Born and raised in Philadelphia - "North Philly to me!'' - Ms. Amos graduated from 12 years of Catholic elementary and high school into Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, where she achieved a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in economics. Those subjects came in handy over her reporting career at the Grand Rapids Press, Orlando Sentinel, Detroit News, St. Petersburg Times and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"I've spent most of my life sticking my nose where some people think it doesn't belong. In the process I seek to shine light on the dark places of secrecy in our society and economy and at the same time, hopefully, help people to help themselves and others. This column is one way I hope to fulfill this life's mission. Instead of just sticking my nose in, though, I'm also offering my two cents. I hope people feel it's worth it.''

E-mail: damos@enquirer.com; phone: (513) 768-8395; fax: (513) 768-8340; mail: Dee Amos, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202.

D E CE M B E R   2 0 0 2
•Before you drink, think about this
•Emergency contraceptives do their job
•The first Christmas - We give gifts because we got greatest one
•Affirmative action - Will Bush carry on in Lott mold?
•It's fundamental - Low reading scores demand extra attention
•He ain't heavy - Consider the alternatives to Sen. Lott
•Are we in Lott's mirror?
•From the heart - Were Lott's words really a mistake?
•Illegal drug sales - A dilemma over how to fight dealers
•Protecting the retarded - Irene's tale shows need for change
•Low turnout - For voters, location is important

N O V E M B E R   2 0 0 2
•Bean-bag incident - Questions have been left unanswered
•Giving thanks - We can learn from first Americans
•All smiles - Dental gift will go long way for the poor
•Paying more for less health insurance
• Racial conflict - Cincinnati has to kick its addiction
• Pursuing your dream - For a song, singers offer inspiration
• Winning voters back - Let's face it; the Dems just blew it
•CPS bond issue - At least the `no' voters cast votes
•Planting seeds - Computer COP plan paying off
•Wellstone was one of a kind
•Neighborly un-love - Race issues play out on playground

O C T O B E R   2 0 0 2
•Schools levy - Physical upgrades are critical need
•Light rail - How do we train people to like trains?
•Sniper arrests - Suspects' race only makes it harder for us
•Impact 100 - Women pool resources to form charity
•Going to waste - Grieving for lost potential of children
•Owensby death - Nobody cared - except for themselves
•Dodging danger - Dad fights for sons' successes
•Not just an utterance - Caton's slip was attitude on display
•Feeling the heat - Firefighters can keep their jobs
•Different city, familiar questions
•Double standard - Bush family has two sets of family values
•More than a touch-up - 'Barbershop' is worth a good gabfest

S E P T E M B E R   2 0 0 2
•William Jonathan Mayo - Strong arguments for a new trial
•Recruiting from school - War threat stirs mom's worst fears
•Campaign finance - Money should not cancel out anyone's vote
•Life lessons - Gov. Patton disgraced self, politics
•Officer Roach's trial - Records should be unsealed
• Interactive drama - How far would you go to be free?
•The new West High - Catching students' curiosity
•No contest - I'll join Twitty in copping plea
•Preparing to die 'I have time to say my goodbyes'
•Twitty case resembles a tragedy - Sometimes appearances count
•Business as usual wrong for 9-11

A U G U S T   2 0 0 2
•Lincoln Hts. reunion - Put anger aside for sake of kids
•Spousal abuse Good support system isn't always enough
•Heimlich talking or campaigning? - Radio stint earns trip
•Downtown melee - Clearing up who should be blamed
•Black Family Reunion - Unsupervised youths gave us black eye
•Risky business - It's up to us to ensure kids are OK
•Policing the police - Still too many holes in the new rulebook
•Neighborhood gem - Actions really are louder than words

J U L Y   2 0 0 2
•Salvation in OTR - Lynch's Wine Skin helps addicts
•Safety lessons - Who can our kids trust?
•Indentifying the boycotters - Are you now, or have you ever been ... ?
•Taking the Fifth - Silence not virtue for Twitty
•Eviction on owners' minds before mold
•Housing crisis has tenants in turmoil - Owner neglect
•More than a friend - Assistance dogs give life, liberty
•Killing ourselves for pizza, fries
•Drive-by heartbreak - - It could happen anywhere

J U N E   2 0 0 2
•Meningitis study - Researchers' ad exploits fear factor
•Our Music Man - We're sadder but wiser in River City
•Calming hearts - Traumatized preschoolers find haven
•One man's story -'See the potential in all youth'
• Groundbreaking - Politicians can't ruin special night
•Last chance to provide public input
•Traffic ruckus - Anti-ticket book gets Ohioan
•Nefertiti Awards - - Black women recognized for heroics
•Since Sept. 11 - Friendly U.S. skies push profiling
•Abuse by priests - Can clergy be trusted to police?
•Cross burning- This speech should be banned
•Budget gives to the rich, not the poor

M A Y   2 0 0 2
• Opening windows - Photos aid perception of mentally ill
• Don't call me ... - Telemarket ploys driving us all dingy
•Slavery reparations - One man's suit tests skepticism
• Money sharks- Tax credit makes target of the poor
•Education - Coming soon: Training for corporate life
• Is my money really safe at Peoples?
•Gay Presbyterians - Real issue is one of inclusion
•Bad timing - Recruiting ad for church draws laughs
• Role model - Mother devoted life to children
• Dueling coalitions - Infighting just slows the healing
• Don't give up - Age, stroke couldn't stop degree quest
• Thousands of black voices almost muted
•HIV as weapon - Judges can help protect the innocent
•A cop's life - He's been shot at, spit on, griped at

A P R I L   2 0 0 2
•Sellers beware - Used-car sale seemed on up and up
•Lessons in racism - Friction gives spark to mob mentality
•Survivors' march - Take Back the Night unites victims
•Troubled school needs to stay open
•Music of life - 'Jigga' event is tribute from friends
•Fond farewell - Teacher ends career with no regrets
•Division of races - Black man feels alone in Evendale
•A key lesson - Those on fringes must learn respect
•Copwatch - Group is monitoring OTR streets
•A hostile world - It'll take the city to raise our children
•Unrest, rebellion? - When is a riot not really a riot?

M A R C H   2 0 0 2
•Victims of abuse - Mentally retarded lack a voice
•Settlement - It's about more than individuals
•City book project - 'Dying' holds lessons for today's men
•Chief Streicher - There's place for the buck to stop
•Ohio working to end lead paint woes
•Praying for change - Graham visit needs focus on real deal
•Pointed weapons - Police guns, citizen's nightmares
•Parents, it's you - The most important teachers
•Racial gaps - Adding up the factors of failure
•Prevention - After-sex drugs don't get their due
•Police cases - An optimist still hopes for justice
•New lease on life - Landlords should honor vouchers
•No ending here - Will anyone claim ashes of R. Dier?

F E B R U A R Y   2 0 0 2
•It's in the mail - I'm not the only one with an opinion
•Third Frontier - Taft offers starry goals, murky plans
•Second thoughts - Examining the call for amnesty
•City unprepared - Meeting turned into disaster
•Abortion tyranny - Backward Ky. Senate shows stripes
•My story - New view on the Land of Flying Pigs
•Hip hop healing - The 'Nati's gotta have faith in O.J.
•Tough love - No Cosby left room for change

A R C H I V E :
• 2003 columns