Cleveland's WKYC-TV and WLW radio in Cincinnati have been named Outstanding News Operations for 2006 in the state's largest markets by the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters.

Winners of the group's annual contest were announced at a June 10 awards luncheon at the Hilton Columbus.

Other first-place winners for outstanding news operation are: WDTN-TV in Dayton; WTOV-TV in Steubenville; Akron's WAKR-AM and its sister stations; and WJER radio in Dover.

Twenty-two categories of awards were given in six radio and T-V divisions.

First-place honors for Outstanding Sports Operation have been given to: WCMH-TV in Columbus; Toledo's WTVG TV; WTOV-TV; WTAM radio, Cleveland; WAKR-AM and the co-owned stations; and sister stations WBEX-FM and WKKJ-AM, Chillicothe.

For Outstanding Weather Operation, the top awards go to: WBNS-TV, Columbus; WTVG; and WTOV.

The Ohio AP Broadcasters also inducted this year's Hall of Fame class, chosen by the OAPB board of directors. The honorees include: TV anchors Ted Henry of WEWS in Cleveland and Diane Larson of Toledo's WTVG; Dave Kaylor, who retired in 2005 after 25 years anchoring and reporting for WBNS-TV in Columbus; Vince Koza, long-time sports director for Lima TV station WLIO; and the late Tom Holden, a TV news institution in Youngstown who anchored on WKBN for more than 30 years. (6/10/07)

The winners:
SMALL MARKET RADIO
Outstanding News Operation:1, WJER-AM, Dover.
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, WBEX-AM/WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe; 2, WILE-AM/WCMJ-FM, Cambridge.
Best Sports Broadcaster: 1, Jason Aldrich, WTTF-AM/FM, Tiffin; 2, Aaron Spragg, WHIZ-AM/FM, Zanesville.
Best Web Site: 1, WCLT-AM, Newark, www.wclt.com; 2, Bill Tipple, WBLL-AM, Bellefontaine, www.peakofohio.com.
Best Documentary or Series: 1, Amanda Robbins, WJER-AM, Dover, "Detoxing the Valley."
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Amanda Robbins, WJER-AM, Dover, "Big Hearts, Little Problems"; 2, Jami Creal and Amy Miller, WTUZ-FM, Uhrichsville/New Philadelphia, "Women on Target."
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, WBEX-AM/WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe, "Second Street Fire."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, WJER-AM, Dover, "Barnard Sentencings."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, WBEX-AM/WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe, "Parsons Saga"; 2, WCLT-AM, Newark, "Bob Ney: Corruption in Congress."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Amanda Robbins, WJER-AM, Dover, "Detoxing the Valley"; Best Enterprise Reporting: 2, Jamie Hambach, WJER-AM, Dover, "Crossing Barriers."
Best Anchor: 1, Christina Wolford, WBEX-AM/WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe.
Best Reporter: 1, Amanda Robbins, WJER-AM, Dover; 2, Mike Smith, WBEX-AM/WKKJ-FM, Chillicothe.
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Bill Tipple, WBLL-AM, Bellefontaine.
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, WJER-AM, Dover.
MEDIUM MARKET RADIO
Outstanding News Operation: 1, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron.
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron.
Best Use of Sound: 1, Cheri Lawson, WMUB-FM, Oxford, "Las Posadas."
Best Broadcast Writing: 1, Tom Romano, WMUB-FM, Oxford, "My Father's Voice."
Best Sports Broadcaster: 1, Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron; 2, Tim Alcorn, WEOL-AM, Elyria-Lorain.
Best Documentary or Series: 1, Aileen LeBlanc, WYSO-FM, Dayton, "A Lion in the House."
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Jim Michaels, WKBN-AM, Youngstown, "Murdertown USA - A Title That Won't Go Away"; 2, Larry States, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron, "Identity Theft."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron, "Election Night 2006."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, Aileen LeBlanc, WMUB-FM, Oxford, "The Future of St. Agnes."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Aileen LeBlanc, WMUB-FM, Oxford, "Yellow Springs Sprawl."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Jason Koma, WOUB-AM, Athens, "This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb"; 2, Marcy Pappafava, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron, "Homeless in Summit."
Best Anchor: 1, Pat Kennard, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron; 2, John Nagy, WKBN-AM, Youngstown.
Best Reporter: 1, Jim Michaels, WKBN-AM, Youngstown; 2, Tana Weingartner, WMUB-FM, Oxford.
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Joe Jastrzemski, WAKR-AM/WONE-FM/WQMX-FM, Akron.
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, Cassie Wilson, WSPD-AM, Toledo.
LARGE MARKET RADIO
Outstanding News Operation: 1, News Team, WLW-AM, Cincinnati.
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, WTAM-AM, Cleveland.
Best Use of Sound: 1, Sam Hendren, WOSU-AM, Columbus, "Ohio Troops Deploy, Return from Iraq"; 2, Vivian Goodman, WKSU-FM, Kent, "New Technology at CIM."
Best Broadcast Writing: 1, David C. Barnett, WCPN-FM, Cleveland, "Wages of Sin"; 2, Karen Schaefer, WKSU-FM, Kent, "Nature Conservancy."
Best Web Site: 1, WTAM-AM, Cleveland, "www.wtam.com"; 2, WLW-AM, Cincinnati, www.700wlw.com.
Best Documentary or Series: 1, Dave Pignanelli, WKSU-FM, Kent, "Here Goes the Neighborhood."
Best Feature Reporting: 1, David C. Barnett, WCPN-FM, Cleveland, "An Emigrant's Tale."
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, WTVN-AM, Columbus, "Upper Albany West Tornado."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, Ohio Public Radio, Columbus, "Election 2006."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, WOSU-AM, Columbus, "The Race for the 15th."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Vivian Goodman, WKSU-FM, Kent, "Drugs in Prison."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Tom Borgerding, WOSU-AM, Columbus, "Food Pantry Woes."
Best Anchor: 1, Scott Gerfen, WTVN-AM, Columbus; 2, Renita Jablonski, WKSU-FM, Kent.
Best Reporter: 1, Greg Saber, WTAM-AM, Cleveland; 2, Ted Klopp, WTAM-AM, Cleveland.
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Mike Snyder, WTAM-AM, Cleveland.
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, Scott Gerfen and Ken Stevens, WTVN-AM, Columbus.
SMALL MARKET TELEVISION
Outstanding News Operation: 1, Brandon Gobel and Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "News9."
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, Don Sloan, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "News9 Sports"; 2, Aaron Spragg and Mike Fink, WHIZ-TV, Zanesville, "Southeastern Ohio's Sports Leader."
Outstanding Weather Operation: 1, Kevin Carter and Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville.
Best Sports Broadcaster: 1, Keith Cawley, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va.; 2, Aaron Spragg, WHIZ-TV, Zanesville.
Best Web Site: 1, Renee Cardelli and Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, www.wtov9.com; 2, Bruce A. Layman, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va., www.wtap.com.
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Jordan Burgess, WOHL/WLMO/WLQP-TV, Lima, "The Piano Lady"; 2, Eric Minor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "Microscopic Differences."
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, WLIO-TV, Lima, "Fatal Tanker Explosion."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, Brandon Gobel and Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "Presidential Visit to the Ohio Valley."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, Andrea Wilcox and Rachel Withers, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va., "Eramet Strike."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Josh Poland, WLIO-TV, Lima, "Lima Sex Predators."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Marc Reinicke, WLIO-TV, Lima, "Lima Gangs"; 2, Doug Lambert and Jordan Burgess, WOHL/WLMO/WLQP-TV, Lima, "One Too Many."
Best Anchor: 1, Billi Hazle, WLIO-TV, Lima; 2, Dan Martin, WOHL/WLMO/WLQP-TV, Lima.
Best Reporter: 1, Jordan Burgess, WOHL/WLMO/WLQP-TV, Lima; 2, Rachel Withers, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Best Regularly Scheduled Weather: 1, Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor and Kevin Carter, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "Severe Weather Team 9"; 2, Kirk Greenfield, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Don Sloan and Ryan Recker, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "News9 Sports"; 2, Keith Cawley and Jim Wharton, WTAP-TV, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, Brandon Gobel and Melissa Knollinger-O'Connor, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, "News9 at Six."
MEDIUM MARKET TELEVISION
Outstanding News Operation: 1, WDTN-TV, Dayton.
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "13 ABC Action Sports."
Outstanding Weather Operation: 1, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "13 ABC First Warning Weather"; 2, WHIO-TV, Dayton.
Best Use of Photography: 1, Ron Martin, WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, "Sounds of St. Patrick's Day"; 2, Patty Ryan, WDTN-TV, Dayton, "Soldier's Funeral."
Best Producer: 1, Rob Edwards, WTVG-TV, Toledo; 2, Astrid Greve, WTVG-TV, Toledo.
Best Broadcast Writing: 1, Jana Katsuyama, WDTN-TV, Dayton, "Katrina Recovery"; 2, Shane Gerome and Sashem Brey, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "Pollworker Passes."
Best Sports Broadcaster: 1, Rob Powers, WTVG-TV, Toledo.
Best Web Site: 1, Deborah Weiser, WTVG-TV, Toledo, www.13abc.com; 2, WTOL-TV, , Toledo, www.wtol.com.
Best Documentary or Series: 1, Gary Mills and Elizabeth Cowart, WKEF-TV/WRGT-TV, Dayton, "Life on the Streets"; 2, Jim Bowser and Angee Shaker, WYTV-TV, Youngstown, "Mideast Conflict."
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Jim Bowser and Len Rome, WYTV-TV, Youngstown, "Haunting on Baumhart Road"; 2, Todd Gaertner and Kristian Brown, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "Hip-Hop Math."
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, Alexis Means and Justin Billau, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "North Baltimore Train Wreck."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, Casey Jouett and Karl Rundgren, WUPW-TV, Toledo, "You Decide 2006."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, WHIO-TV, Dayton, "What Kids Eat at School"; 2, Gary Mills and Don Hammond, WKEF-TV/WRGT-TV, Dayton, "Attack on Crack."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Vince Bevacqua and Rob Anderson, WYTV-TV, Youngstown, "The Manchester Model"; 2, Dan Yohey and Jana Katsuyama, WDTN-TV, Dayton, "Talking Trash."
Best Photographer: 1, Jim Bowser, WYTV-TV, Youngstown; 2, Mike Hamlett, WDTN-TV, Dayton.
Best Anchor: 1, Cheryl McHenry, WHIO-TV, Dayton; 2, Jerry Anderson, WTOL-TV, Toledo.
Best Reporter: 1, Jim Otte, WHIO-TV, Dayton; 2, Caryn Golden, WHIO-TV, Dayton.
Best Regularly Scheduled Weather: 1, Stan Stachak, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "13 ABC First Warning Weather."
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Brad Fanning and Howard Chen, WUPW-TV, Toledo, "Fox Toledo Hardcore Sports."
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, WTVG-TV, Toledo, "13 ABC Action News at 6pm."
LARGE MARKET TELEVISION
Outstanding News Operation: 1, Rita Andolsen and Mike McCormick, WKYC-TV, Cleveland 2, WCMH-TV, Columbus, "NBC 4."
Outstanding Sports Operation: 1, WCMH-TV, Columbus, "NBC 4 Sports Team"; 2, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "10TV Sports Department 2006."
Outstanding Weather Operation: 1, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Doppler 10 Weather Team"; 2, Ohio News Network, Columbus.
Best Producer: 1, Mary Ellen Hardies, WCMH-TV, Columbus.
Best Broadcast Writing: 1, Lana Durban and Duane Pohlman, WEWS-TV, Cleveland, "Dead Voters."
Best Sports Broadcaster: 1, Jerod Smalley, WCMH-TV, Columbus; 2, Jeff Hogan, WBNS-TV, Columbus.
Best Web Site: 1, Kyle Durban and Denise Yost, WCMH-TV, Columbus, www.nbc4i.com.
Best Documentary or Series: 1, Phil Drechsler and Laure Quinlivan, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, "Vine & Main Street Changes."
Best Feature Reporting: 1, Dan Weist, Ohio News Network, Columbus, "Tractor Dance"; 2, Brian McIntyre, Ohio News Network, Columbus, "Heartbeat for the Roller Coaster."
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Parsons Capture."
Extraordinary Coverage of a Scheduled Event: 1, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Campaign 2006"; 2, Ohio News Network, Ohio News Network, Columbus, "Ohio Governor's Race 2006."
Best Continuing Coverage: 1, WKYC-TV, Cleveland, "Summer Flood of '06"; Best Continuing Coverage: 2, WCMH-TV, Columbus, "Escape and Capture of Fugitive John Parsons."
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Phil Drechsler and Laure Quinlivan, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, "Archdiocese Hires Criminal"; 2, Eric Gerhardt and Jeff Hirsh, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, "Sham Dunk."
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Anthony Mirones and Hagit Limor, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, "Journey for Justice"; 2, Bill Safos, WKYC-TV, Cleveland, "Pig Farm Abuse."
Best Photographer: 1, Steve Maguire, WBNS-TV, Columbus.
Best Anchor: 1, David Rose, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati.
Best Reporter: 1, Tom Meyer, WOIO-TV, Cleveland; 2, Carl Monday, WKYC-TV, Cleveland.
Best Regularly Scheduled Weather: 1, WBNS-TV, WBNS-TV, Columbus; 2, Eric Elwell, Ohio News Network, Columbus.
Best Regularly Scheduled Sports: 1, Jerod Smalley, WCMH-TV, Columbus, "NBC 4 Sports at 11pm"; 2, Jeff Hogan and Rob Kunz, WBNS-TV, Columbus.
Best Regularly Scheduled News: 1, Jamie Innis and Dan Salamone, WOIO-TV, Cleveland.