First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerIn March of 2009, the Catholic Diocese of Catholic announced the closing of 52 churches in the region, leaving parishioners heartbroken. Though many churches appealed, Bishop Richard Lennon would reverse his decision on only two. Thirty one of those churches closed by year end, with the remaining 19 by the middle of 2010. An automated gate and a chain link fence to protect the church in a neighborhood that continues to deteriorate.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAnn Christopher sits with her daughter Elizabeth, 10, during a prayer service at St. Stephen Church. St. Stephen's was one of the Cleveland churches in danger of closing during the Catholic Diocese downsizing.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerDaniel Flesza pokes his head out of the pew during the Polish mass at St. Casimir Church. The church closed it's door for the final time last November.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerAndy Toth, a former parishioner of the now closed St. Margaret of Hungary, protests outside St. Mary Church. Bishop Richard Lennon presided over the final mass at the church this morning.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerGeorge Gamble is comforted by Lisa Sullivan after hearing the Church of St. Adalbert, the city's first black Catholic church, will close it's doors as part of the diocese downsizing. Gamble has spent his entire 26 years in the church. He was baptized, made his first communion and confirmation at the church, and came back to work at St. Adalbert School after graduating from college.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerThomas Sutton-Lovett, a seminarian who grew up in St. Adalbert Church, holds the Easter candle as it is lit before the Holy Saturday Vigil.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerCollin Klaco folds his hands in prayer during the final mass at St. John the Baptist Church. Klaco's father, Paul, was an altar boy at the church while growing up. Bishop Richard Lennon was at the Akron church to preside over the final mass.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMembers of the group Endangered Catholics protest outside of St. Procop Church before the final mass. The church closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerMark Holan, left, of Cleveland, comforts his daughter, Annie, as the two were standing on the altar after the final mass at St. Procop Church. The church closed it's doors for the final time after the morning service.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerBishop Richard Lennon implores a group of protesters to vacate the closed St. John the Baptist Church. Bishop Lennon was at the Akron church to preside over the final mass.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerParishioners from St. Casimir shout at Bishop Richard Lennon after walking out of the closing mass. Shouts of "go back to Boston" and "Judas" were heard from the crowd. The mass was interrupted on several occasions with protests and one parishioner cut power to the church's audio system.
First Place, News Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerKristina Moreno carries off a portrait of the Black Madonna after a morning prayer service outside the closed St. Casimir Church. Church services have continued on the church's sidewalk even though the doors have been shuttered since early November.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerA woman points to a missing persons poster of her friend, Janice Webb who was one of the eleven identified at the home of alleged mass murderer Anthony Sowell, on a memorial wall November 10, 2009 created for loved ones missing in the Cleveland area located across the street from Sowell's home on Imperial Avenue. The missing persons board that was fastened to a fence has grown to a board of unsolved murders in Cleveland with signs, candles and stuffed animals to honor the dead.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerA crowd from the East 123rd Street and Imperial Avenue neighborhood gathered to watch as Cuyahoga County coroners and Cleveland police searched for bodies at the home of Anthony Sowell on the east side of Cleveland October 30, 2009.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCuyahoga County coroners use shovels and a backhoe to clear dirt in the backyard at the home of Anthony Sowell as they exhume another body in the backyard November 3, 2009 in Cleveland's east side.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCuyahoga County coroners and Cleveland police dig up where a search and rescue dog marked earlier to what may be the remains of the fourth body recovered from convicted sex offender Anthony Sowell's home October 30, 2009 on the east side of Cleveland. Sowell is still at large and believed to be in the Cleveland area.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThe silhouette of a pair of curious onlookers watch as the Cleveland police and Cuyahoga County coroners search for the bodies of victims at the home of Anthony Sowell November 3, 2009 in Cleveland's east side. The victim count is up to eleven and the search will continue inside the house tomorrow.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerCuyahoga County coroners fasten straps around a body dug up from the back yard at the home of Anthony Sowell November 3, 2009 in Cleveland's east side.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerMarquilla Bryant (right) consoles her cousin Tina Cook who are cousins of Le' Shaunda Long, one of the 11 identified women in the home of alleged mass murderer Anthony Sowell, during a candlelight vigil at the memorial site on Imperial Avenue in Cleveland, November 12, 2009
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerAndrayah Shabazz, daughter of Crystal Dozier who was announced by the Cuyahoga County coroners as a victim in the Anthony Sowell mass murders, cries as the family talks with the press November 7, 2009 in Cleveland.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerAlleged serial killer Anthony Sowell appears in court with handcuffs on his hands that were used in the strangulation deaths of 11 women found in and around his home.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerFlorence Bray (right) mother of Crystal Dozier who was identified as one of the 11 women found on the property of Alleged serial killer Anthony Sowell, receives a hug during the wake portion of Crystal's funeral service November 21, 2009 at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Second Place, News Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerA lit prayer candle sits among flowers on the sidewalk at the corner of Imperial Avenue and East 123rd Street across the street from the home of alleged mass murderer Anthony Sowell November 12, 2009 after a candlelight vigil at the memorial site in Cleveland.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchOhio has about eight times as many shelters for animals as for victims of domestic violence. Few other crimes touch as many lives and receive so little attention. Jessica, of Galloway, Ohio, is a survivor of domestic violence. She was severely beaten by her boyfriend of two years who was convicted of a misdemeanor and received six months in jail for his actions. Jessica holds a an image of herself shortly after being beaten, November 5, 2009.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Police Officer Anthony Sebastiano explains to a South Side woman steps she can take to protect herself from an abusive former boyfriend. The woman shows Sebastiano how the man twisted her arm.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch"The look in his eyes . . . he scared me bad," Jenny said after her former boyfriend punched her and trashed her house.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchColumbus police officers called to a domestic violence scene walk through a yard full of items that used to be in side the house, a result to a domestic dispute.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchColumbus police officers called to a domestic violence scene peer into an SUV where children of the couple are waiting in the car.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchColumbus police handled more than 6,600 domestic-violence cases last year. Officer Jonathan C. Dent (right) shows frustration after arresting Willie S. Johnson, 43, on a domestic-violence charge in September. Johnson later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchFranklin County Municipal Court Judge, Michael Brandt works his way through domestic violence arraignments, October 8, 2009.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch Domestic violence suspects line the wall awaiting arraignment in Franklin County Municipal Court, October 8, 2009.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchA woman with two black eyes watches from behind a glass divider as domestic violence suspects are arraigned at Franklin County Municipal Court.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchTiffany Patrick was murdered by her boyfriend who had repeatedly abused her, she is missed by her family and friends, including her mother, Stephanie West and two daughters Kiara Brooks, 6, and Deona Craine, 16.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus DispatchThe fallout from a failed protection order: Kiara Brooks, 6, witnessed her father, Sean O. Brooks, shoot and kill her mother, Tiffany E. Patrick, then himself in 2007
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati Enquirer
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerShot dead were Noelle Washington, her 9-month-old son, Anthony Jones, and Sharailyn Wright, a 3-year-old girl for whom Washington was babysitting. A neighborhood reacts with a prayer vigil, emotional funeral services including a mime's tribute dance. The killer has not been caught.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerPreacher and anti-violence advocate Rev. Damon Lynch, stands at the casket where Noelle and her son lay in repose. Shot dead were Noelle Washington, her 9-month-old son, Anthony Jones, and Sharailyn Wright, a 3-year-old girl for whom Washington was babysitting. A neighborhood reacts with a prayer vigil, emotional funeral services including a mime's tribute dance. The killer has not been caught.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerSelma Vaughn wipes her eyes outside of the church as the funeral service nears and end. Shot dead were Noelle Washington, her 9-month-old son, Anthony Jones, and Sharailyn Wright, a 3-year-old girl for whom Washington was babysitting. A neighborhood reacts with a prayer vigil, emotional funeral services including a mime's tribute dance. The killer has not been caught.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDoves are released at the end of a funeral service for Sharailyn Wright who was killed in the shootings. Shot dead were Noelle Washington, her 9-month-old son, Anthony Jones, and Sharailyn Wright, a 3-year-old girl for whom Washington was babysitting. A neighborhood reacts with a prayer vigil, emotional funeral services including a mime's tribute dance. The killer has not been caught.
