Kaitlyn Laabs, Patch Staff

Born and raised in Southern California, Kaitlyn got her start in journalism writing for her hometown newspaper, The Redlands Daily Facts. Kaitlyn came to the East Coast to attend Brown University and fell in love with the energy and camaraderie of New England. While at Brown, she played on the varsity softball team and covered sports for The Brown Daily Herald. Following her passion for the social and political issues surrounding American cities, Kaitlyn graduated in 2009 with a degree in American Studies. While in Providence, Kaitlyn found her niche at WBRU-FM, working as a news and sports anchor. She delved into the local political scene, reporting on the Rhode Island budget battle, foreclosure crisis and the juvenile justice system. Kaitlyn served as WBRU's News Director in 2008, when she spearheaded the station's coverage of the 2008 Election and reported from the 2008 Democratic National Convention and the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Kaitlyn's reporting has garnered numerous Associated Press honors, including the awards for Best Use of Sound, Best Sports Feature and News Station of the Year. When she is not out chasing stories, Kaitlyn enjoys playing sports, singing, dancing and travelling.