This from Randy Michaels: (I read the thing wondering if these people still work for Tribune.)

The 2009 Pulitzer Prizes were announced by Columbia University a short time ago and the Los Angeles Times won the award for Explanatory Reporting.  The Pulitzer board recognized Times reporters Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart for “their fresh and painstaking exploration into the cost and effectiveness of attempts to combat the growing menace of wildfires across the western United Sates.”  You can read the stories online using this link:  www.latimes.com/bigburn.

 
Please join me in congratulating Bettina and Julie for their work on this outstanding series.
 
Two other individuals at the Times were also recognized for their work and were named as Pulitzer finalists.  Paul Pringle was named a finalist in the category of Investigative Reporting for his “meticulously researched stories that, in the face of threats, exposed financial abuses by the head of California’s largest union…”  Paul’s stories resulted in government investigations and led to the departure of the union leader.  Times photographer Carolyn Cole was a finalist in the category of Breaking News Photography “for her valorous on-the-spot coverage of political violence in Kenya...”

 
Finally, the work of the Chicago Tribune editorial board was recognized, and John McCormick, Marie Dillon and Bruce Dold were named as finalists in the category of Editorial Writing for “their persistent campaign to reform statehouse ethics, drawing on corruption in the governor’s office...”

 
Again, please join me in congratulating Bettina and Julie on their Pulitzer win, and Paul, Carolyn, John, Marie and Bruce for being named as Pulitzer finalists.

Randy