Weeklies awards *

At the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies awards this weekend in San Antonio, two local writers won first place in the Arts Feature category. Kristine McKenna won in the over-50,000 circulation group for her LA Weekly piece, "The Ace is Wild: The Doug Chrismas Story." In the under-50,000 group, Hillary Johnson won for a piece in the Ventura County Reporter, "Horace Bristol." Johnson is editor of the Reporter, whose art director, Monica McGregor, also won a first for editorial layout. Other locals took home second and third place awards: Full list of winners.

* Also: An LA Weekly advertiser has sued owner Village Voice Media, claiming his ad rates have doubled since the company bought out New Times Los Angeles. Attorney Scott Myer is asking for class-action status.