From the AP, April 18-25

McQuade of Philadelphia Daily News recognized for headline writing in ACES contest.

The American Copy Editors Society has awarded $2,250 in prizes to five copy editors for exemplary headline writing in 2004.

The first-place award for the largest papers, those with circulations above 250,000, went to Liz Miniet, a features copy editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Among Miniet's entries, for a review of a tribute album to Johnny Paycheck: Take this ode to Paycheck and love it.

The top prize in the next circulation category, 100,000 to 250,000, was won by Drew McQuade of the Philadelphia Daily News. Among McQuade's entries: Ruthless! Red Sox oust Yankees, ghosts, advance to World Series.

In the 50,000 to 100,000 circulation group, the winner was Steve Byers of the Huntsville ( Ala. ) Times.

The first-place prize for editors at papers of less than 50,000 circulation was given to Dalton Tomlin of the Denton ( Texas ) Record-Chronicle.

In the student division, the top prize went to Anna Holland of Clovis , N.M. , a recent graduate of Iowa State University .

The first-place winner in each professional category received $500. The student winner was granted $250.

In the staff division, which judged a group of headlines written by several editors and was open to newspapers of any size, the award went to The New York Times. There was no cash prize.

The competition was sponsored by the American Copy Editors Society, a professional association of more than 800 members that held its ninth national conference April 21-23 in Hollywood.