Email Author Margaret Downing

Awards

• 2012 - Maggies: The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing, published December 22, 2011

  "Mistaken Identities"

• 2011 - Maggies: The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing, published December 23, 2010

  "Children of God"

• 2011 - Lone Star Awards, published December 23, 2010

  "Children of God"

• 2011 - Lone Star Awards, published December 30, 2010

  "The Whipping Boy"

• 2011 - Lone Star Awards, published June 3, 2010

  "Homeless High"

• 2010 - Lone Star Awards, published June 4, 2009

  "Let the Record Reflect"

• 2009 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published May 8, 2008

  "Mental Anguish"

• 2009 - Lone Star Awards, published November 13, 2008

  "Bad Faith"

• 2009 - Education Reporting Awards/National Education Writers Association, published April 10, 2008

  "Exit Exams"

• 2008 - Maggies: The Magazine Awards of Western Publishing, published May 31, 2007

  "Killing Fences"

• 2008 - First Amendment Awards/The Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, published October 25, 2007

  "Death in a Box"

• 2008 - Lone Star Awards, published October 25, 2007

  "Death in a Box"

• 2008 - Lone Star Awards, published August 23, 2007

  "Judging Books and Their Covers"

• 2007 - Education Reporting Awards/National Education Writers Association, published October 5, 2006

  "Opt In, Opt Out'

• 2007 - Lone Star Awards, published October 5, 2006

  "Opt In, Opt Out"

• 2007 - Lone Star Awards, published May 11, 2006

  "Diary of a Mad Man"

• 2006 - Lone Star Awards, published August 11, 2005

  "Who Cares?"

• 2006 - Lone Star Awards, published February 17, 2005

  "Mind Reading"

More

2009 Stories by Margaret Downing

• Computer Driven

  published December 31, 2009

  There are some rock-solid truths to the universe usually discovered by anyone who's ever been in ISS (in-school suspension). You don't... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  A Chorus Line: One Day A Hairstylist, The Next A Dancer On National Tour

  published Dec 25, 2009

  r Rebecca Riker always liked dancing and was good enough at it to land a gig as an NBA dancer for the Sacramento Kings in her home town when she was 18 -- but a try at college didn't take. "Wasn... More >>

• Holiday Madness

  published December 24, 2009

  For Kelly Robertson, it all started stupidly enough with a fight on Twitter with her boyfriend. She wanted to leave town; he didn't. She went... More >>

• All Is Not Sweetness And Light At Reagan High School -- UPDATED AGAIN, Supt. Wants Investigation

  published Dec 10, 2009

  rFurther discussions of what organizers are calling "systemic illegal referrals of students to CEP/alternative disciplinary education on the basis of forged government documents" at Reagan High Sc... More >>

• Carnegie Vanguard May Finally (And Happily) Move To A New Home

  published Dec 10, 2009

  Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier says he loves working with "prickly parents" because they care about their children and want what's best for them.Perhaps that's why he and the HISD administrati... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  HISD Head Says CEP Will Grant Contract Extension, Giving Him Time To Study Whether To Renew It

  published Dec 09, 2009

  rHouston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier told Hair Balls today that he has a verbal agreement from the leaders of Community Education Partners that they will extend their contract renewal deadline... More >>

• Dueling LULAC Press Conferences Over CEP, HISD's Alternative School For Troubled Students

  published Dec 08, 2009

  It was one of those great, if little noticed moments in Houston history, as separate local chapters of LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizens) - as usual belying the "united" part of thei... More >>

• Boating on Buffalo Bayou

  published Dec 04, 2009

  Buffalo Bayou Partnership is promoting its boat tours -- tying them into the Christmas season -- as part of its continuing effort to try to get Houston residents out of their cars and down to the bayo... More >>

• New HISD Superintendent May Be Ready to Cancel CEP Contract - UPDATED

  published Dec 04, 2009

  rNote: This story has been updated to make clear that Dr. Terry Grier wants to investigate CEP further, not that he is calling right now for its contract with HISD to be canceled. If you read past... More >>

• Crave Cupcakes for the Holidays

  published Dec 02, 2009

  Crave Cupcakes in Uptown Park dropped a dozen cupcakes off at Eating...Our Words this morning to give us a chance to try out its special holiday flavors: gingerbread with cream cheese frosting and egg... More >>

• Not So Happily Ever After

  published December 3, 2009

  Thirty-two-year-old Shundrekia Edwards and her two sons live in one bedroom of her parents' southeast Houston house near Mykawa Road. All three... More >>

• Highland Village Farmers Market Thanksgiving

  published Nov 20, 2009

  For the down-to-earth and/or most ambitious of us, Olde World Farms is offering a limited supply of free range turkeys at the Highland Village Farmers Market this Saturday. It's part of a huge pu... More >>

• New Menu Items at Ra Sushi in Highland Village

  published Nov 18, 2009

  RA Sushi's corporate executive chef Tai Obata has come through with some new menu items -- several with a Tex-Mex influence -- and we made our way over to a media tasting to try them out at the Highla... More >>

• Strip House Restaurant: Five Years of Fine Dining and Pictures of Naked Women

  published Nov 17, 2009

  In honor of its Fifth Anniversary, the Strip House, 1200 McKinney, is offering a five-course meal for $55 that is a real deal for anyone not bothered by a whole lot of pictures of naked women on the w... More >>

• MasterMind Awards

  published November 19, 2009

  For the second year in a row, the Houston Press is on the prowl for artists, innovators and entrepreneurs who are changing our creative and... More >>

• TUTS' Sound of Music: The Nuns Will Be Singing But Thank God They Don't Have to Tap Dance

  published Nov 17, 2009

  It's been years since Roy Hamlin, associate artistic director at Theatre Under the Stars, has had anything to do with The Sound of Music -- not since his high school days when he was playing Uncle Max... More >>

• Straits Singaporean: A Different Kind of Fire

  published Nov 17, 2009

  rThere we were, looking at what appeared to be eyes staring back at us in a faintly orangish sauce. "It's messy," my dining companion promised, "But it's good." Actually, the "eyes" were halv... More >>

• Five Guys Burgers and Fries: New Location

  published Nov 16, 2009

  Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which started out in Arlington, Va. more than 20 years ago, is opening another restaurant in Houston today. The latest is at 1150 Fry Road, another one of 50 stores its p... More >>

• Houston Press MasterMinds Awards: Money For Artists

  published Nov 11, 2009

  For the second year in a row, the Houston Press is on the prowl for artists, innovators and entrepreneurs who are changing our creative and cultural landscape.And we need your help.If you know of one ... More >>

• Planned Parenthood Director Becomes an Anti-Abortionist Protester

  published Nov 02, 2009

  rThis just in from Bryan, TX: Abby Johnson, the very recently former director of Planned Parenthood in that city, is now a protester outside the facility. In an interview filmed by KBTX - TV, Cha... More >>

• When Do We Go After the Crooks Behind Our Financial Collapser

  published Oct 30, 2009

  rPresident Obama and his new administration were going to be so tough on the corporate villains who had such a large role in fostering the recession that has upended the finances of so many. But ... More >>

• It's Gruesome, But Terrific

  published Oct 26, 2009

  The male lead blows out one of his eyes with a firecracker. The scene plays funny, for the most part.The female lead slices her stomach open to get rid of everything that's been troubling her. As sad ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Selma Blair And Brad Fleischer On Vomit, Gore And The Ick Factor

  published Oct 23, 2009

  rSelma Blair playing Kayleen picks at the blood on on fellow actor Brad Fleischer's face -- an action designed to be both comic and in keeping with the title of the terrific new, two-actor ... More >>

• Moving Day For Mary Poppins Isn't Exactly Supercalifragetc.

  published Oct 21, 2009

  The Mary Poppins house was brought in by truck and moved into the Hobby Center in two big pieces starting Wednesday morning. First the top was suspended from the ceiling and then the bottom slid ... More >>

• Sophie Hannah Wasn't The Wrong Mother, But She Was Close Enough To Get Ideas

  published Oct 19, 2009

  Let's see: Sally, the heroine of the book really doesn't like her kids all that much from time to time. She feels trapped by them, suffocated by their needs and although husband Nick helps out, he's n... More >>