1st place, General News - Meg Vogel / The Cincinnati EnquirerCheri Lee celebrates passing her massage therapist license test with Probate/Juvenile Judge James A. Shriver, during Clermont County Family Dependency Treatment Court in Batavia. The court was set up to help families torn apart by drug abuse by providing them support to find housing, jobs and counseling.
2nd place, General News - Jeremy Wadsworth / The BladeKayla Ballez hugs her son Damarco, 1, at her home on Elm Street in Toledo. The family's home was ransacked and they were held hostage during a home invasion earlier in the day.
3rd place, General News - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchEdith Espinal looks out the doorway from the Columbus Mennonite Church in Clintonville where she has sought sanctuary as her family speaks during a press conference. Espinal, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, is facing deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Award of Excellence, General News - Amy E. Voigt / The BladeAssistant prosecutor Frank Spryszak (right) helps victim Denise Glover's mother, Karen Reasonover go into the court to give her victim impact statement during the sentencing of Maurice Kenney for involuntary manslaughter and other charges for fatally shooting his live-in girlfriend Denise Glover.
Award of Excellence, General News - Kareem Elgazzar / The Cincinnati EnquirerTerina Allen, sister of Sam DuBose, addresses the press outside the offices of Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters, following his announcement that there will not be a third trial of former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing in the killing of Sam DuBose at the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office in Cincinnati.
Award of Excellence, General News - Kyle Robertson / The Columbus DispatchWesterville Police Honor Guard raises up the United State, Ohio and Westerville flag during the playing of the pledge of allegiance during the Westerville's September 11th memorial service at First Responders Park in Westerville.
Award of Excellence, General News - Leah Klafczynski / Akron Beacon JournalBrenda Ryan, mother of the late Sheena Moore, is embraced by her son, Jason Moore (right), while talking about her daughter's death outside the Summit County Courthouse in Akron. Ryan and a group of supporters demonstrated a peaceful protest outside the courthouse before the sentencing of Derrick Sales, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for giving fentanyl to Sheena. The protest was put on to call the attention to the need for state legislation to put fentanyl on par with heroin.
Award of Excellence, General News - Meg Vogel / The Cincinnati EnquirerEmily Amilin, a third grade teacher in the Oak Hills Local School District, adopts Anna, 7, and Adrian, 4, in Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph "Ted" Winkler's courtroom. Amilin is a single mother who adopted three other children in 2007. She said "I thought there was a need. I felt I had the energy and resources."
