The Express-Times, lehighvalleylive.com recognized by Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

The newspaper and online staff captured first place in coverage of online breaking news for coverage of Tropical Storm Irene.

Staff members of The Express-Times and lehighvalleylive.com are among dozens of journalists being recognized tonight at the Pennsylvania Press Conference in Gettysburg, Pa.

The Keystone Press Awards recognize outstanding work in the Pennsylvania newspaper industry and are presented by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation.

Lehighvalleylive.com captured first place in the online breaking news category for its coverage of the remnants of Tropical Storm Irene last August.

Other award winners are:

*Business editor Tom Zanki, who won second place in the business or consumer story category for his story "Jobs in search of workers," which examined the need for skilled workers in local manufacturing jobs.

*Retired sports editor Ed Laubach, who won honorable mention in the sports story category for "Colangelo commanded respect," a profile of retired Belvidere football coach Dom Colangelo.

*Lisa Massey, who captured first place in the photo story category for her coverage of the long-awaited funeral for Air Force Maj. Bruce Lawrence, of Phillipsburg.

*Matt Smith, who won first place in the sports photo category for his photo of a diving catch during an Easton-Liberty football game last fall. Smith also received an honorable mention in the same category for a photo taken during the Lopatcong Invitational swimming meet.

*Chris Post, who won second place in the news photo category for a photo taken during the funeral for Mount Arlington (N.J.) police officer Joseph Wargo Jr.