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.