http://www.marconews.com/staff/leslie_hale/<p>Leslie was not born a Tar Heel, but she spent most of her life in the great state of North Carolina, growing up in the mountains of Asheville where she developed a love for hiking, biking, kayaking and camping. After graduating from high school, she struck across the state for Chapel Hill, where she spent four years studying journalism and anthropology, as well as men's basketball between the months of November and March.</p> <p>Soon after her spring 2007 graduation, Leslie arrived in Naples to begin covering city government on Marco Island for the Marco Eagle, part of the Naples News Media Group. There, she covered city council elections amid a controversial project to replace the island's aging septic tanks with sewers, a political issue that pitted islander against islander.</p> <p>In 2008, Leslie moved to the Naples office to take over coverage of the transportation and growth beat. Major issues during her time covering transportation and growth include the state's efforts to lease Alligator Alley to a private entity, at the heart of one of her first assignments on the beat. At the start of 2009, Leslie began covering education in Lee County, entering the scene just as budget discussions struck up surrounding fears of a looming deficit that threatens to change the landscape of public education.</p> <p>While not working, Leslie enjoys reading, running, playing tennis with comical ineptitude and camping during the two months of the year when the weather allows it in Southwest Florida.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ndnleslie">■ Become Leslie's Facebook friend</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/NDN_lhale/">■ Give Leslie a tweet</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leslie-williams/14/263/34b ">■ Get LinkedIn with Leslie</a></strong></p> <p>Swing by some of Leslie's favorite Web sites:</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.npr.org/">■ For your NPR fix when you don't have a radio handy</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/">■ For when you can't remember the name of that actor in that movie you saw ages ago</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.omnomnomnom.com/">■ For when you need a quick laugh to keep you moving through your day</a></strong></p>en-ushttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/2008-old-timers-reunionSeveral hundred people gathered Sunday, October 5 in Naples for the annual “Old Timers” Reunion.Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:35:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/2008-old-timers-reunionhttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/biking-babiesMotorcyclists hit the road for eighth annual March of Dimes fundraiser.Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:28:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/biking-babieshttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/pirate-ship-treehouseThe Hansen's show off their pirate ship treehouse in East Naples.Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:52:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/pirate-ship-treehousehttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/raw-video-security-airportSecurity and media wait for President Barack Obama’s arrival at Southwest Florida InternationalTue, 10 Feb 2009 18:08:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/raw-video-security-airporthttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/barack-obama-swflWhen Barack Obama visited Southwest Florida for a town hall meeting in February, area residents wereTue, 03 Mar 2009 19:45:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/barack-obama-swflhttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/baseball-field-dedicated-ryan-lucierBoston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett turned out to throw the first pitch and officially dedicate aWed, 18 Mar 2009 11:12:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/baseball-field-dedicated-ryan-lucierhttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/pinewoods-elementary-lets-cow-out-barnTeacher Carol Channels and Community Resource Coordinator Alex Wilkinson lead a tour of the COW, theThu, 16 Apr 2009 19:23:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/pinewoods-elementary-lets-cow-out-barnhttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/reptile-man-and-his-scaly-slithering-friendsJohn Storms spends his days presenting lessons on ecology and environment to children all overSat, 01 Aug 2009 19:02:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/reptile-man-and-his-scaly-slithering-friendshttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/gov-crists-keynote-address-charter-summitGov. Crist talks about the role of charter schools in the Florida education system.Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:41:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/gov-crists-keynote-address-charter-summithttp://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/bonita-charter-sport-stackersOn Nov. 12, students from Bonita Springs Charter School joined thousands of kids from around theThu, 12 Nov 2009 21:17:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/bonita-charter-sport-stackers