Dry and No Sign of Relief

For the last two days, my stories have centered around the dry weather. Yesterday I got a chance to interview a farmer struggling with one of the driest summer months in a long time. Then today, I spoke with the fire marshal about a ban on burning for residents in Louisiana. It was a strange feeling, looking at two stories focused around weather that isn't happening. Most of my weather stories come from flooding, tornadoes or even hurricanes. It's strange to know that something as seemingly innocuous as a lack of major storm or rainfall can quickly turn into something that can affect a lot of different people in a lot of different and sometimes very difficult ways. I guess all we can do is complete our own private little rain dance for hope for a little precipitation.

Heating things up...

It's hardly news when the weather is hot in Louisiana in the summertime. But this week, the temperatures have been exceptionally high and that means it goes on our newscast. Today my story centered around weather so hot, that highways in our state are actually buckling. Reporting on hot weather has its advantages --- when it comes to getting people to talk, it's a much easier sell than taxes, politics or religion. After all, we've all be taught that talking politics or religion can be rude and you're definitely running the risk that many people won't agree with you. But when we're dealing with the weather, everyone is a bit of an expert and everyone has their own descriptions of just how hot it is outside. The downside though, it's already hot enough wearing a suit and makeup --- add to that the constant talking about just how stifling it is, and it's a recipe for feeling just a little too warm.

DWI on the Water

Today I was back on boat safety patrol, focusing on a DWI bill that has just been signed into law. In talking with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, I was amazed at just how many roadway laws don't quite translate into the water. For example, prior to this bill, if someone crashed their boat and killed someone, there was no requirement that the driver of the boat be drug or alcohol tested. But when it comes to the road, the driver is required to be tested. Another bill that's headed through the legislature would make sure that if you lose your license for driving drunk on the road or the water, you won't be able to take the wheel of a boat. They seem like simple little loopholes, but the hope is that by closing them, it presents an overall picture that Louisiana won't tolerate drinking and driving on the water. After covering the fatal boating accident recently and seeing the pain in the eyes of the victim's family and friends, it's a message that I believe couldn't come soon enough.

Tailgating Time

Today was one of the better Fridays I've had in a long time. My story focused on the tailgating happening tonight before the Tiger baseball game. It's been a long time since I've gotten to do a tailgating story --- fall and football season seems so far away. So while the weather was beautiful, I got to take in the sights and sounds of the most avid fans. My favorite part about these stories is the people you meet. Each one has their own little story and I like to tell as many of those stories as possible --- whether it's the friends who grew up tailgating, the grill masters prepping for a game, or one guy known as "the bead man." It's a great way to showcase the unique and wonderful culture that is Louisiana and to take my first steps into the upcoming weekend.

Construction upside

Today my story centered around the construction business and the way Baton Rouge seems to avoiding the slow trend. As a reporter, I always enjoy covering construction stories. They're very visual with plenty of action happening, so the video always looks pretty great. Today was no exception. Plus, as someone who recently bought a new house, it's fun to get the behind the scenes look at how the buildings are constructed from the ground up. I've covered a number of stories on the economy and Baton Rouge and I'm usually pleasantly surprised at how our area has been insulated from some of the woes facing the rest of the country. But that doesn't mean there haven't been some reality checks and tough job losses for people in the region. It all just makes me very thankful day to day that I'm lucky enough not only to have a job, but to have one that I love.

Alligator Bayou Woes Continue

Today I made my second visit out to the tourist spot, Alligator Bayou. The change in scenery was tough to see --- nearly heartbreaking. What used to be a booming ecosystem and business, full of wildlife, is now dried up and closed to tourists. There's no lake anywhere in sight. And for the owner, Frank Bonifay, the pain about losing his business is palpable. You can hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. I'm not an ecologist or drainage expert, so I don't really know what solution would be. I just wish there was a way to make everyone happy and protect areas from flooding without taking away a business that a man has put all his time, energy, and money into for the last 15 years.

Life Vest Lessons

Life jackets have come a long way since I've been a kid. I remember when I was out on a boat, they were always the bulky, annoying part of the trip. But after taking a look today many of the vests are much less cumbersome, more lightweight. Today, my story centered around whether or not folks should be forced to wear the jackets on the water. I've covered several drownings in recent days, so I can certainly see their importance. Even more hard hitting --- the comments from many of the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents. They say, between 2005 and 2008 not a single drowning victim in a fatal accident covered by their office had been wearing a life vest. Stark statistics that may have me reaching for life vest next time I climb on board a boat. I am a strong swimmer, but as one boater told me, those swimming skills don't really matter all that much if an accident knocks you unconscious.

Daring to fly

As a person who works in news, I feel like sometimes I tend to hear the worst case scenario on a daily basis. It's hard to get away from the reports of crime, and recently, it seems like I've heard about my share of plane crashes. But fear of flying has never been a problem for me. In fact, sometimes a little turbulence just makes the ride more interesting. It's not that I'm particularly brave, to the contrary I'm a wuss --- you'll never catch me sky diving or bungee jumping or even riding Disney's Tower of Terror. I guess I've always felt that there aren't really that many crashes in the large commercial planes I fly so often. Today my story was about a plane crash where the two people involved walked away. Just another reason for me to take a deep breath and relax during my next plane trip.

Hi-Tech Thieves

Today my story focused on identity theft. It's a topic that comes up a lot in the news, but I'm always surprised at just how many scams find their way to our area. For the last two weeks, I've been receiving e-mails from a group claiming to be Bank of America. They've got the logo and even a convincing-looking link, but it's all just a scam. I've done so many stories on the topic that I knew right away to be cautious, but I can see how people are fooled. Now there are even 'phishing' text messages. But perhaps the most annoying, at least for me, those "your warranty is about to expire" calls. Answering my work phone to hear some woman or man yelling about me through a taped recording that it's my "final warning" is unnerving at best. I guess one price of all the wonderful technological advances is that there's always hi-tech thieves and scammers following close behind.

Missing the Ocean

You can tell we're making our way towards summer. The air has gotten thick and the sun has reached a level of unbearable brightness. And for me that means I start missing the beach. But not just any beach --- Long Beach Island. It's a little island off of the coast of New Jersey. Now, I can already hear the snickers and the jokes. I realize the Jersey shore is not considered prime beach territory. The water is more green-grey then crystal blue and it's usually pretty chilly until late into the summer. But it's the place where I spent many summers as a kid, learning to love the taste of the salt in the air and all the different things a sleepy shore town has to offer. Like Freddy Herman's, a tiny, rickety convenience store where penny candy is sold alongside the fishing bait. And, of course all the crazy tourist shops selling cheap flip flops and hermit crabs. But no matter how appealing, for now I'm in Louisiana and the vacation days are pretty limited. I'll just have to make do with a picture of the dunes on my desktop.

Tough Choices...

Today my story talks about a place where health care and morals meet. The result is a controversial bill going through the senate. The bill protects doctors if they refuse to give patients treatment that violates their moral code. This has a number of groups, like planned parenthood, concerned. They worry that it could bar access to things like birth control and the morning after pill, especially for women in rural areas with limited access to health care. It's a thorny topic that we're probably only going to see more to come. The issue of choice comes to the forefront --- it just seems like it's a matter of who gets to chose...doctors, patients or the government.

Growing old, facing choices

Whether you're in your 20s or 90s, you've probably been touched by the tough decisions that come with growing older. Like many in my generation, I'm watching my parents struggle with how to care for aging parents. Can the parent live on their own, or is a nursing home a must? How do you find the right facility? And with baby boomers making their way toward social security, it's an issue that will only continue to become more important. Today my story focuses on cuts to independent care programs. These programs provide nursing services to people in their own homes so that they don't have to go to a nursing home or group home. I can understand many of the people's concerns when faced with these cuts. The idea of losing your independence can be even more daunting than losing your health. I can only hope that as I grow older, the options will continue to increase, making some of life's toughest decisions a little bit easier.

Speed Van manners

In tv news, there are some moments that are gritty and even hard to watch. But just as often, people are especially polite when the camera is pointed their way. Today my story focused on speed vans --- the automated vehicles that read your speed and capture a photo if you're going over the limit. If you're just talking with your friends on an average day, you'd be hard pressed to find anybody singing the praises of a system that gives you tickets. But it's a different world when carrying the camera and the mic. Everyone was remarkably diplomatic today --- citing the need for the vans to slow people down. Even the speed demons out there admitted they should maybe back the speedometer down. And with police saying they've seen fewer accidents, I can see their point. I guess sometimes a little ticket or fine might be a necessary evil. But that doesn't mean I'll be smiling for the camera if I ever get caught by the speed van putting the pedal to the metal.

Swine Flu continues

The weekend is over and it's time to pick up the swine flu story. Today I visited Lake Elementary where one student has been diagnosed with a confirmed case of the disease. But unlike some other areas, they didn't close the school. While that follows the recommendations of the state Department of Health and Hospitals, it did concern some parents. I can understand both sides of the issue. Luckily, it looks like the disease is not nearly as dangerous as first feared. It has been no more fatal in the United States than the regular flu. But I feel like at least for the time being, we may all be waiting and holding our breath for the next flu season. Waiting to see if this strain could mutate into something more dangerous. I just hope in the meantime, the wonderful advances in science get a vaccine on the table just in case.

Swine flu swarm

There hasn't been much time to blog recently. The swine flu has taken over a good part of life, not because I'm sick (there are still no official cases in Louisiana, thank goodness), but because it's my story every day. I always enjoy following a beat, especially in a big story like this one. You get to know who to call and all the ins and outs of the topic --- it makes you feel like you're on top of things. I now know more about the H1N1 flu than I had ever hoped to know. So far, my feelings about the disease change day by day. In some moments, I'm amazed and worried at how quickly the disease has spread across the country. At other times, like today, I feel comforted. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is now saying that the virus may not be as ominous as originally thought. I visited with one 2nd grader in my story today who has a different take on the whole scary event. Her school is closed because of a sick student. In her eyes, she's just excited to have the day off. You can catch that story tonight at 10.

Epidemic come to life

Today --- like much of the media --- my story focused on swine flu. When I was reporting in Trenton, NJ, I remember endless press conferences and practice drills dealing with avian flu. Back then I had a hard time imagining a flu epidemic sweeping the country in this day and age. It seems like with all of the safety measures and medicine available in the United States, the disease would be stamped out before it began. But now, seeing the reports and hearing the death tolls from Mexico, it's a wake-up call. Even more disconcerting, the idea that this particular strain of flu seems to kill people between the ages of 20 to 40 more than any other age group. That's my generation and often times, I tend to think we're bullet proof. It's just a good reminder that the unexpected can happen at any time.

Animals out of control

Since I've been reporting in Louisiana, I've done a number of stories revolving around either dangerous or unwanted animals. Some of them have been exciting (pets matched up with owners) others devastating (doing a story on the high number of animals euthanized in shelters and stumbling upon a group of dogs being put down). I'm a big animal lover and that story on euthanizing is something I'll never forget --- though I wish I could.

Today's story focused around new laws for vicious dogs. I think it's an issue that seems important not just for those who have children or who worry about being attacked. It also applies to those who love animals. Perhaps there wouldn't be so many animals euthanized (dozens a day just in one parish) and animals without a home if there were more rules to keep the animals responsibly.

Summer in the spring

Looking at the weather over the next few days, you can't help but feel that summer is on its way. That's always a little tough for me to take. I love the spring, the fall, and the winter in Louisiana, but the hot, humid summers have to be one of my least favorite things about living down here. For all you summer fans, in my defense, I'm originally from Pennsylvania. Growing up in northeast, I can remember actually begging my mom to let me wear shorts in May, despite the 60 degree temperatures. We actually had a rule in our house --- no shorts until it hits 70 degrees. In Louisiana, that could happen in almost any month --- in Pennsylvania you're lucky if it happens even once before June. So maybe this year as I'm attempting to handle the sweltering weather, I'll try to remember the freezing cold, wet winters up north and be thankful for a chance to wear my shorts, no matter the season.

A little library praise

It's finally back to business as usual today. The end of last week was a bit of a wash as I got back into the groove after my vacation. But today, the weather was beautiful and my story focused on one of my favorite places --- the library. Feel free to snicker or label me a nerd --- I already got teased a little by my co-workers. The thing is, the library is one of the few places where you can find endless possibilities even if you don't have any money. They have DVDs, books, magazines, and more in almost any topic imaginable. Even better, they'll let you use their belongings, even take the materials home. You don't give them anything in exchange, only a promise that you'll bring the items back. I can't think of too many other places anywhere in the country with that type of trust.

Ready for some magic

Starting tomorrow, right after the morning show, I will be heading out to Disney World for some time off. When I tell people about my trip, generally I get two types of responses -- the people who are excited for me and those who wonder if I'm a little old for a trip to Disney World (my husband and I don't have any kids so it's just the two of us going).

A few years ago I might have agreed that there's a certain age when the parks just aren't fun anymore; but that was before my husband and I went on the trip in our mid 20's. I had more fun at Disney World as an adult than ever. You just can't take yourself too seriously. We usually go early in the morning, come back to the hotel and relax and then stay out late. That way you beat the crowds. I love Epcot and all the different countries. I get to try food that I probably wouldn't have eaten as a kid or a teen. Plus I have a whole new appreciation for a lot of the work and engineering that goes on behind the scenes for the rides. And while I have to admit, my ideal vacation is probably still sitting on the beach with good weather and a book, I'm really excited to get my few moments of at the happiest place on earth.

Manning the morning desk

For those of you who visit my blog from time to time, I have to apologize for being away these last two days. Right now I'm filling in for Rachel Slavik as the morning anchor. That means I don't necessarily have the stories to tell you about from the field each day, but there's still plenty going on. I've always loved doing the morning show --- there's something about the idea of helping people to start their day on the right note and I feel very privileged when people let me into their lives for those precious morning hours. The only downside has to be the crazy schedule. To produce the show I wake up at midnight, then go into work and finish up a little after 9 a.m. When I step out the door as most people are going to work, it's a cool thing to have your whole day ahead of you like that. The problem is, as soon as I reach my house, I fall asleep. It doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing, I always end up waking up hours later, disoriented. That inevitably leads to no sleep at night and feeling a bit like a walking zombie. But luckily, I'm blessed with a ready supply of caffeine whenever I need it. A few cups of tea or coffee and I'm back to my old, perky self.

Breaking News Fridays

As I come into work most Friday mornings, I always have a mix of emotions. Like most people out there, there's joy that the weekend is about to arrive. But then there's also a morbid curiosity lying just under the surface. That's because it seems like if there's going to be a particularly violent, gruesome or just plain gut-wrenching story, it's bound to break on a Friday. They're the type of stories that hit you when you least expect them --- late in the day or once you already have a great story in the works. If you make plans early on a Friday evening, it's a near guarantee that breaking news in on the way.

So today as I walked into relative quiet of the newsroom, there was cautious optimism. I got a chance to report on an issue that I believe is vital to our area --- health care and making sure we have the funding for those who can't afford to foot the bill. Next to education, I believe it's one of the keys to a successful nation. But now the story is finished and will air in just a few short minutes. I'm wrapping up my day, looking for future stories, and holding my breath. In a job where I thrive on breaking news and the unexpected (that keeps things interesting), today I'm looking forward to a little less dramatic end to the day.

Learning to Save Themselves

Today I found myself doing another water related story. I seem to be reporting near some form of liquid a lot lately, whether it's a fishing story, information on flooding pumps, or alligators in the bayou. But this was some of the most unusual video I've seen in a long time --- infants actually holding their breath under water and being able to float. You can check it out in my story tonight.

It's part of a program called Infant Swimming Resource. Instructors with the company teach young children how to flip over onto their backs and float just in case they would fall into the water. They hope to prevent drowning, which is the number one accidental cause of death among kids under 4.

We saw several students who had completed most of the program. I have to admit, it was hard to watch these tiny babies in the water as they work to roll over, but in each case, the instructor was right there and the children did just fine. It just shows again the amazing capacity kids could have --- learning to save themselves before they can even walk.

Tax Time

It can be hard to find too much excitement for some tax stories when it comes to reporting. The pictures are limited (lots of shots of W2s and 1040s) and it can be pretty difficult to explain some of the new laws in simple terms. But today I had a tax story that was interesting and timely to many here in Louisiana --- new laws for certain types of storm damage.

I met a family who has been cleaning up from Hurricane Gustav for seven months after two trees fell on their home (I've posted pictures from the family above). What they've been through is horrible, yet they seem to have kept some balance about the whole thing. They were so gracious about letting me into their home. It made me feel so lucky that my own home escaped unharmed, but also humbled. I can only hope if I'm ever in a similar situation that I could handle the whole thing with equal grace.

A Weather Story

For the last few days the big news has been weather.  That usually means tons of weather stories for local news.  I've always found the big storm stories to be the most interesting --- the power of mother nature and the effect it can have on everyday people is stunning and heartbreaking.  Since I've been down in Louisiana, I've covered two hurricanes (Gustav and Ike), one snowstorm and plenty of other bad weather.  I'll never forget many of the times I've been soaked to the bone, but also seeing what few people get to see by choice --- the sheer force during the height of the storm. At the same time as I sit here on a Friday night safe in my home, watching and listening to the rain outside, I have to admit that tonight, I'm awfully glad to be off work and out of the elements. Instead of storm chasing, I think I'll use the rain as a backdrop for some tea and a good horror movie.   

Close encounters of the alligator kind...

Today my story centered around a big controversy over an important waterway. The folks at Alligator Bayou are worried their business and all the conservation that goes along with. They think it could be gone forever because of a change in the floodgates in the area. As part of the story, I got a chance to go and see my first alligators.

For someone who has lived near the gulf that may sound strange. But up in Pennsylvania we just don't have gators, except for in the zoo. Instead, alligators are the stuff of legends and eerie news stories where joggers get attacked and possibly eaten. In fact, when I went to move down here, some of my friends actually asked me with great concern to be careful when jogging, especially if I planned to live near any sort of water body.

But today I earned a new respect and awe for the creatures, seeing them up close.....perhaps even closer than I would have liked. One of the owners of Alligator Bayou took me by the hand and led me right up to a full grown gator. After much encouragement, I touched the tail of the animal while the keepers distracted it. I have to admit, I was pretty wimpy about it --- the total time of contact was probably under two seconds. But now, at least I can say I had my own little Steve Irwin moment.

Long time, no fish

Fishing was the topic of the day for me. My story centered around the problems for the fish population following Hurricane Gustav. Many fisherman are seeing much lower supplies in freshwater rivers.

Like many of my stories, it gave me a chance to learn something new and to realize how much I have left to learn. As a kid, I fished with my dad quite a bit both in fresh and saltwater. In fact, one of my clearest early memories is of my father and I sitting on the edge of a lake in Pennsylvania, sharing red Twizzlers Nibs. He tried to find the best spot to cast; I was busy throwing a few of the candies in the water with the hopes the fish would like them as much as I did.

With all this background, I thought I would at least have a pretty decent working knowledge of the sport. I found out, 12 years away from the rod and the reel is nearly a lifetime. I finished my day thoroughly humbled, but also eager to get back to a sport I used to love. I wonder if the fish in Louisiana also have a taste for red Twizzlers Nibs...

A Beautiful Day

Some days being a reporter means facing some of the most difficult and depressing stories out there; stories that never become any easier to cover. A child's death, or a particularly terrible murder are a few of the topics that come to mind. But other times it gives you the opportunity to do something you'd never normally get a chance to try. Today was one of the days when I feel lucky to be in this field. I got a chance to learn about storm debris that is currently clogging up some local waterways. Not only was it an interesting and important story for the area, it meant a beautiful day on an incredible boat. I even got a chance to (briefly) go behind the wheel. But nothing beat simply sitting back, learning something new, and enjoying the sunshine and wind from the water.

Chicken pox no more?

It's strange to think about some of the medical breakthroughs that have already happened during my lifetime. Often, many of the major vaccines eliminated diseases that many of us in our 20s have never seen firsthand --- measles, mumps, polio. Today I worked on a story about meningitis and gathered information on the vaccine to target meningococcal meningitis. That's one of the types that can spread very rapidly with detrimental, even deadly results. It's a vaccine that's beginning to make some of the meningitis scares a thing of the past.

That led to talk about other vaccines that have changed the way things are just within the last 20 or so years. The doctor I spoke with mentioned the chicken pox vaccine. I remember as a child you were almost expected to get the chicken pox. Kids bravely bore out the days of itching and spots as a right of passage. Now, it's become much less common. I guess kids will have to find some new bragging rights; someday chicken pox scars could be completely off the table.

More than a bump on the head?

Today's story stems from questions surrounding Natasha Richardson's death. I know I personally was shocked as the details of the story developed. It's hard to understand how someone could have a bump on the head and seem perfectly fine one moment, then die from traumatic brain injury just two days later. Most of us can remember a time when we bumped our head especially hard. In my case it was at a water park during a rapid river ride. A younger child knocked into me and I flipped over off of my raft, smacking my head on one of the concrete lumps on the bottom of the pool. It created a splitting headache and a rather large lump, but no other damage; that makes me feel pretty lucky.

For my story I got a chance to speak with several doctors who specialize in brain trauma. They gave me some of the warning signs for brain injuries and ways to prevent the injuries in the first place. You can check those out in my story tonight. Beyond that, today was also a just a reminder of what a remarkable organ the human brain can be.

I can see clearly now....

It's wonderful to finally see the sun again. Although I'm the first to admit a lovely rainy day inside can be great, there's nothing like peeking out the window and catching a beautiful blue sky.

Rain can be especially bad in day to day reporting. Yesterday I tried to run between the raindrops on my story about Donaldsonville. On top of any major hair issues, there's also the inevitable gloomy video. Nothing like talking about a better day and revitalization in a town while showing plenty of greyest, dampest pictures possible. Then again, today my story focused on dangerous and sometimes deadly roadways --- perhaps not the best match for a lovely sunny day. But given the choice, I'll definitely take the sunshine.

A Lesson in Art

Usually when schools get into budget trouble, art is one of the first classes on the chopping block. But in my story today, some artists in Donaldsonville are using their galleries as a way to spur economic growth. It was a real lesson in the arts for me. I haven't really studied drawing or painting since elementary school and my talent in that area is next to none. The last art project for me was a paper mache seagull. I couldn't get the beak right, so it had to be turned into a dove covered in feathers after it was all said and done. Nonetheless, when I saw all those incredible sculptures and paintings at the gallery today, it was nice to be able to stand back and enjoy what other talented people had created.

Raining On My Parade

Today I'm going off topic from my daily story. It's Friday, and like many people, I've got the weekend on my mind. I had been looking forward to my first ever Baton Rouge St. Patrick's Day Parade for days. I had images of perfect sunny skies and plenty of beads; it looks like mother nature has other plans. Every forecast out there has plenty of rain and slighty chilly temperatures. But I'm planning to soldier on and enjoy myself anyhow. And honestly, I feel like I can't complain. This summer it was supposed to rain on my beautiful outdoor garden wedding. In the end, it was a perfect day --- the rain passed us by and the sun came out with only a few clouds. That was probably my free "good weather pass" for at least the next few years. So bring on the rain.

To the Man (or Woman) on the Street

Today I'm working on a topic that's become a buzzword in politics --- pork barrel spending. I was a poli sci major in school, so anything political has a special place of interest for me. Anything with a government also means it involves everyday people. When those people appear on camera, many people in news call it "man on the street" interviews. It's a great way to meet new and wonderful folks, but it's often one of the more challenging parts of the job.

Generally we set up at a gas station, grocery store or anywhere with high traffic. The problem is, for every person jumping for their 5 minutes of fame, there are a lot of shy people out there. It becomes a little bit like being one of the people trying to rub lotion on you or straighten your hair at the kiosks at the mall. I (politely) chase after people and try to convince them that they want to be on camera. Some walk to the other side of the parking lot, others make a beeline for their cars. I can't say I don't understand. There are topics I wouldn't want to talk about on camera either and yes, Louisiana often has the makings for a day where your hair should be under a hat, not broadcast for the entire region to see. But then again, how often do you get a chance to voice your opinion? Plus it's the small screen without the humiliation or time that it takes for a reality show. So if you ever see me out there, pat down the hair, take a deep breath and come on over. We'll both be glad you did.

My Blog's Debut!

Today, I'm taking my first steps into the world of blogging. Every day, you'll be able to find me online talking about my story of the day or just whatever is on my mind. I know at the very least my mom will be entertained, at most I hope I provide a little window into the crazy world of being a reporter day to day. So here goes nothing....

Right now I'm working on a special investigation on "sexting" airing tonight at ten. It's a new media buzzword, a combination of...as you probably guessed....texting and sex. I've gotten a chance to talk with teens, the AG's high tech unit, and much more. What I've learned is pretty scary, not only because teens are "sexting," but because it looks like it's pretty easy for those pictures to fall into the wrong hands and wind up on child porn websites, being traded between offenders. For now, I guess I'd better get back to work on the story. Check it out tonight on NBC 33's Ten at 10. Then send me your comments or questions, I'll be happy to answer them.