Mitch Ryals is driving clear across the country to become City Paper’s next Loose Lips reporter. He will begin in mid-October.

He comes to us from the Pacific Northwest Inlander where he’s been a staff reporter since 2015, covering stories on why there was a rash of suicides at the Spokane County Jail, the life of a teenage police informer, and a series of questionable autopsies by county medical examiners. He’s written articles for nearly every section of the average newspaper, and looks forward to taking on local politics in D.C.

Ryals is from St. Louis and is a 2012 graduate of University of Missouri. He earned two undergraduate degrees, one in journalism and the other in English, and went on to complete a master’s in journalism at Mizzou.

He’s a fearless and prolific writer who has more story ideas than time in his day. His beat reporting for the Inlander won first prize at this year’s Association of Alternative Newsmedia awards.

“I’ve admired the City Paper‘s work from afar for years, and I’m excited to bring fresh eyes to the political scene,” says Ryals.

Wish him well on his 2,400-mile journey east!