Digital native, data journalist, travel geek
Abraham Castro stood in a sea of Donald Trump supporters and held up the Mexican flag. “I’m bringing it out here to support equality and lessen down the toughness that Trump has on illegal immigrants,” Castro said, holding his flag while people gave him sideways stares and held up Trump posters behind his back. …
Continue reading "Trump protester brings Mexican flag to rally"
After receiving a tip, I confirmed that the South Carolina prison system released several violent inmates years before the intended end of their sentences. Here are the stories I wrote following the revelation: Violent SC inmates mistakenly released from prison, SCDC confirms Unclear court orders leave prison officials guessing at inmate sentence lengths, employee …
Continue reading "Violent SC inmates mistakenly released from prison, SCDC confirms"
As Hurricane Florence neared the Carolina coast, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster ordered the mandatory evacuation of all zones in coastal counties. Despite the order, two correctional institutions and one jail in the evacuation zones were ordered to keep inmates and detainees in place. I broke the initial story that inmates at MacDougall and Ridgeland correctional …
During the gang-related riot in which seven were killed at an SC prison, I was working nearby in Columbia, SC. Over the course of the day, I acted as one of the point reporters updating the main story and various side bars. Here is a collection of the stories I worked on: 7 inmates killed …
Continue reading "7 inmates killed during incident at SC prison"
During the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I was called to Broward County to help cover the tragedy experienced by the community. Over three days, I amassed a number of stories, which were published by TCPalm, USA TODAY and the Naples Daily News. Below are some of my stories: 'I'm sick to my …
Continue reading "Coverage from the Parkland, Fla. high school shooting"
Spanish officials have confirmed that 13 people are dead and as many as 100 people are injured after a van struck a crowd in what police believe is a terror attack on the busy, tourist-filled pedestrian street called Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain. The white van drove into the popular shopping and food district Thursday afternoon, traveling 1,800 feet through the pedestrian area, according to …
Continue reading "Barcelona terror attack: What we know now"
INDIANTOWN — Choruses of hymns and amens echoed from the pews of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Indiantown as James Richardson walked to his brother's casket. Feet away from the front of the small chapel, James Richardson paused and smiled at the community that joined together Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the life of his …
One week after it announced an investigation into Larson Dairy Inc., the advocacy group Animal Recovery Mission is accusing a second Okeechobee County farm of animal abuse. The group is asking law enforcement officers to bring criminal charges against owners and employees of family-owned Burnham Farms Inc. and that the farm be shut down. Group members said they saw animal abuse at …
Continue reading "Group calls for 2nd dairy farm shut down, alleges animal abuse"
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey and the anticipation of Hurricane Irma, disaster relief agencies are bracing to stretch resources thin. With the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund needing to be replenished and volunteers deployed across the country to cover the damage from two hurricanes, officials hope what they have will be enough. …
Continue reading "Providing aid to Hurricane Irma victims could be difficult after Harvey"
South Miami officials say there is one driving factor behind new legislation that requires new construction to have rooftop solar panel systems. Climate change. After President Trump announced he was pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, Mayor Philip Stoddard was left wondering what he could do for his city, which is threatened by …
Continue reading "More cities require solar as prices fall and sea levels rise"
Samuel Walgren quietly holds his breath as the P. A. Denny glides through the steady waters of the Ohio River, closer and closer to what, for some, could mean the end.Inch by inch, the atmosphere on the P. A. Denny changes as men in gray wool uniforms and belts prominently stamped “CS” begin to appear through the yellowing, early-fall forest. On the ship, …
Continue reading "Civil war reenactors bring life (and gun powder) to Ohio history"
