teen mom

The teen pregnancy rate is far higher in Texas than most other states in the US, and in Bexar County, 46% of single mothers live below the poverty line.

new town

After a month off to catch up and decompress, I'm starting a new adventure in Texas at the San Antonio Express-News. This is the view from the rooftop of my apartment building just south of downtown- it used to be a candy factory. Its been an interesting first week, but I am excited to work with a very talented group of shooters, despite the sad state of the industry. Now more than ever, it is important to be out there telling stories. My heart goes out to all those who are feeling lost.

tradition

My goodbye to home was a blast. Tampa has a unique tradition called Gasparilla where grown men join fraternities, dress up as pirates, and invade the city to rape and pillage and reak havok. I have avoided the chaos for many years, but this year, my brother became one of them and I had to witness it. My writer friend Layla Bellows joined me for the adventure and had some pretty funny things to say about the experience... Oh, and is that guy serious? I'm gonna miss Florida in all its wackiness.

shooting survivior

Joseph “Ike” Eisenower, 51, was shot in the face and the foot during a robbery on Fifth Avenue North in Naples. His friend, Jacques Lamothe, was killed. Nearly two months later Eisenhower is still recovering from his wounds. He has a scar on his right cheek, from where the bullet grazed him. His right foot still has pins in it. A devout Jehovah’s Witness, Eisenower believes it is a miracle that he’s still alive. "Why I turned my head so quickly, I don't know. It must have been the angel of God," Eisenhower explained.

cop shop

convalescent contortionist

Ann Matistic will turn 82 years old on Saturday, but said, "I feel like I could still do those things, but I'd be afraid to try. I don't feel like I'm 82 at all." When she was 18, she spent a year as a Rockette and was one of only three known people in the world who could sit down on her own head. Matistic now has seven children and 12 grandchildren. Kelly, 20, gave her the stuffed dog she keeps on her bed when she moved into Harbor Chase assisted living in North Naples earlier this year.

ho ho ho