SFR freelancer Laura Paskus, who regularly reports and writes on environmental issues for the paper, received first place in general environmental reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, in its annual Top of the Rockies Competition.

Paskus won for her August 2010 story on the potential risk of feminization of the endangered silvery minnow fish, due to contaminants in the Rio Grande.

A complete list of winners, who were announced on April 15 in Denver, is available on SPJ's website.