Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Washington Business Journal Entry Title: "Toppled. Greater Washington leaders had big plans for affordable housing funds. But the coronvirus crushed them." Entry Credit: Alex Koma Judge Comment: An interesting package of stories on the impact of pandemic on affordable housing initiatives and funding in the Washington region. This is especially important in light of an already expensive housing market facing additional pressure from the location of the new Amazon headquarters.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Crozet Gazette Entry Title: Dick Woods Project Tests Limits of Farm Winery Rules Entry Credit: Lisa Martin Judge Comment: A story about the unintended consequences of legislation that aimed to make its easier for agritourism to flourish by easing building and environmental regulations. It allowed for development of large structures for wine tasting and big events on a rural mountaintop served by a one-lane road.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Virginia Lawyers Weekly Entry Title: Unlinked Entry Credit: Peter Vieth Judge Comment: Funding of prosecutors based on number of charges filed and convictions gained raises interesting questions about the motivation of those charges.
