When I was three, I ran away from home.

My mother had left the front door open as she cleaned and prepared dinner. The phone rang and, seeing a chance to gain my freedom, I bolted as soon as she turned her back.

With the help of some girls jumping rope who’d seen me toddle past, my mom — by then, hysterical — found me in the little market store a few hundred feet away from our apartment, hiding behind the magazine rack where my father would let me pick out comic books.

The adventure marked the beginning of my journalism career. Since, my curiosity has compelled me through many more open doors and  into the world in pursuit of  important, interesting, or comical stories.

Most recently that was as a staff writer with Illinois Times, a newsweekly based in the state capital, Springfield. During my tenure at IT, I covered local neighborhoods and statewide issues, city hall and the statehouse, the homeless and members of Congress. My writing was recognized in the state press association awards contest in the categories of news, business, and twice for government beat reporting.

And, yes, I still manage to cause a bit of hysteria from time to time.

Feel free to follow the links to a few selected feature and news stories. Email me at rlnave@gmail.com with any questions.