The Des Moines Register

At the Register, I worked as a general assignment reporter, typically covering crime and weather. During this internship, I learned to increase my speed when reporting and how to look for a new way to get a story when reaching a dead end. Here are some of my clips from that summer.

​Geocaching to RAGBRAI: Friend remembers Ames firefighter after heart attack​

Geocachers typically find smashed coins, bolo ties, toy cars while playing the technology-aided treasure-hunting game. 

​Scott Mills had no idea he would find his best friend.

​'I just feel so violated': Ankeny man has his truck stolen and his home burglarized

​Someone took Cody Smith's truck. Someone took possessions from his house hours later. Taken with those things, the Ankeny man said Sunday, was his sense of safety.

'He is not a monster': Family defends man shot while burglarizing Des Moines store

The family of a man fatally shot during a burglary Wednesday said they want to make it clear he was a person struggling with addiction — not a monster.

​Former 'American Ninja Warrior' contestant stops in Iowa on 3,000-mile run across the country

Twelve-hundred miles in and 1,800 left to go, a Florida man stopped in Newton last week as he runs his way across the country. ​

Couple's home explodes after severe flooding

A Clive couple barely made it out of their basement alive after it quickly flooded with water. Hours later, while they took shelter at a neighbor's home, their house exploded, leaving it in ruins. 

Centerpieces 

'This is not America:' International students express threatened status in United States

International students discuss the impact that the travel ban had on them. 
This story covering the impact the travel ban had on Iowa State international students won first place in the Columbia Scholastic Press news feature category, 

Miles Lackey leaves for Auburn: ‘It has been a great adventure’
The Saturday after the Iowa State chief of staff announced he would be leaving for Auburn, he sat down with the Daily to reflect on his time at Iowa State. 
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Iowa adoptees seek access to birth certificates

For Michelle Spear, gaining access to her birth certificate is about control. Spear is the founder of the Iowa Adoptee and Family Coalition whose purpose is to give Iowan adoptees access to their original birth certificate which a law has blocked them from doing since 1941.

A safe call for help: Iowa student body president pushes for medical amnesty

Underage drinkers, at least in Iowa, will let fear of legal repercussions keep them away from the emergency room. Student Body President Cole Staudt has seen this firsthand.

Politics and Administration Coverage

$2.5 million in cuts may be made to Iowa State's budget this year

 Iowa State could face an additional $2.5 million in budget cuts this fiscal year, said Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, on Friday.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on SB1 veto: Make school funding fair for the whole state​

 Iowa State could face an additional $2.5 million in budget cuts this fiscal year, said Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, on Friday.

Police Beat Coverage

Bike locks do not guarantee safety from theft

It is a common saying that the best security to keep your bike from getting stolen is having a rusty, archaic bike. Unfortunately, at Iowa State, where bike theft is rampant, this is not the case.

A night with an Iowa State police officer

It started with a knock at the door; loud, aggressive pounds that would frighten any dorm hall resident, especially one illegally housing cannabis in their room.

Possible on-going community threat after early morning sexual assault

The Ames Police Department is warning the community of a possible on-going threat after a woman reported being forcibly taken from her car and sexually assaulted at Franklin Park early Saturday morning.
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