Herald veteran Jeff Greenburg has been named political writer and Patrecka Adams has been hired as a general assignment reporter for The Herald's news-gathering team.

In his new role, Greenburg will cover Mercer County government and general assignments and work closely with Nick Hildebrand, The Herald's political editor, in coordinating the newspaper's political coverage.

Greenburg, 43, earned a bachelor's degree in history with an emphasis in pre-law from John Carroll University near Cleveland in 1982 and spent two years at Youngstown State University with a concentration in communications.

He joined The Herald sports staff in 1992 and was promoted to assistant sports editor in 1995 and to sports editor in 1998. At his request, he was moved to general news to the copy desk last August as a page designer and copy editor.

He left the sports department because he wanted to switch to writing about area politics and county government. He lives in Shenango Township with his wife Bobbi and their daughter Johnna, 5, and son Noah, 2 months.

Adams, a 2002 graduate of Youngstown State University, earned a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in English studies. She replaces Erin Palko, who resigned March 26 to join UPMC Horizon in its public relations department.

While at Youngstown State, Adams, who lives in Canfield, Ohio, served as a reporter and assistant news editor during her three years on the Jambar, the university's student-run newspaper.

Adams, 27, is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.