WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN AP STORY AND PHOTO CONTESTS

The Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle took home the best-of-show Mark Twain Awards at the Associated Press News Executives Council's annual awards ceremony honoring the best journalism of 2004 by AP member newspapers in California and Nevada. The Times won for its series about the troubles at King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Chronicle photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice was honored for her picture story about the rehab of a young Iraqi bomb victim. Both entries also won Pulitzer Prizes earlier this year. Awards in 58 categories were presented April 30 at a banquet at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco capping the annual APNEC conference. This year's winners were chosen by editors from AP member newspapers in Michigan from more than 1,000 entries published during the 2004 calendar year. The rest of the winners:

NEWSWRITING CONTEST

DIVISION I (circulation 200,000 or greater)

Spot News Coverage

1st: The staff of the San Jose Mercury News, "Scott Peterson Verdict Coverage."

2nd: Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, "School Siege At Beslan."

Sports Writing

1st: Elliott Almond, Mark Emmons and Pete Carey, San Jose Mercury News, "How Balco Built the World's Fastest Man."

2nd: Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, "Phat Chants."

Feature Writing

1st: Barry Siegel, Los Angeles Times, "The Secret of the B-29."

2nd: Marianne Costantinou, San Francisco Chronicle, "Happy Endings _ and Beginnings."

Fairbanks Public Service Award

1st: The staff of The Orange County Register, "Toxic Treats."

2nd: The staff of the Los Angeles Times, "Troubles at King/Drew Medical Center."

Local Column

1st: Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, "The Town That NAFTA Sent North."

2nd: Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle, "A Car Crash, a One-Way Flight, and an Explosive Hair Dryer."

Business Writing

1st: Peter G. Gosselin, Los Angeles Times, "The New Deal."

2nd: Andrew Galvin, Hang Nguyen and Chris Knap, The Orange County Register, "Party's Over."

Investigative Reporting

1st: The staff of the Los Angeles Times, "Troubles at King/Drew Medical Center."

2nd: The staff of The Orange County Register, "Toxic Treats."

DIVISION II (circulation 75,000 to 199,000)

Spot News Coverage

1st: The staff of The Modesto Bee, "Guilty: The Scott Peterson Verdict."

2nd: The staff of The Fresno Bee, "Wesson Package."

Sports Writing

1st: Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star, "Running From the Past."

2nd: Ralph Leef, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Steroids Blamed in Suicide of Ex-Casa Grande Star."

Feature Writing

1st: Wendy Thomas Russell, Press-Telegram of Long Beach, "Judging the Jury."

2nd: Diana Marcum, The Fresno Bee, "Cut Above the Rest."

Fairbanks Public Service Award

1st: The staff of The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Global Shift."

2nd: Eric Johnson, Press-Telegram of Long Beach, "Toxic Air."

Local Column

1st: Colleen Cason, Ventura County Star, "The Faithful Do Their Duty at Camp Reagan."

2nd: John Branch, The Fresno Bee, "Chillingly Real."

Business Writing

1st: Michael Coit, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Luring Amy's Kitchen."

2nd: Tim Tesconi, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "A Legacy Lost."

Investigative Reporting

1st: David Sterrett, North (San Diego) County Times, "First Latino."

2nd: Todd Milbourn, The Modesto Bee, "A Troubled Past."

DIVISION III (circulation 25,000 to 74,000)

Spot News Coverage

1st: Jason Dearen, San Mateo County Times, "Scott Peterson Trial."

2nd: Bruce Fessier, The Desert Sun of Palm Springs, "A Great American Life."

Sports Writing

1st: Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Carmona: One Tough Momma's Boy."

2nd: Lori Gilbert, Jason Anderson and Jagdip Dhillon, The Record of Stockton, "Team Wins One for Ailing Freshman."

Feature Writing

1st: David Schwartz and Selicia Kennedy-Ross, The Sun of San Bernardino, "Redlands Gothic."

2nd: Peggy Townsend, Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Into the Wild."

Fairbanks Public Service Award

1st: Cindy Uken, The Desert Sun of Palms Springs, "Schools in Need."

2nd: James Burger, The Bakersfield Californian, "Throwaway Animals."

Local Column

1st: Lori Gilbert, The Record of Stockton, "Team Wins One for Ailing Freshman."

2nd: Silas Lyons, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, "Standing, Awestruck in His Sister's Shadow."

Business Writing

1st: Alec Rosenberg, The Oakland Tribune, "Spans of Attention."

2nd: Gwen Mickelson, Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Heirloom Apparent."

Investigative Reporting

1st: George Watson and Guy McCarthy and Ben Schnayerson, The Sun of San Bernardino, "Unnatural Disasters."

2nd: Frank X. Mullen Jr., Reno Gazette-Journal, "State Medical Watchdogs Keeping Public in Dark."

DIVISION IV (circulation below 25,000)

Spot News Coverage

1st: F.T. Norton and Teri Vance, Nevada Appeal of Carson City, "Waterfall Fire."

2nd: Roger Phelps, Henry Winckel and Glen Faison, The Porterville Recorder, "Standoff Ends in Gunfire."

Sports Writing

1st: Grant Parpan, The Signal of Santa Clarita, "An Image of the Santa Clarita Valley."

2nd: Corey Lewis, Daily Republic of Fairfield, "Major Leagues Dreams."

Feature Writing

1st: Andrea Garcia, Daily Republic of Fairfield, "On His Own."

2nd: Greg Trott, The Reporter of Vacaville, "Pachyderm Paradise."

Fairbanks Public Service Award

1st: Erin Carlyle and Quintin Cushner, Santa Maria Times, "Matters of Life or Meth."

2nd: Diane Barney and Robin Miller, The Reporter of Vacaville, "Reporter's 2004 Survey."

Local Column

1st: Tim Whyte, The Signal of Santa Clarita, "Respect, Censorship and the War Dead."

2nd: Chris Bateman, The Union Democrat of Sonora, "ABC's of High School GPA's."

Business Writing

1st: Matthew Bunk, Daily Republic of Fairfield, "All or Nothing."

2nd: Scott Bransford, Appeal-Democrat of Marysville, "Staying Small a Virtue."

Investigative Reporting

1st: Erin Carlyle and Quintin Cushner, Santa Maria Times, "Matters of Life or Meth."

2nd: Leon Worden, The Signal of Santa Clarita, "Santa Clarita Valley Man Linked to Iraq Abuse."

PHOTO CONTEST

DIVISION I (circulation 200,000 or greater)

Spot News Photo

1st: Rick Loomis, Los Angeles Times, "Human Shield."

2nd: Carl Costas, The Sacramento Bee, "Waterfall Fire."

Sports Photo

1st: Robert Gautheir, Los Angeles Times, "Snap To It."

2nd: Michael Owen Baker, Daily News of Los Angeles, "Basketball Ballet."

Feature Photo

1st: Deanne Fitzmaurice, San Francisco Chronicle, "Windshield."

2nd: Beatrice de Gea, Los Angles Times, "Community Pride."

Picture Story

1st: Deanne Fitzmaurice, San Francisco Chronicle, "Asylum for Saleh."

2nd: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register, "Losing Leslie."

Portrait

1st: Luis Sinco, Los Angeles Times, "Brief Pause."

2nd: Deanne Fitzmaurice, San Francisco Chronicle, "Saleh."

Business Photo

1st: Renee C. Byer, The Sacramento Bee, "Rice at Port."

2nd: Mike Kepka, San Francisco Chronicle, "Day in Life."

Graphics

1st: Javier Zarracina, San Jose Mercury News, "Exploring Mars."

2nd: Javier Zarracina, San Jose Mercury News, "Inside the Peterson Trial."

DIVISION II (circulation 75,000 to 199,000)

Spot News Photo

1st: Nader Khouri, Contra Costa Times, "Family Grief."

2nd: Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram of Long Beach, "Delphin."

Sports Photo

1st: Christopher Chung, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Monster Meltdown."

2nd: Kent Porter, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Angels Rally."

Feature Photo

1st: Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, "Fish Story."

2nd: Carrie Rosema, The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, "Education."

Picture Story

1st: Ed Crisostomo, The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, "Gatekeeper."

2nd: John Burgess, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Global Shift."

Portrait

1st: Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, "Reflected Empire."

2nd: Jose Carlos Fajardo, Contra Costa Times, "Self Portrait."

Business Photo

1st: John Burgess, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Keeping Time."

2nd: John Burgess, The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, "Looking for a Spark."

Graphics

1st: Chuck Todd, Contra Costa Times, "New Tool to Battle Parkinson's."

2nd: Paul Penzella, Daily Breeze of Torrance, "The Christmas Tree."

DIVISION III (circulation 25,000 to 74,000)

Spot News Photo

1st: Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara News-Press, "Jackson Dance."

2nd: Lucas Mobley, Record Searchlight of Redding, "Frenchfire."

Sports Photo

1st: Sean Connelley, The Oakland Tribune, "Air Curry."

2nd: Keith Birmingham, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Outstretched Fingers."

Feature Photo

1st: Frankie Frost, Marin Independent-Journal, "Taxing Traffic."

2nd: Jayson Mellom, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, "Dog Psychologist."

Picture Story

1st: Jonathan Kirshner, Record Searchlight of Redding, "Khali's World."

2nd: Brett K. Snow, The Sun of San Bernardino, "Learning to Live Blind."

Portrait

1st: John Green, San Mateo County Times, "Hat Lady."

2nd: Brett K. Snow, The Sun of San Bernardino, "Mary Queen."

Business Photo

1st: Nick Lammers, The Oakland Tribune, "Striker vs. Scab."

2nd: David Middlecamp, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, "Skin Deep."

Graphics

1st: Michael Borjon, The Bakersfield Californian, "Astronaut."

2nd: Dennis Bolt, Marin Independent-Journal, "Built for Style."

DIVISION IV (circulation below 25,000)

Spot News Photo

1st: John J. Tipton, The Porterville Recorder, "Standoff Ends in Gunfire."

2nd: Brad Zweerink, The Reporter of Vacaville, "Fire Hike."

Sports Photo

1st: Tod Rasmussen, The Reporter of Vacaville, "Plowing In."

2nd: Scott McDonald, The Californian of Salinas, "Bull From Behind."

Feature Photo

1st: Wayne Tilcock, The Davis Enterprise, "Lamb on the Lam."

2nd: Sergio Estrada, Imperial Valley Press, "Power Poles."

Picture Story

1st: Chris Kaufman, Appeal-Democrat of Marysville, "U-2 Pilots."

2nd: Jesse Drury, Appeal-Democrat of Marysville, "Quinceanera."

Portrait

1st: Jesse Drury, Appeal-Democrat of Marysville, "Eviction."

2nd: Rick Gunn, Nevada Appeal of Carson City, "China Man."

Business Photo

1st: Teresa Douglass, Visalia Times-Delta, "Bridal Show."

2nd: Christine Baker, Daily Republic of Fairfield, "Tar Nation."

Graphics

1st: Shawn Collins, The Davis Enterprise, "Build a Player."

2nd: Shawn Collins, The Davis Enterprise, "The Vote Less Traveled."