"Not a 'Super Tuesday' for local fabric store"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - It was anything but a 'Super Tuesday' for one local fabric store, after they were flooded by a burst water main or sprinkler system.  It happened just before 7 PM Tuesday evening at Hancock Fabrics.  The store is under construction, but open for business... with a clearance sale announced on one banner outside the store. I guess they may be having a 'wet fabric' sale sometime, too.

Colorado Springs Firefighters on two trucks from station 10 responded and did some mop up work of the water that filled the store, pushing it out the front door, while getting the water system shut off.  They had to get into the ceiling to completely stop the flow.  Other tenants may have also had their areas damaged by the water.

Photos by News Blab

"Oops... Gaz gets it wrong, cause they weren't there?"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Yes, they were the first to post it to their website today.  I had to read about it on the blotter... but it might be nice, since they are a paid source of Colorado Springs and other news, to get it correct, besides being first.

I don't think they were at the scene that day... unless they arrived after I left, but there were enough other sources, including the police blotter, that provided the correct day of the stabbing.  So why did the Gaz print it as happening on Saturday morning (two times in their article), when it actually happened a day later, on Sunday morning?

I guess we might call a first printing with wrong information... "Premature e-Printulation"...???

Below is the incorrect Gaz story that was printed this afternoon.  I wonder if they will being doing a correction before it hits newsstands in paper form?

From the Gaz website

UPDATE: The Gazette corrected their story to reflect the correct day of the attack (Sunday) with a corrected story posted at 8:08 PM on their website.  Imagine that...

"Arrest warrant for road rage stabbing suspect"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Just after noon today an arrest warrant was signed for the immediate arrest of John Martin Rosa, DOB: 10-5-1988 . The warrant is titled, First Degree Assault with a $25,000 bond. Rosa is wanted in connection with the stabbing following a road rage incident which happened on Sunday.

"Car versus car versus car versus ped"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Good thing no one was seriously hurt in this one.  A vehicle versus vehicle accident occurred on I-25 at Cimarron this afternoon, but it didn't stop there.  Another vehicle then hit one of the vehicles involved in the first accident, sending that vehicle into one of the people involved as he was trying to move a vehicle involved.  The impact knocked him to the ground, where AMR found him upon their arrival.  He was slightly injured, but refused to be transported.

Although I didn't have time to make it up there, I did use a city resource, purchased and operated with my tax dollars, to capture a bit of the action.  Check it out...

From Springsgov.com

"Venus, Jupiter, and Crescent Moon"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - The heck with Super Tuesday... did you see the super view on a Super Monday morning (yesterday)?

Photo by News Blab

"Don't leave home... or a news station, without them!"

2/5/08: Colorado Springs, CO - It amazes me that every news vehicle in town doesn't have the two essential items that no newsie should leave their news station, without.  As pictured below... (1) Your trusty breaking news information device, and (2) A device enabling you a way to get to that breaking news location without having to call the station 5 or 6 times every 15 minutes telling them that you're lost.

In this competitive market, a paper map just doesn't cut it anymore... so that's why my News Director cracked open the piggy bank, blew away the dust and forked out enough to get a cheap but functional... take-me-to-the-exact-spot, device.

Okay... now go talk to your ND, who will talk with the GM, who will talk with the purchasing folks, who will talk to the advertising folks, who will talk with the advertisers, telling them their 30 second spot will cost just a bit more next time so they can purchase the devices needed to bring them a better news product.

And when that fails... add these devices to your Christmas list, and if you get them, start kicking butt in this news market, then make some good resume tapes and with the help of your great breaking news story tapes, move on to a station that already has a bunch of these essential news gathering devices, because they are news savvy enough to already know what is needed.

May the news be with you...

"So very close, but no cigar - a media timeline"

2/4/08: Colorado Springs, CO - When I heard the location of yesterday's stabbing, I thought to myself..."The KKTV news room is only 5 minutes away from there. They should get there in plenty of time to get the best video and best story of anyone."  Ahh... but that was not the case.

When I arrived, a KRDO-TV photog was there. She was talking with the CSPD Sergeant, camera in hand.  The photog then setup for a few more shots, while I also angled for a few. I then drove to the other side of the street and began shooting from there.

This is when KXRM pulled up.  After getting what I needed from that location, I drove back to my original location and took a few more pics.

KXRM was setting up her camera now.  The KXRM report/photog moved around a bit, getting a few different angles. She briefly talked with the CSPD Sergeant.

I'd been there about 10-15 minutes when KOAA drove up.  Their photog could be seen grabbing equipment out of the back of the news vehicle.  After about 3 minutes he started to make his way to the scene and this is when the KKTV news van pulled up; just about the same time as KRDO was packing up her gear and putting it into the news vehicle.

I too left just after KKTV parked behind the KOAA van.

Note: I am not slamming anyone, since I do not know the circumstances surrounding the response time of anyone. The important thing is, all four stations did cover this!

Photos by News Blab

"UCCS chancellor offers condolences to family of Terrence Webster"
 

2/4/08: Colorado Springs, CO - From UCCS - University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak issued a statement this morning in response to the death of Terrence Webster, 22, a junior majoring in visual and performing arts. Webster died in a rollover car accident on Cragmor Road this morning. Webster was a 2003 graduate of Palmer High School and attended Pikes Peak Community College before enrolling at UCCS in January 2005.

“On behalf of the entire UCCS community, I want to express my profound sorrow at the tragic death of Terrence Webster. I offer our deepest sympathies to Terrence’s family and friends. He will be missed.”

Webster was heavily involved in campus activities and well-known to many on campus. In response to Webster’s death, the University Counseling Center staff met this morning with students who live on campus and will continue to offer services to students who knew him. To speak with a member of the Counseling Center staff, contact 262-3265.

Possible unfinished route?

"Two scoops, please"

2/4/08: Colorado Springs, CO - It isn't tutti frutti and tart raspberry, but it is two scoops none-the-less.  Two stations had a news scoop, either this weekend or this morning.  The first was KKTV 11 News with their story about the fire victim in Ordway.  Their photog made it out there while the house was still smoldering and flaming, with a nice reporter follow-up on the victim and what people could do to help her out, after she lost her home and all within.

The second scoop was by KRDO News Channel 13 with their LIVE coverage of this morning's fatal accident.  They were on-scene to get some good video right after it happened, and did their morning LIVE shot with action still going on.  I didn't see any of the other stations even report on it in their 6 AM "A" blocks.

Good job KKTV and KRDO!

"Act of road rage leads to stabbing"

2/3/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Road rage is a problem everywhere, and a growing problem here in Colorado Springs.  Today an act of road rage resulted in a fist fight, which led to a stabbing, which led to the passenger from the victim's car also getting hurt when she attempted to stop the assailant from leaving the scene. Today's incident brought out the CSPD, the CSFD, AMR, and all four news media stations.  One man was taken to the hospital, in serious condition, with a stab wound to the abdomen. Below are a few photos from the scene.

Tomorrow I'll share some pics of the media that responded, and tell you who got there, and when... which may surprise you since the last to arrive has a studio only five minutes from the scene. Stay tuned...

Photos by News Blab

CSPD Officers inspect the scene of the stabbing

A CSPD Sergeant  inspects the scene of the stabbing

A CSPD Officer near one of the vehicles involved

The female victim in the back seat of a CSPD cruiser

CSPD Officers arrive at a possible suspect location later in the afternoon

"The faces of Carnivale"

2/3/08: Manitou Springs, CO - Saturday's annual Carnivale festival in Manitou Springs was not as crowded as years past, but despite the chilly weather a good size crowd did line the streets, the colorful marchers did march in the street parade, and the gumbo was served steaming hot in the park.

Here are a few of the faces in the crowd at Carnivale...

Photos by News Blab

"Seeing red over lack of red"

2/2/08: Colorado Springs, CO - An anonymous News Blab reader appears to be upset with the KOAA Ch 5/30 anchor's because of the lack of red seen during yesterday's National Wear Red Day.  Here is what I received via the "Got a tip?" form:

LISA NO RED. LAME EXCUSE. COULD'VE GONE HOME ALL DAY TO GET RED
OR EVEN BUY SOMETHING RED. SAYING SHE WORE IT YESTERDAY WAS SICKENING. ROB CLAIMED "DIDN'T SEE EMAIL" NO EXCUSE. THEY ONLY DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THEY WERE OUT OF TOUCH AND NOT WEARING RED

"Hey... who predicted this snow?"

2/2/08: Colorado Springs, CO - My Triple Squirrelly Doppler Dudes, a sophisticated and highly technical group of weather squirrels who work as a team... a Storm Weather Team... to predict, forecast, and report the weather, tell me it's snowing out there this morning.  They know this because they are having a heck of a time keeping the snow off their nuts.  Those nuts that I feed them each morning as payment to provide News Blab with the latest and greatest weather forecast.

Forget those ground hogs, even if it is, "their day"... these three have been doing this for more years than they can remember.  Doing the same thing their parents did, and their parents-parents did, and so on.

Anyway, they tell me it's snowing... so why didn't any of the local weather gurus let me know this was going to happen, last night before I hit the sack...???  It's Carnivale in Manitou today, and nobody will be "earning beads" if it's cold and snowy...!!!

Okay... below I'm sharing with you a couple pics of My Triple Squirrelly Doppler Dudes, as well as last night's local weather graphics for all the local news stations.  So, where's this snow in those graphics...???

"Kudos to those on-air who wore red"

02/1/08: Nationwide - Today was National Wear Red Day,  a day when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. I wore a red shirt and red hat.  Kudos to all those in the media who wore red while on-air today. Some of those I saw wearing red were,

KKTV - Betty Sexton, Stephanie Ortmann, David Nancarrow, Mindy Stone, Michelle Molison

KRDO - Jon Karroll, Nina Sparano, Rob Namnoum, Cheryl Reza, Eric Singer

KOAA - Abby Lane

KXRM - Joe Cole, Stephanie Pytlinski, Laura Forbes

If I missed someone, I apologize... but please know that if you did wear red, you did a good thing... Thanks!!!

"Oops... wiping nose sports guy not a good backdrop"

02/1/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Hey KRDO... I know you didn't plan on having your sports guy, wiping his nose as your weather backdrop on tonight's 6:00 PM newscast... but that's what we viewers got for about 30 seconds or so.  I guess he did have a good reason for doing the nose wiping thing, since he was standing near the ice at the hockey rink... but maybe next time you could treat us to a more pleasant weather shot.

"Oops... aren't meteorologists good with numbers?"

02/1/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Okay... if KKTV 11 News meteorologist Stephanie Ortmann read News Blab, then she would know she and her 4:30 PM newsie team is moving from 4:30 PM to 4:00 PM on Monday; I wrote about it a few days ago.

Instead, tonight she told viewers they would be moving the newscast to 4:30 PM on Monday.  Betty Sexton quickly corrected her, explaining what was the real deal, and that was followed by a take-it-home correction given by David Nancarrow.

Ortmann stood there smiling, with the kind of look made famous by some pretty impressive toe head's.  Maybe it's a blonde thing...???

Nothing personal Stephanie... but you best start reading News Blab on a regular basis. It's educational at times.

Gee... I sure hope her forecast for this weekend was correct.

"Did Gazette staff "bend" under political or partnership pressure?"

02/1/08: Colorado Springs, CO - An article published on yesterday's Gazette website told a story... a more complete story than I think this mornings article tells. It was a story about the new Skybridge and LandCo's Stratton Pointe building to be built downtown starting this month.  The original article, written by Rich Laden, was laden with information regarding LandCo, Ray Marshall, Mayor Rivera, Stratton Pointe, Downtown Partnership, parties, rumors, gossip, and most importantly... their business association with the US Olympic Committee (USOC) and the possibility of the USOC being housed in Stratton Pointe, as well as possible reasons why it might be more inviting for the USOC to select Startton Pointe as their "new home".

What's missing from the newer version of the article, the one seen last night and today is, all those references to the US Olympic Committee (USOC), the same type references, rumors, gossip, and party talk that was in yesterday's version.  Oh yes, I read yesterday's version... and today's.

One person writing on the Gazette comment section of the article even mentions those missing pieces.

royboy wrote:
This is strange????
When the article was posted early this afternoon, it was about a skybridge between the potential USOC building and a parking garage. Now all of that reference is gone? No matter...whatever we need to do to keep them here, we should do it. I just wish it was not so secretive.....
1/31/2008 7:59:29 PM

I wish now I would have kept a copy of the original article... but no matter, I saw it, royboy saw it, and I'm sure many others saw it... and they'll be seeing today's article too.

So... my question still stands; Did Gazette staff "bend" under political or partnership pressure?

Note:  The following comment is also posted on that Gazette page.  I thought I would share this one too.

valvolorum wrote:
More behind the scenes intrigues come to light in Colorado Springs. Wish the Gazette would do more to connect the dots. It now appears that city officials approved the building on the latest garage as a favor to LandCo, which will be spared the need to provide its own parking, and whose tenants will now receive city subsidized parking. Was there a quid pro quo involved? Have the mayor and others who supported the new garage received campaign contributions from the builder or his partners? Are there any more links? Interesting areas to explore for some curious and enterprising reporters. Now we learn that the city is working behind closed doors to possibly make USOC a tenant in LandCo’s building, and it’s already been reported that USOC is angling for “free” office space downtown, which someone will pay for, one way or another. It just gets curiouser and curiouser, not to mention smellier, since it’s all being orchestrated behind closed doors. And all this kind of “reporting” does is skim over the surface. I also seem to remember strong denials from city officials that the latest garage was built for the benefit and convenience of city staff – the fact that the skyway will also run to the administration building shows that was dishonest.
 

I know the answer to the question, Have the mayor and others who supported the new garage received campaign contributions from the builder or his partners?.

That answer is YES, Ray Marshall, owner of LandCo was a major contributor to the Mayor's reelection campaign.  The public records show this.

UPDATE: 1:45 PM - I received the following via my anonymous "Got a tip?" form: "my Gazette newspaper this morning also had the USOC details in it...WTF?"

Yes, your Gazette newspaper had some USOC information in that little print block to the right of the article... but it was not the same details, and  nothing like what was printed on the Gazette website yesterday in the first version, the original article.  What was printed in your paper, what you read, is nothing like the "juicy" stuff that was first printed. Not close... no cigar!