We’re hearing more than murmurings that Jennifer Yachnin, an investigative reporter for Roll Call who focuses on the Congressional ethics process, is leaving as of April 1. Her previous beats include House leadership, Capitol Police and campus issues, and the Capitol Hill neighborhood. We’re hearing that a second reporter is also leaving around the same date.

We’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE: Confirmed. We’ve just learned that Yachnin’s husband got a job in Colorado.

Five Roll Callers took home honors in the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association 2009 Editorial Contest. The awards were presented as follows:

Morton M. Kondracke: First Place, Local Column: Critical Thinking

Jennifer Yachnin: First Place, Investigative Reporting

Elizabeth Brotherton: Second Place, Environmental Reporting

Emily Yehle: Second Place, Feature Story Profile

Alison McSherry: Second Place, Feature Story

Congrats to all!

Reporting on Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) isn’t easy on reporters – especially since the freshman lawmaker changes his story so much.

As Washington scandals go, Massa’s has all the right elements:

1. sexual inuendo
2. alcohol
3. a bridesmaid
4. a congressman
5. the word, ‘fracking’

Roll Call’s Jennifer Yachnin has the gritty details, as heard on Massa’s weekly radio show on WPKQ:

“On New Year’s Eve, I went to a staff party. It was actually a wedding for a staff member of mine; there were over 250 people there. I was with my wife. And in fact we had a great time. She got the stomach flu,” he said. (The stomach flu is always a good time)

(Read the rest of the explanation after the jump…)

NBC’s Luke Russert on MSNBC Monday morning after Massa blamed his departure on Democratic leadership’s health care legislation: “It’s very odd that Congressman Massa now makes this a case about health care. …As you recall last week he made this a case about cancer.” Russert describes the time line: “Cancer, denial, admission, conspiracy by Democratic leadership.”

Read more

From Charlie Mitchell:

I am pleased to report that Greta Wodele, currently of CongressDaily, will be joining the Roll Call reporting staff. Greta will be covering the House along with Susan Davis and Jennifer Yachnin. She comes off an impressive six-year run at CongressDaily, starting as an associate editor, then covering the post 9/11 debates over homeland security and finally as Senate leadership reporter. In addition to her talent for breaking news, I am happy to note that Greta brings a strong bat to the Roll Call softball team. Greta’s first day is Feb. 22.

The CongressDaily to Roll Call road continues to be well worn (Brody Mullins, Chris Cillizza, Susan Davis, John Stanton, Charlie Mitchell, Emily Heil…). Paul Singer also moved over from National Journal to Roll Call.

The announcement from CongressDaily:

Folks:

Greta has submitted her resignation effective at the start of the Presidents Day recess to become the third person covering the House for Roll Call. Greta has been with us for more than six years, starting out as associate editor for the PM and helping the AM, then moving to markup and homeland security coverage and finally for the past year serving as our Senate leadership reporter. We thank her for her many contributions to CongressDaily and wish her well.