Journalists at The Oregonian/OregonLive won seven first prize awards in a five-state journalism contest and swept the categories of investigative reporting and coverage of government and politics, social issues, crime and justice, and spot news.

The 2016 Northwest Excellence in Journalism competition, sponsored by the regional Society of Professional Journalists, was open to news media in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The Oregonian/OregonLive won more awards than any other large news outlet.

Reporter Rob Davis won the investigative category for his series "Toxic Armories," revealing the National Guard's neglect of dangerous lead dust at locations nationwide. Reporter Kelly House and data journalist Mark Graves claimed the runner-up prize for their investigation of Oregon's giveaway of groundwater, "Draining Oregon."

House and Graves also claimed the first-place award in government and politics coverage for their work on groundwater, while reporter Molly Harbarger claimed the runner-up award for her coverage of the forgotten promises of riverbank housing for Oregon tribes.

The top prize for comprehensive coverage went to reporters Andrew Theen, Rebecca Woolington and Molly Young for their coverage of the aftermath of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community Community College.

Reporter Maxine Bernstein claimed two first prizes. She won the top crime and justice reporting award for her work exposing Oregon's failure to track sex offenders. She also took first in the spot news category for her coverage of the aquittals of the Bundy brothers and other occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Reporter Casey Parks won first prize for her moving short-form feature on the closing of the Joyce Hotel, last-resort housing for vulnerable Portlanders.

The Oregonian swept the awards for social issues coverage. Reporter Aimee Green won first place in the five-state region for her story about Portland developer Jordan Schnitzer's battle to be declared the sole parent of a baby whose genetic mother wanted the child in her life, too. Parks won the runner-up award for her story about a Wilsonville family in which the father transitioned into a transgender woman.

Other news outlets that won big in the large newsroom category were SeattlePI.com, which won five first place awards for photography, and The Seattle Times, which also won five firsts, for photography, sports coverage, column-writing and digital innovation.

Among medium-size newsrooms with 49 or fewer employees, Willamette Week won first prizes for investigative reporting by Nigel Jaquiss, social issues reporting by Rachel Monahan and general excellence.

The general excellence winner for large newsrooms has yet to be announced.

The other winners from The Oregonian/OregonLive, all runners-up, were:

>> Carli Brosseau and Rebecca Woolington, in the category of crime and justice reporting, for their examination, "When a trooper slaps his son."

>> Teresa Mahoney for investigative video reporting on "Toxic Armories."

>> Steve Duin, for column-writing.

>> John Canzano, for his sports feature on JT Taylor.

>> Mark Graves for his spot news photography of Trump election protests in Portland.

Mark Graves took this photograph of a protester and a police officer at an anti-Donald Trump rally in Portland in November 2016.

-- The Oregonian