The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies announced the winners for the 2009 AltWeekly Awards in Tucson last Friday, and LA Weekly led the pack in the large-circulation division. The LAW has historically done well at the AAN awards, but with massive budget cuts and the recent firing of kick-ass editor-in-chief Laurie Ochoa, it seems plausible the paper's winning streak could slow in future years. Fingers crossed for 2010.

LAW won four first place awards in the following categories:

FOOD WRITING-
Counter Intelligence by Jonathan Gold

ARTS FEATURE-
No Exit Plan and The Life and Death of JT Leroy by Nancy Rommelmann

EDITORIAL LAYOUT-
Death of a Hollywood Beauty by Darrick Rainey

SPECIAL SECTION-
LA People 2008 by Laurie Ochoa and LA Weekly staff

Other awards include:

CARTOON-
Honorable Mention: Mr. Fish by Dwayne Booth

ARTS CRITICISM-
Third Place: Scott Foundas
Honorable Mention: Ella Taylor

FEATURE STORY-
Honorable Mention: From Silver Lake to Suicide by Barry Isaacson

View the complete list of winners at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies website.