Times re-hires Drex Heikes, adds in Sacramento

A familiar face was spotted in the Los Angeles Times newsroom today, being reintroduced. It was Drex Heikes, the former editor of the LAT Magazine, and recently departed editor of the LA Weekly. In his previous stint at the Times he was an editor on the National and Metro desks, and in the late San Fernando Valley edition, among other assignments. He's apparently coming back in January to help edit projects and specialist reporters.

Also hired: A note from Metro's managing editor Ashley Dunn.

To: The Staff
From: Ashley Dunn, Assistant Managing Editor

Chris Megerian, who has been covering New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for the Newark Star-Ledger, will be joining The Times’ Sacramento bureau in January.

During his time at the Star-Ledger, Chris also covered prisons, the state attorney general’s office and the state police, producing stories that changed several law enforcement practices and brought him honors from the New Jersey Press Assn. He participated in coverage of a widespread corruption scandal in 2009 that won an ASNE award for deadline reporting. That team also was a Pulitzer finalist. Chris has a B.A. in journalism and international studies from Emory University.

In Sacramento, he will cover the dynamics of state spending and other aspects of government. He will report to interim Sacramento Bureau Chief Nick Riccardi.

Noted: Evan Halper, the incumbent bureau chief in Sacramento, is away until May on a Knight-Wallace Fellowship in Michigan.

Photo of Drex Heikes: LA Weekly