In 2004, I was hired as the editor of the Tacoma Daily Index -- a small newspaper first published in 1890. I cover downtown Tacoma, City Hall, Pierce County, Port of Tacoma, and historic preservation.

In 2007, I interviewed the candidates for Tacoma City Council for a series published in the newspaper. Also that year, I received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Media from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for my work covering historic preservation.

In 2009, I wrote a series of feature articles about the 12-story, 85-year-old Winthrop Hotel in downtown Tacoma. The former historic hotel is home to 200 low-income residents. The series included regular news coverage of the possible sale and development of the building, and feature articles, interviews, and oral histories focusing on some of the residents.

Here is a collection of feature articles I have written for the Index:

Downtown Tacoma

-- All Eyes (and Wheels) on the Street: Downtown Tacoma's bike patrol (PDF)

-- Citizens group turns its attention toward Port of Tacoma (PDF)

-- Inside Pacific Plaza: From blight to beauty, a $30 million downtown high-rise sets a new standard (PDF)

-- Mightier Than Swords: Tacoma artists zero in on local politics (PDF)

-- Outside Pacific Plaza: A garden grows high above downtown Tacoma (PDF)

Historic Preservation in Tacoma / Pierce County

-- A House in the City, A Home to Neighborhood History: One resident's connection to Tacoma's storied Wedge area (PDF)

-- Ahoy History Buffs! City's role in century-old shore leave focus of new Tacoma Historical Society exhibit (PDF)

-- Behind the Times: Nevermind the buildings. Can Pierce County restore its historic preservation program? (PDF)

-- Building History: THS exhibit celebrates downtown Tacoma's architectural icons (PDF)

-- Downtown's Lost Block: Archived photos show Pacific Avenue's erased history (PDF)

-- Long Distance Memories: A lifelong, photographic tour through Tacoma's passenger train history (PDF)

-- Long List of Concerns for Washington State Preservationists: An interview with Washington Trust for Historic Preservation's Jennifer Meisner (PDF)

-- Luzon Unlocked (PDF)

-- Momentum continues for Spanish Steps rehabilitation (PDF)

-- New tenant, lobby renovation for downtown Washington Building (PDF)

-- Pierce County's History Detectives (PDF)

-- Preserving Tacoma's Heritage Trees: A conversation with Marshall McClintock (PDF)

-- Reaching the Register: An interview with historic preservationist Caroline T. Swope (PDF)

-- Salvaging history in Tacoma's razed older buildings (PDF)

-- Saving Tacoma's Urban Arbor: Will the City create a register of historic trees? (PDF)

-- Status Seekers: The challenges and benefits to seeking historic district designation (PDF)

-- Tacoma Fire Buffs: A welcome sight for local firefighters (PDF)

-- Tacoma's Heritage Streetcars: End of the line, 130 miles north (PDF)

-- Tacoma's Record Keeper: Remembering small-press publisher Marshall B. Skidmore (PDF)

-- The Washington Trust: In an old hilltop mansion, a strong voice for preservation (PDF)

-- The Washington State Heritage Caucus (PDF)

Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A Baseball

-- Minor League Team, Major League Fan: An interview with Tacoma Rainiers fan and blogger Justin Carleton (PDF)

-- The Business of Balls and Strikes: Can the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers become a major player in Puget Sound sports? (PDF)

Winthrop Hotel Interview Series

-- Tacoma Housing Authority weighs Winthrop building purchase (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: Glenn Grigsby (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: Otha Adams (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: Nanette Colby (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: John Heffler (PDF)

-- Historic hotel or affordable housing? (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: David Allen (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: David Miller (PDF)

-- Cleaning up a neighborhood, battling a building's reputation (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: Kerry Hudson (PDF)

-- A Voice From the Winthrop: Jessica Creso (PDF)

-- Winthrop resident named Safe Streets Superstar (PDF)