Sharyn Jackson

My latest front-page story talks about the controversy over drones and secret targeted killings of American citizens, the possibility of civilian casualties, and the psychological toll remote warfare takes on soldiers, as a new Air Force drone operation comes to Des Moines.

The story, for the Des Moines Register, also ran in USA Today.

In December, I had two front-page stories I’m very proud of. The first, for World AIDS Day, profiled a lovely young man who has HIV. The second profile a brave woman who was willing to share her experiences with early childhood trauma.

Click the front pages to read the stories.

The New Face of HIV/AIDS in Iowa – Dec. 1, 2012
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Iowa children face greatest risk of abuse in their earliest years – Dec. 31, 2012
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Yesterday I was on the scene after a high-speed car chase involving a federal fugitive.

“Eighty-three-year-old Jim Limke was sitting in a recliner in his east-side Des Moines home Thursday afternoon when he heard a knock on his front door.

A man wanted to use his phone, so Limke said he let him into his home.

After calling a cab, the man waited inside the house. Limke didn’t know the man’s name or his predicament.

“He was just another young punk as far as I’m concerned,” Limke said. Limke also didn’t know that during the 20 minutes the man was in his home, about a dozen law enforcement officers had surrounded the modest yellow house, their guns and rifles raised and ready.

A second knock on Limke’s front door was the police who were looking for the man, a federal fugitive who had led officers on a high-speed chase through Pleasant Hill and part of Des Moines’ east side…”

Read on.

There’s just one week left till Election Day and I’ve been covering politics here in Iowa.

Today, I covered former President Bill Clinton‘s appearance for Obama in Mason City, Iowa.

This weekend, I spent a day with campaign volunteers for Mitt Romney, going door-to-door in the Des Moines suburbs.

Yesterday, I attended two campaign events: one for Obama in the morning, and Ann Romney speaking on behalf of her husband in the evening.

And here’s a story about the youth vote in Iowa, and how both campaigns are working to energize college-age voters.

Tomorrow I’ll be covering Vice President Joe Biden’s visit. Stay tuned…

Update: Here’s my coverage of Joe Biden.

And here’s my story about a campaign visit by Paul Ryan.

In my first few weeks at the Des Moines Register, I’ve covered everything from politics to cowboy mounted shooting. Here’s a sampling:

Advocate for homeless youth shares her own painful past, October 25, 2012

Living to 100 not just another day for Iowans, October 24, 2012

Coat drive offers warmth to needy Iowa kids, October 22, 2012

Pub crowd cheers Obama, maintains that he’s back, October 17, 2012

Hot shots show their sport in Winterset, October 13, 2012

Elizabeth Smart offers message of hope, October 12, 2012

In Iowa, mayor of Los Angeles says Romney would reverse progress, October 21, 2012

U.N. secretary-general urges students to look beyond U.S., October 20, 2012

To stay in the loop about all of my stories, follow me on Twitter @sharynjackson.

I started a new job this week as a general assignment news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Here’s my first story, about a possible tornado outbreak this weekend.