WHEREAS, in May 2024, the staff members and freelancers of the Loudoun Times-Mirror won seven first-place awards and several other awards in the Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest applied to content produced in 2023, with winners selected by impartial judges from the Missouri Press Association; the Loudoun Times-Mirror competed in Non-Daily Group 4, which includes the Commonwealth's 18 largest weekly newspapers by circulation; and

WHEREAS, Evan Goodenow, an education and courts reporter who has been with the Loudoun Times-Mirror since 2021, won a first-place award in the In-Depth or Investigative Reporting category for his powerful series of reports on suspected fentanyl overdoses at local high schools; he also received a third-place award in Public Safety Writing; and

WHEREAS, Jess Kirby, a government reporter who has been with the Loudoun Times-Mirror since September 2023, won a first-place award in the Business and Financial Writing category for her comprehensive coverage of county zoning ordinances and development; and

WHEREAS, former editor Patrick Kernan and current editor Coy Ferrell shared a first-place award in Editorial Writing for their well-written, fact-based editorials; Coy Ferrell also won first place in the Feature Photo category for his image of a family celebrating at Lightridge High School's commencement, along with multiple second-place and third-place awards in other categories; and

WHEREAS, page designer Kim Butler and other members of the Loudoun Times-Mirror staff earned a first-place award in the General Makeup category, which covers the general appearance and makeup of the entire newspaper; and

WHEREAS, freelance photographer Bill Vocke won a first-place award in the Sports News Photo category for his image of a touchdown catch during a Tuscarora High School football game; and

WHEREAS, freelance photographer Steve Prakope won a first-place award in the Open Photography category, which is open to all newspapers regardless of circulation size, for his image of play at the plate during a Purcellville Cannons baseball game; and

WHEREAS, in addition to multiple wins by the reporters and freelancers at the Loudoun Times-Mirror, the advertising team at the newspaper received two third-place awards in the contest; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Loudoun Times-Mirror hereby be commended on winning a host of accolades, including seven first-place awards, in the Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest in 2024; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Loudoun Times-Mirror as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the newspaper's outstanding achievements in journalism and service to the Loudoun County community.