The Rocky Mountain News won 36 awards in the annual state competition sponsored by the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists.

The Denver Post won 35 awards, Westword won seven.

News4Colorado.com won one.

John Farrell of the Post won the Best of Colorado award for "On One Leg, a GI Fights to Build a New Life."

SPJ presented the awards, for stories published from Sept. 1, 2003, to Aug. 31, 2004, at a banquet Friday night at the Brown Palace Hotel.

These are the complete results in the division for large newspapers:

News Reporting, Single Story

• First: Brian Crecente and Hector Gutierrez, News, "Dead Wrong" about the accidental shooting of an invalid by a Denver police officer.

• Second: Ann Imse, News, "Dying to be Paid," about sick and dying former workers at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant.

• Third: Charlie Brennan, Owen Good, Julie Poppen and staff, News, "'Dozer Rage," for coverage of a bulldozer rampage in Granby by a suicidal man.

General Reporting, Series or Package:

• First (tie): Jane Hoback and staff, News, "The Healing Fields;" Robert Sanchez and staff, News, "Jonathan's Journey."

• Second: Alicia Caldwell, Post, "Eminent Domain"

Investigative/Enterprise Reporting

• First: Arthur Kane and Miles Moffeit, Post, "Iraqi Prison Abuse"

• Second: Jerd Smith, Todd Hartman and Ken Papaleo, News, "The Last Drop" about mountain water shortages

• Third: Arthur Kane and Allison Sherry, Post, "Buried Mistakes"

News Feature

• First: (tie) Jim Sheeler, News, "The Life of Pfc. Givens" about an Iraq war widow receiving the last letter written by her husband; Lynn Bartels, News, "Moving on After Columbine" about a survivor of the school shooting at Columbine High School.

• Second: Jim Sheeler, News, "Tale of Two Tombstones" about two soldiers who make tombstones for fallen soldiers

A Reader

• First: John Farrell, Post, "On One Leg, a GI Fights to Build a New Life"

• Second: David Holthouse, Westword, "Stalking the Bogeyman"

• Third: Michael Booth, Post, "Boy Wonder"

Personal Columns

• First: Jim Spencer, Post

• Second: Andrew Cohen, News4Colorado.com

• Third: Tina Griego, News

Editorials

• First: Vincent Carroll, News

• Second: Peter Blake, News

Cartoons

• First: Mike Keefe, Post

• Second: Ed Stein, News

Education Reporting: News or Feature

• First: Allison Sherry, Post, "School Arts Funds Take Detour"

• Second: Allison Sherry, Post, "Schools Unequal in Search for Funds"

• Third: Eric Dexheimer, Westword, "Terminal Solution"

Political reporting: News or Feature

• First place: Anne Mulkern, Post, "When Advocates Become Regulators"

• Second: Eric Gorski, Post, "Politics, Faith on Collision Course"

• Third: Alan Prendergast, Westword, "Outfaxed"

Legal Affairs Reporting: News or Feature

• First: Kevin Vaughan and Jeff Kass, News, "Doubts and Contradictions" about the Columbine tragedy

• Second: Eric Dexheimer, Westword, "Age Inappropriate"

• Third: Staff, Post, "Dismissed" coverage of Kobe Bryant

Science/Environmental/Agricultural/Medical Reporting: News or feature

• First: Theo Stein, Post, "Water"

• Second: Joanne Kelley, News, "Trinidad Sex Change"

• Third: David Olinger, Post, "80216"

Sports Reporting: General Reporting

• First: Staff, News, "Benched" about the temporary suspension of University of Colorado football coach Gary Barnett

• Second: Marc Spears, Post, "Lost in Translation"

• Third: Clay Latimer, News, "Twinge of Disappointment" about a diver at the Olympics

Sports Reporting: Feature Writing

• First: Bill Briggs, Post,"A Legend and a Life"

• Second: Clay Latimer, News, "Going to the Mat for Kayla" about a wrestling mom

• Third: James B. Meadow, News, "Cowboy Built Fort-Tough" about a rodeo cowboy star

Sports Columns

• First: Mark Kiszla, Post

• Second: Eric Dexheimer, Westword

• Third: Bernie Lincicome, News

Business Reporting: General reporting

• First: Rachel Brand, News, "Divided Loyalties" about the aftermath of the Pueblo steelworkers strike

• Second: Kris Hudson, Post, "Days of Wine and Rages"

• Third: Staff, News, "New Beer Buddies" about the Colson-Moors brewing merger

Business Reporting: Feature Writing

• First: Christine Tatum, Post, "The Legal Bane of Homebuilders"

• Second: Ricardo Baca, Post, "Music Fans Feeling Shortchanged"

• Third: Ross Wehner, Post, "High Stakes Venture"

Business Reporting: Investigative/Enterprise

• First: Business staff, News, "Broken Promises" about pension funds

• Second: Michael Riley and Greg Griffin, Post, "High Cost of Gold"

• Third: David Kesmodel, News, "Secret of Captain X" about a United pilot who helped found Frontier Airlines

Business Columns

• First: Al Lewis, Post

• Second: Rob Reuteman, News

• Third: David Milstead, News

Arts and Entertainment Reporting: News or Feature

• First: John Moore, Post, "Stage of Healing"

• Second: Patti Thorn, News, "Plains Talk"

• Third: Jason Heller, Westword, "Ghost-Ridden"

Arts and Entertainment Reporting: Criticism

• First: Jason Sheehan, Westword

• Second: Joanne Ostrow, Post

• Third: Mary Voelz Chandler, News

Arts and Entertainment Reporting: Features in Food/Beverage Writing and Reporting

• First: John Lehndorff, News, "Pressure Cooker" about the opening of restaurant Rioja

• Second: Kyle Wagner, Post, "Scenes from a Dining Car"

• Third: Kristen Browning-Blas, Post, "For 42 Years, Ace was the Place"

Spot News Photography

• First: Andy Cross, Post, "Surrender"

• Second: John Epperson, Post, "Water Rescue"

• Third: Andy Cross, Post, "Gang Killing"

News photography

• First: Glen Martin, Post, "A Patriot's Son"

• Second: Evan Semon, News, "Disbelief"

• Third: Helen Richardson, Post, "Remembering Columbine"

Feature Photography

• First: Craig Walker, Post, "High Five"

• Second: Barry Gutierrez, News, "Moving on After Columbine"

• Third: Marc Piscotty, News, "Dog Show"

Sports Photography

• First: Joe Mahoney, News, "Upended"

• Second: Rodolfo Gonzalez and Joe Mahoney, News, "Olympics"

• Third: John Leyba, Post,"Steer Wrestling"

Photo Essay

• First: Ellen Jaskol, News, "The Healing Fields"

• Second: Marc Piscotty, News, "Friday Night Lights in Colorado"

• Third: Glenn Asakawa, Post, "Boy Wonder"

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