahoe's infrastructure is prepared for the mollusks, what locals can do to stop an invasion and how other cities and states have handled the mussels.

Boulder Bay seeks approvals (series) (pdf)
North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, May 4, 2008
Building in Lake Tahoe is not an easy process. Developers usually have pass through federal, county and state inspections before the first bit of dirt is moved. On the lake's North Shore developer Boulder Bay proposes to redevelop a key corner of land. However, many neighbors are worried about the project's affect on their lives. This series examines the story from three angles — the government, developer and neighbors.

The algae effect (pdf)
North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, April 16, 2008
A team of Nevada scientists are working to harness algae, an enemy of Lake Tahoe clarity, and use it to clean nutrients and fine sediments from storm water.

$2 Billion could buy 13 feet of clarity (pdf)
North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Oct. 31, 2007
The biggest issue I cover in Lake Tahoe is the environment and most of the concerns focus on keeping the pristine waters blue. Many federal agencies and scientists have determined that fine sediments and excessive nutrients are at fault for the lake's declining clarity. This story explains different options and costs to get the particles out and keep the water clear.

Saying goodbye to Potter is difficult for the generation who grew up with him (pdf)
Associated Press, July 19, 2007
When the release of the last Harry Potter book and the fifth movie fell within 10 days of each other, I knew it was an opportunity to write about people who grew up with the cultural and literary phenomenon.

Seattle's Pike Place Market celebrates 100-year anniversary (pdf)
Associated Press, Aug. 17, 2007
Pike Place Market was one of the first places I went when I moved to Seattle to work for the Associated Press. I was excited to cover the anniversary of this uniquely Seattle landmark.

Elephants benefit from fight between zoos and activists (pdf)
Associated Press, July 18, 2007
After I wrote about the death of Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo's youngest elephant, I began to read extensively about the conditions elephants were kept in around the country. A story about the controversy surrounding elephant care came from that research.

Hansa, beloved elephant at Woodland Park zoo, dies suddenly (pdf)
Associated Press, June 8,2007 and
Officials at Seattle zoo say 6-year-old elephant died of previously unknown herpes virus (pdf)
Associated Press, July 3, 2007
One of my first assignments at the Associated Press was breaking news coverage of the death of the youngest elephant at the local zoo. A month later when zoo officials finally released Hansa's cause of death, I was able to find out through my own sources that her sire had fathered other elephants that died of herpes.

'Little Hero' optimistic about future (pdf)
Reno Gazette-Journal, July 27, 2006
During a trip to visit her father in Reno, Nev., Arianna Masten made a life-changing decision to save her 2-year-old brother as their mini-van flipped over. The full story that first appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal and later received national coverage on Good Morning America.

Wildfire near Verdi puts hundreds of homes at risk (pdf)
Reno Gazette-Journal, Aug. 12, 2006
Coverage of one of the larger wildfires to burn in Reno last summer. Also my first real opportunity to use the wildfire coverage training I received from the Reno Fire Department.

Hunting for treasure (pdf)
Reno Gazette-Journal, July 29, 2006
A sample of the weekly freelance work I did for the Reno Gazette-Journal, highlighting a locally owned business or shopping district.

Deserving pilot gets medal 60 years later (pdf)
Las Vegas Sun, May 21, 2005
More than 60 years after his heroic flight during World War II, George W. A. Brandt was finally recognized with the Distinguished Flying Cross.