Wrapping up my autism series for November.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I believe I've blogged about this before, but I'll give it one more entry just because I feel it's that important. For the past three months, I've been working on a four-part autism series chronicling the lives of four families, ...

Question of the Day: Has the decrease in gas prices been encouraging for you?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

Anytime I can save money on gas, I'll do it. Of course, does a few cents less help any? I can still remember seeing signs like this as a kid. Boy, if I only I had been old enough to ...

The Power of Thank You.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DUNCAN / VICTORIA ADVOCATE Whenever a Victoria Advocate reader stops by to personally thank you for a story, it warms your heart. It really does. This afternoon, Vicky Zarate stopped by to thank me for a story ...

Question of the Day: Do you get your flu shot? Why or why not?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

One of these days I will man up to getting my flu shot. No, it's not the needle; I'm relatively OK with needles. But in all my years I have yet to get my flu shot and I've always turned ...

Even being in the face of death can be a beautiful thing.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I've heard about this type of photography before. I have to say, I think what photographer Terri Shaver is doing is a great thing. I have interviewed several cancer survivors, particularly breast cancer survivors, and often the hardest part of ...

Question of the Day: Do you feel we do enough to support breast cancer awareness?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

October hasn't even started and already I'm seeing flyers already for different events going on in the community. Being the health reporter, I see a lot of work being put into raising this awareness. Pick up a copy of the ...

An Awareness on Breast Cancer Awareness.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

You can't enter October without seeing the bright pink ribbons adorning anything and everything. It's breast cancer awareness, and the events held for it are never-ending, and rightfully so. In Victoria alone, several events I know of are already lined ...

Question of the Day: Question of the Day: What has been the most challenging part about summer?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I've been having some trouble posting the photos, so those will be coming soon. I definitely have to say seeing my electricity bill skyrocketed has been the hardest part of this summer. Not only has it been unbearably hot, but ...

Covering a school shooting.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I never expected to report on a school shooting, but of course, my job is unpredictable. But that's exactly what I did this morning, it was more of a follow up, but the idea of being so close to where ...

For crying out loud, listen to our youth!

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

"I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. What do I have to do so people will listen?" - Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, dead. I encourage you to watch this video about Jamey, who committed suicide after being ...