As a criminal justice reporter at the Rapid City Journal, I capture emotional testimony while providing clear narratives in criminal cases, and discover unique civil and criminal cases that I break down for non-legal nerds like myself. I rush out of the office to report from the scene of breaking news events and interview eye witnesses.
I enjoy giving voice to crime victims, defendants, incarcerated people and their families who let me into their homes and lives to share their personal stories. And I like the challenge of using public records and sources to write about issues officials don't want to talk about such as how two people died after a police officer rear-ended their van and how a woman was kidnapped and raped after a deputy decided not to stop by her house after she requested help.
I report on data, personal stories and solutions related to South Dakota's meth crisis, crime trends and efforts to reduce racial inequity and the population in jails and prison. After witnessing an execution, I vividly described the procedure and captured the emotions of the victim's loved ones.
I also write about Native American affairs, including stories about the first permanent healing space in the country for loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, a Two Spirit couple who helped legalize same-sex marriage on the Pine Ridge Reservation, families who recently learned their relatives died at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School, and how experts say the city and the school district are illegally letting others use the school's old land.
Before moving to Rapid City I won 14 state and national awards at the Nogales International (NI) where I covered stories in Ambos Nogales (Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico) and throughout Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
At the NI I explored the stories of a small town divided by a potential mine, knocked on doors for an article on the nuances of affordable housing, and wrote about a man I met at the grocery store who dresses like it's Halloween every day.
I also tracked down eyewitnesses to piece together a carjacking spree before the suspect gunned down a police officer, asked hard-hitting questions to officials from the local to federal level, and discovered that a rape allegation preceded the mysterious downfall of a fire chief.
In my free time you can find me riding my bike in the Black Hills, playing with my cat Sully and listening to podcasts.
Send tips or say hello at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com or ajzionts@gmail.com
I enjoy giving voice to crime victims, defendants, incarcerated people and their families who let me into their homes and lives to share their personal stories. And I like the challenge of using public records and sources to write about issues officials don't want to talk about such as how two people died after a police officer rear-ended their van and how a woman was kidnapped and raped after a deputy decided not to stop by her house after she requested help.
I report on data, personal stories and solutions related to South Dakota's meth crisis, crime trends and efforts to reduce racial inequity and the population in jails and prison. After witnessing an execution, I vividly described the procedure and captured the emotions of the victim's loved ones.
I also write about Native American affairs, including stories about the first permanent healing space in the country for loved ones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, a Two Spirit couple who helped legalize same-sex marriage on the Pine Ridge Reservation, families who recently learned their relatives died at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School, and how experts say the city and the school district are illegally letting others use the school's old land.
Before moving to Rapid City I won 14 state and national awards at the Nogales International (NI) where I covered stories in Ambos Nogales (Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico) and throughout Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
At the NI I explored the stories of a small town divided by a potential mine, knocked on doors for an article on the nuances of affordable housing, and wrote about a man I met at the grocery store who dresses like it's Halloween every day.
I also tracked down eyewitnesses to piece together a carjacking spree before the suspect gunned down a police officer, asked hard-hitting questions to officials from the local to federal level, and discovered that a rape allegation preceded the mysterious downfall of a fire chief.
In my free time you can find me riding my bike in the Black Hills, playing with my cat Sully and listening to podcasts.
Send tips or say hello at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com or ajzionts@gmail.com
