Jaclyn O'Laughlin's Multimedia Journalism Portfolio

People Party: President Obama Inauguration Day in Pictures

They came by the hundreds of thousands from across the United States, packing into downtown Washington in chilly temperatures to witness the second and final inauguration of President Barack Obama. From the solemn swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol in the morning to the pomp of the procession along Pennsylvania Avenue and the parade in front of the White House, here is a look at some of the people who turned out for the quadrennial celebration. >>>

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Washington March for Life

Hundreds of thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators from across the United States marched through the streets of Washington in the annual March for Life. >>>

The Little Sisters of the Poor dedicate their lives to taking care of the sick and elderly. The sisters have homes located all throughout the world, but this video focuses on a group in Richmond, VA.

Printed on the front page of The Central Virginian on January 4, 2007

One look at his tattoos and a slight knowledge of his past, and one could become wary of Manuel Rodriguez.  But as soon as you look into his eyes, you can immediately see that he is a changed man with a tremendous love for God, his family and the New Life Community Church.

Rodriguez turned his back on his friends and family when he was a teenager and found comfort on the streets with drugs, but after 30 years of this lifestyle he found a new direction.

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This article was awarded third place honors in the spot news category from the 2007 Virginia Press Association awards contest.

It took two simple words to bring a child that was lost for hours back to his loved ones and complete the story for a happy ending.

Matt Hollis, a two-year-old from Louisa, strayed away from his Cedar Creek Rd. house wearing only a diaper on Monday night around 7 p.m.

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This article was printed on the front page of The Central Virginian on July 3, 2008

For 10 days the Kennys didn’t know if their son Paul was dead or alive.

Andrew and Jeannie Kenny, of Louisa, have always dreaded the thought of receiving a knock on their door or a phone call alerting them that Paul had been injured, or worse, while serving in Iraq.

“That’s what you fear every day,” Jeannie said.

Paul’s brother Arthur agreed.

“Every day is nerve wracking,” he said.

At the end of January, the phone rang.

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Printed on the front page of The Central Virginian on May 8, 2008

Dorothy Christmas had a heart attack the day after she received a letter informing her the Zion Crossroads Trailer Park, her home of 20 years, was closing.

“I don’t know where I’m going to go,” she said during an interview on Tuesday in the park, which is located in Fluvanna County. “I was stressed out from the beginning. But once I got the letter it stressed me out even more.”

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Printed on the front page of The Central Virginian on Thursday, May 15, 2008

Sue Frankel-Streit will not forget.

The sound of footsteps echoing through the Mexican desert like thunder and the sun’s heat beating on her back, will always be ingrained in her memory.

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