When Yengich left the Leader in 1990 she was replaced by Joe Murchison , a longtime professional journalist who had previously worked for the '' Fauquier Democrat '' , '' Richmond News Leader '' , and '' Columbia Flier , '' and who had been a reporter at the '' Leader '' since 1985 , serving as acting editor in 1988 – 89 while Yengich was taking a year of absence . Under Murchison 's guidance , the paper shifted from a broadsheet format to tabloid in January 1994 , and changed from a paid to free circulation model . While Murchison was editor of the paper , major stories which appeared in the '' Leader '' included its local coverage of the 9/11 terror attacks . Hijacker Hani Hanjour had stayed at the Valencia Motel in Laurel prior to the attack
9/11
September 11 attacks
Laurel Leader