Job: Visual journalist.

Years at the Register :  A little over two years. I also spent 2½ years at the Omaha World-Herald.

I grew up in: The northwest side of Des Moines.

I live in:   The northwest side of Des Moines.

I graduated from: Hoover High School (Go Huskies!) and the University of Iowa.

Family:   My parents and biggest fans, Kathleen and Brian, and one well-dressed tuxedo cat, Jelly.

Email:  lasmith@dmreg.com

Why journalism? I was influenced by a few fantastic Des Moines Public Schools teachers: Timm Pilcher, Jeff Werth and Sarah Hamilton. They, despite the district continuing to replace my journalism teachers, showed me that this career was important and that it could take me as far as I was willing to let it. Somehow, it brought me right back to Des Moines.

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