Jeff Sturgeon covers the transportation, banking and federal court beats. He takes seriously the role of newspapers as watchdogs of the public good, enjoys paring back technical jargon that obscures simple ideas and never forgets a face or name. A reporter for more than 30 years, he’s spent the past 20 years at The Roanoke Times. Outside work, he prefers hard labor – work boots, required – at home in the garden and woods. The item that tops his personal and professional gadget wish list is a drone with camera.