Nationally recognized
For more than a decade, I served as a bureau chief, columnist, special project reporter, education reporter and metro editor for The Cincinnati Enquirer. I also contributed to projects for Gannett*.
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*One of 11 Gannett journalists to receive the 2011 Philip Meyer Journalism Award. The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, a joint program of IRE and the Missouri School of Journalism; the Knight Chair at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and IRE present the annual award for the best journalism done using social research methods.
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I have written stories about test scoring irregularities and teachers who cheated on state tests. My reporting also appeared as part of a series in USA TODAY. Through public records requests and database analyses I also:
- Uncovered Ohio’s inability to hold accountable private schools that receive public vouchers.
- Analyzed educator salaries in relation to taxpayers’ economic status
- Unveiled inequities and inefficiencies in local school taxes using hyper-local data.
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Prolific expertise
My goal as a watchdog journalist was to inform readers about national and statewide K-12 issues and the inner workings and finances of 24 suburban school districts and several dozen private schools. I also covered Cincinnati’s archdiocese, which runs the 8th-largest Catholic school system in the United States.
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Project reporting
My business journalism background has fostered a comfort with financial reports and economic trends. My narrative approach and people-oriented storytelling mean my stories aren’t just facts and figures. And my fascination with databases and public documents means my nerdiness translates into revealing, exclusive analysis pieces.
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Column writing
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 3
•Longtime cashier is sold on union membership
•How many more Javontays must die?
•Real-life 'Drumline' playing at Taft
•With a nickel here and there, Ky. taxes creep up
•2-year steppingstone to college lost in UC shuffle
•50,000 white cards, no good answers
•Take a tour of two very different elementary schools
•Where Lynch lives matters; family life doesn't
•As it turned out, SARS wasn't the threat
A U G U S T 2 0 0 3
•Parents, schools share blame for low attendance
•Homeless man plans to stay that way
•Black Family Reunion needs parents to stick around
•Owners say homes 'lakeside' to sludge pond
J U L Y 2 0 0 3
•When you need a helping hand, Cincinnati Works
•Over-the-Rhine task force needs more involvement
•School expects more - And students achieve it
•Young violinist is black, American and talented
•Scholarship cuts: 100 fewer incentives to achieve
•City's Convergys deal gives too much, gets too little
•Norwood's growth swirls around reluctant couple
•Fathers commit selves to learning how to nurture
•Will new group let public in on downtown decisions?
•Kids playing with fireworks are going to get burned
J U N E 2 0 0 3
•Funk returns to Cincinnati for Cameo appearance
•Music festival deserves corporate Cincinnati's help
•Kaleidoscope of friends biggest lesson of college
•Losing child-care help could keep some workers home
•Substitute parenting - A father figure for foster kids
•Canceled concert - Station takes on Etta James with lawsuit
•Beyond bicycle theft - Bullies look out: You can be bullied, too
•Was prison punishment or revenge?
•It takes a village - That can-do attitude alone isn't enough
•Anti-loitering drug law has serious flaws
M A Y 2 0 0 3
•Not born to privilege? Think again
•Targeting racism - New ads make America face discrimination
•Three strikes - Repeat offenders targeted
•License to panhandle - Culling bad beggars from good ones
•Wake up, lawmakers - School gets A for saving child's life
•Drug dealers ticked off by complaints
•Wake up! - We're living in our own 'Matrix'
•Neighborhood power - A vote for elections by district
•Perseverance pays - Parents of 5 gut out XU degrees
•CPS bond issue - District must prove it can handle funds
•CPS levy - Volunteers battle low turnout
•Real-estate 'investors' up to no good
•FOP wants out - Collaborative jammed in racial politics
A P R I L 2 0 0 3
•A second chance - Helping others is his salvation
•Covington Diocese named - Priest named in suit tough to track
•Wyoming hurting - High achievers learning to live with loss
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•In harm's way? - Police horse a magnet for controversy
•All His children - Joined in the presence of our God
•The Twitty probe - A waste of time, talent, resources
•A fragmented front - Boycotting within the boycott
M A R C H 2 0 0 3
•Protecting the innocent - Many of our kids live in war zone, too
•Safety net - Dohn school struggling to help kids
•A question of support - Budget cut would hurt veterans
•The real story - Black Front left agreement for good cause
•No simple solution - Quick war spells success - or does it?
•The 14th Amendment - Ohio finally joins the rest of the U.S.
•Boycott or not - It's time we all start listening to one another
•What really matters - Trucker put another's life above all else
•Over-the-Rhine needs more than face lift
•Earned but unclaimed - Helped offered for taxpayers to get refunds
•Kids and crime - Track down guns as well as the drugs
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 3
•Belated appreciation - Mr. Rogers was grown-ups' neighbor, too
•Ex-cons as neighbors - Turning life around now a lot harder
•Sex-change lawsuit - Which cops lack command presence?
•Homeland security - Terror plan or not, I'm still nervous
•Fighting winter blues - Picture this inspirational cow for relief
•Contribution chopped - Charity begins cuts at HOME
•Against all odds - Questions remain in l shooting
•Scars of racism still sear - Little Rock memories echo here
•Retiree's life turned upside-down
•Anti-hate laws - Some need to be told the obvious
•14th Amendment - Ohio needs to plug a loophole
J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 3
•Little progress - Strong mayor's speech ignored the 'B' word
•A question of college - Too much of a good thing deprives all
•What's black and white and loved?
•Community initiative - New plan could make a difference
•Fighting prejudice - An open heart can open minds
•'Peace over profits' - Businesses miss the point of symbolism
•Affirmative action - Let's face it, playing field is never level
•Fighting bigotry - Blatant or inadvertent, slurs are slurs
•T-shirts show pride in police work
•Blessing denied - Southern Baptists have long way to go
•Teen sex - Turning up the volume to sell abstinence
•'Hanging yourself' - Breakfast boycott takes toll
•Greg Freeman was part of the solution
•Some awards come with a big price
D E CE M B E R 2 0 0 2
•Before you drink, think about this
•Emergency contraceptives do their job
•The first Christmas - We give gifts because we got greatest one
•Affirmative action - Will Bush carry on in Lott mold?
•It's fundamental - Low reading scores demand extra attention
•He ain't heavy - Consider the alternatives to Sen. Lott
•Are we in Lott's mirror?
•From the heart - Were Lott's words really a mistake?
•Illegal drug sales - A dilemma over how to fight dealers
•Protecting the retarded - Irene's tale shows need for change
•Low turnout - For voters, location is important
N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 2
•Bean-bag incident - Questions have been left unanswered
•Giving thanks - We can learn from first Americans
•All smiles - Dental gift will go long way for the poor
•Paying more for less health insurance
• Racial conflict - Cincinnati has to kick its addiction
• Pursuing your dream - For a song, singers offer inspiration
• Winning voters back - Let's face it; the Dems just blew it
•CPS bond issue - At least the `no' voters cast votes
•Planting seeds - Computer COP plan paying off
•Wellstone was one of a kind
•Neighborly un-love - Race issues play out on playground
O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2
•Schools levy - Physical upgrades are critical need
•Light rail - How do we train people to like trains?
•Sniper arrests - Suspects' race only makes it harder for us
•Impact 100 - Women pool resources to form charity
•Going to waste - Grieving for lost potential of children
•Owensby death - Nobody cared - except for themselves
•Dodging danger - Dad fights for sons' successes
•Not just an utterance - Caton's slip was attitude on display
•Feeling the heat - Firefighters can keep their jobs
•Different city, familiar questions
•Double standard - Bush family has two sets of family values
•More than a touch-up - 'Barbershop' is worth a good gabfest
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
•William Jonathan Mayo - Strong arguments for a new trial
•Recruiting from school - War threat stirs mom's worst fears
•Campaign finance - Money should not cancel out anyone's vote
•Life lessons - Gov. Patton disgraced self, politics
•Officer Roach's trial - Records should be unsealed
• Interactive drama - How far would you go to be free?
•The new West High - Catching students' curiosity
•No contest - I'll join Twitty in copping plea
•Preparing to die 'I have time to say my goodbyes'
•Twitty case resembles a tragedy - Sometimes appearances count
•Business as usual wrong for 9-11
A U G U S T 2 0 0 2
•Lincoln Hts. reunion - Put anger aside for sake of kids
•Spousal abuse Good support system isn't always enough
•Heimlich talking or campaigning? - Radio stint earns trip
•Downtown melee - Clearing up who should be blamed
•Black Family Reunion - Unsupervised youths gave us black eye
•Risky business - It's up to us to ensure kids are OK
•Policing the police - Still too many holes in the new rulebook
•Neighborhood gem - Actions really are louder than words
J U L Y 2 0 0 2
•Salvation in OTR - Lynch's Wine Skin helps addicts
•Safety lessons - Who can our kids trust?
•Indentifying the boycotters - Are you now, or have you ever been ... ?
•Taking the Fifth - Silence not virtue for Twitty
•Eviction on owners' minds before mold
•Housing crisis has tenants in turmoil - Owner neglect
•More than a friend - Assistance dogs give life, liberty
•Killing ourselves for pizza, fries
•Drive-by heartbreak - - It could happen anywhere
J U N E 2 0 0 2
•Meningitis study - Researchers' ad exploits fear factor
•Our Music Man - We're sadder but wiser in River City
•Calming hearts - Traumatized preschoolers find haven
•One man's story -'See the potential in all youth'
• Groundbreaking - Politicians can't ruin special night
•Last chance to provide public input
•Traffic ruckus - Anti-ticket book gets Ohioan
•Nefertiti Awards - - Black women recognized for heroics
•Since Sept. 11 - Friendly U.S. skies push profiling
•Abuse by priests - Can clergy be trusted to police?
•Cross burning- This speech should be banned
•Budget gives to the rich, not the poor
M A Y 2 0 0 2
• Opening windows - Photos aid perception of mentally ill
• Don't call me ... - Telemarket ploys driving us all dingy
•Slavery reparations - One man's suit tests skepticism
• Money sharks- Tax credit makes target of the poor
•Education - Coming soon: Training for corporate life
• Is my money really safe at Peoples?
•Gay Presbyterians - Real issue is one of inclusion
•Bad timing - Recruiting ad for church draws laughs
• Role model - Mother devoted life to children
• Dueling coalitions - Infighting just slows the healing
• Don't give up - Age, stroke couldn't stop degree quest
• Thousands of black voices almost muted
•HIV as weapon - Judges can help protect the innocent
•A cop's life - He's been shot at, spit on, griped at
A P R I L 2 0 0 2
•Sellers beware - Used-car sale seemed on up and up
•Lessons in racism - Friction gives spark to mob mentality
•Survivors' march - Take Back the Night unites victims
•Troubled school needs to stay open
•Music of life - 'Jigga' event is tribute from friends
•Fond farewell - Teacher ends career with no regrets
•Division of races - Black man feels alone in Evendale
•A key lesson - Those on fringes must learn respect
•Copwatch - Group is monitoring OTR streets
•A hostile world - It'll take the city to raise our children
•Unrest, rebellion? - When is a riot not really a riot?
M A R C H 2 0 0 2
•Victims of abuse - Mentally retarded lack a voice
•Settlement - It's about more than individuals
•City book project - 'Dying' holds lessons for today's men
•Chief Streicher - There's place for the buck to stop
•Ohio working to end lead paint woes
•Praying for change - Graham visit needs focus on real deal
•Pointed weapons - Police guns, citizen's nightmares
•Parents, it's you - The most important teachers
•Racial gaps - Adding up the factors of failure
•Prevention - After-sex drugs don't get their due
•Police cases - An optimist still hopes for justice
•New lease on life - Landlords should honor vouchers
•No ending here - Will anyone claim ashes of R. Dier?
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 2
•It's in the mail - I'm not the only one with an opinion
•Third Frontier - Taft offers starry goals, murky plans
•Second thoughts - Examining the call for amnesty
•City unprepared - Meeting turned into disaster
•Abortion tyranny - Backward Ky. Senate shows stripes
•My story - New view on the Land of Flying Pigs
•Hip hop healing - The 'Nati's gotta have faith in O.J.
•Tough love - No Cosby left room for change
•Longtime cashier is sold on union membership
•How many more Javontays must die?
•Real-life 'Drumline' playing at Taft
•With a nickel here and there, Ky. taxes creep up
•2-year steppingstone to college lost in UC shuffle
•50,000 white cards, no good answers
•Take a tour of two very different elementary schools
•Where Lynch lives matters; family life doesn't
•As it turned out, SARS wasn't the threat
A U G U S T 2 0 0 3
•Parents, schools share blame for low attendance
•Homeless man plans to stay that way
•Black Family Reunion needs parents to stick around
•Owners say homes 'lakeside' to sludge pond
J U L Y 2 0 0 3
•When you need a helping hand, Cincinnati Works
•Over-the-Rhine task force needs more involvement
•School expects more - And students achieve it
•Young violinist is black, American and talented
•Scholarship cuts: 100 fewer incentives to achieve
•City's Convergys deal gives too much, gets too little
•Norwood's growth swirls around reluctant couple
•Fathers commit selves to learning how to nurture
•Will new group let public in on downtown decisions?
•Kids playing with fireworks are going to get burned
J U N E 2 0 0 3
•Funk returns to Cincinnati for Cameo appearance
•Music festival deserves corporate Cincinnati's help
•Kaleidoscope of friends biggest lesson of college
•Losing child-care help could keep some workers home
•Substitute parenting - A father figure for foster kids
•Canceled concert - Station takes on Etta James with lawsuit
•Beyond bicycle theft - Bullies look out: You can be bullied, too
•Was prison punishment or revenge?
•It takes a village - That can-do attitude alone isn't enough
•Anti-loitering drug law has serious flaws
M A Y 2 0 0 3
•Not born to privilege? Think again
•Targeting racism - New ads make America face discrimination
•Three strikes - Repeat offenders targeted
•License to panhandle - Culling bad beggars from good ones
•Wake up, lawmakers - School gets A for saving child's life
•Drug dealers ticked off by complaints
•Wake up! - We're living in our own 'Matrix'
•Neighborhood power - A vote for elections by district
•Perseverance pays - Parents of 5 gut out XU degrees
•CPS bond issue - District must prove it can handle funds
•CPS levy - Volunteers battle low turnout
•Real-estate 'investors' up to no good
•FOP wants out - Collaborative jammed in racial politics
A P R I L 2 0 0 3
•A second chance - Helping others is his salvation
•Covington Diocese named - Priest named in suit tough to track
•Wyoming hurting - High achievers learning to live with loss
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•In harm's way? - Police horse a magnet for controversy
•All His children - Joined in the presence of our God
•The Twitty probe - A waste of time, talent, resources
•A fragmented front - Boycotting within the boycott
M A R C H 2 0 0 3
•Protecting the innocent - Many of our kids live in war zone, too
•Safety net - Dohn school struggling to help kids
•A question of support - Budget cut would hurt veterans
•The real story - Black Front left agreement for good cause
•No simple solution - Quick war spells success - or does it?
•The 14th Amendment - Ohio finally joins the rest of the U.S.
•Boycott or not - It's time we all start listening to one another
•What really matters - Trucker put another's life above all else
•Over-the-Rhine needs more than face lift
•Earned but unclaimed - Helped offered for taxpayers to get refunds
•Kids and crime - Track down guns as well as the drugs
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 3
•Belated appreciation - Mr. Rogers was grown-ups' neighbor, too
•Ex-cons as neighbors - Turning life around now a lot harder
•Sex-change lawsuit - Which cops lack command presence?
•Homeland security - Terror plan or not, I'm still nervous
•Fighting winter blues - Picture this inspirational cow for relief
•Contribution chopped - Charity begins cuts at HOME
•Against all odds - Questions remain in l shooting
•Scars of racism still sear - Little Rock memories echo here
•Retiree's life turned upside-down
•Anti-hate laws - Some need to be told the obvious
•14th Amendment - Ohio needs to plug a loophole
J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 3
•Little progress - Strong mayor's speech ignored the 'B' word
•A question of college - Too much of a good thing deprives all
•What's black and white and loved?
•Community initiative - New plan could make a difference
•Fighting prejudice - An open heart can open minds
•'Peace over profits' - Businesses miss the point of symbolism
•Affirmative action - Let's face it, playing field is never level
•Fighting bigotry - Blatant or inadvertent, slurs are slurs
•T-shirts show pride in police work
•Blessing denied - Southern Baptists have long way to go
•Teen sex - Turning up the volume to sell abstinence
•'Hanging yourself' - Breakfast boycott takes toll
•Greg Freeman was part of the solution
•Some awards come with a big price
D E CE M B E R 2 0 0 2
•Before you drink, think about this
•Emergency contraceptives do their job
•The first Christmas - We give gifts because we got greatest one
•Affirmative action - Will Bush carry on in Lott mold?
•It's fundamental - Low reading scores demand extra attention
•He ain't heavy - Consider the alternatives to Sen. Lott
•Are we in Lott's mirror?
•From the heart - Were Lott's words really a mistake?
•Illegal drug sales - A dilemma over how to fight dealers
•Protecting the retarded - Irene's tale shows need for change
•Low turnout - For voters, location is important
N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 2
•Bean-bag incident - Questions have been left unanswered
•Giving thanks - We can learn from first Americans
•All smiles - Dental gift will go long way for the poor
•Paying more for less health insurance
• Racial conflict - Cincinnati has to kick its addiction
• Pursuing your dream - For a song, singers offer inspiration
• Winning voters back - Let's face it; the Dems just blew it
•CPS bond issue - At least the `no' voters cast votes
•Planting seeds - Computer COP plan paying off
•Wellstone was one of a kind
•Neighborly un-love - Race issues play out on playground
O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2
•Schools levy - Physical upgrades are critical need
•Light rail - How do we train people to like trains?
•Sniper arrests - Suspects' race only makes it harder for us
•Impact 100 - Women pool resources to form charity
•Going to waste - Grieving for lost potential of children
•Owensby death - Nobody cared - except for themselves
•Dodging danger - Dad fights for sons' successes
•Not just an utterance - Caton's slip was attitude on display
•Feeling the heat - Firefighters can keep their jobs
•Different city, familiar questions
•Double standard - Bush family has two sets of family values
•More than a touch-up - 'Barbershop' is worth a good gabfest
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 2
•William Jonathan Mayo - Strong arguments for a new trial
•Recruiting from school - War threat stirs mom's worst fears
•Campaign finance - Money should not cancel out anyone's vote
•Life lessons - Gov. Patton disgraced self, politics
•Officer Roach's trial - Records should be unsealed
• Interactive drama - How far would you go to be free?
•The new West High - Catching students' curiosity
•No contest - I'll join Twitty in copping plea
•Preparing to die 'I have time to say my goodbyes'
•Twitty case resembles a tragedy - Sometimes appearances count
•Business as usual wrong for 9-11
A U G U S T 2 0 0 2
•Lincoln Hts. reunion - Put anger aside for sake of kids
•Spousal abuse Good support system isn't always enough
•Heimlich talking or campaigning? - Radio stint earns trip
•Downtown melee - Clearing up who should be blamed
•Black Family Reunion - Unsupervised youths gave us black eye
•Risky business - It's up to us to ensure kids are OK
•Policing the police - Still too many holes in the new rulebook
•Neighborhood gem - Actions really are louder than words
J U L Y 2 0 0 2
•Salvation in OTR - Lynch's Wine Skin helps addicts
•Safety lessons - Who can our kids trust?
•Indentifying the boycotters - Are you now, or have you ever been ... ?
•Taking the Fifth - Silence not virtue for Twitty
•Eviction on owners' minds before mold
•Housing crisis has tenants in turmoil - Owner neglect
•More than a friend - Assistance dogs give life, liberty
•Killing ourselves for pizza, fries
•Drive-by heartbreak - - It could happen anywhere
J U N E 2 0 0 2
•Meningitis study - Researchers' ad exploits fear factor
•Our Music Man - We're sadder but wiser in River City
•Calming hearts - Traumatized preschoolers find haven
•One man's story -'See the potential in all youth'
• Groundbreaking - Politicians can't ruin special night
•Last chance to provide public input
•Traffic ruckus - Anti-ticket book gets Ohioan
•Nefertiti Awards - - Black women recognized for heroics
•Since Sept. 11 - Friendly U.S. skies push profiling
•Abuse by priests - Can clergy be trusted to police?
•Cross burning- This speech should be banned
•Budget gives to the rich, not the poor
M A Y 2 0 0 2
• Opening windows - Photos aid perception of mentally ill
• Don't call me ... - Telemarket ploys driving us all dingy
•Slavery reparations - One man's suit tests skepticism
• Money sharks- Tax credit makes target of the poor
•Education - Coming soon: Training for corporate life
• Is my money really safe at Peoples?
•Gay Presbyterians - Real issue is one of inclusion
•Bad timing - Recruiting ad for church draws laughs
• Role model - Mother devoted life to children
• Dueling coalitions - Infighting just slows the healing
• Don't give up - Age, stroke couldn't stop degree quest
• Thousands of black voices almost muted
•HIV as weapon - Judges can help protect the innocent
•A cop's life - He's been shot at, spit on, griped at
A P R I L 2 0 0 2
•Sellers beware - Used-car sale seemed on up and up
•Lessons in racism - Friction gives spark to mob mentality
•Survivors' march - Take Back the Night unites victims
•Troubled school needs to stay open
•Music of life - 'Jigga' event is tribute from friends
•Fond farewell - Teacher ends career with no regrets
•Division of races - Black man feels alone in Evendale
•A key lesson - Those on fringes must learn respect
•Copwatch - Group is monitoring OTR streets
•A hostile world - It'll take the city to raise our children
•Unrest, rebellion? - When is a riot not really a riot?
M A R C H 2 0 0 2
•Victims of abuse - Mentally retarded lack a voice
•Settlement - It's about more than individuals
•City book project - 'Dying' holds lessons for today's men
•Chief Streicher - There's place for the buck to stop
•Ohio working to end lead paint woes
•Praying for change - Graham visit needs focus on real deal
•Pointed weapons - Police guns, citizen's nightmares
•Parents, it's you - The most important teachers
•Racial gaps - Adding up the factors of failure
•Prevention - After-sex drugs don't get their due
•Police cases - An optimist still hopes for justice
•New lease on life - Landlords should honor vouchers
•No ending here - Will anyone claim ashes of R. Dier?
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 2
•It's in the mail - I'm not the only one with an opinion
•Third Frontier - Taft offers starry goals, murky plans
•Second thoughts - Examining the call for amnesty
•City unprepared - Meeting turned into disaster
•Abortion tyranny - Backward Ky. Senate shows stripes
•My story - New view on the Land of Flying Pigs
•Hip hop healing - The 'Nati's gotta have faith in O.J.
•Tough love - No Cosby left room for change