"Castle West... one year after"

01/16/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  It was one year ago this morning that many woke up to the sounds of sirens screaming, and ladders banging against their balconies, as rescue attempts were made.  The Castle West apartment fire was one of the most devastating Colorado Springs has ever seen.

News Blab covered the Castle West fire very extensively. You can still go into my archives to see the many stories and photos.

I noticed that today's Gazette website, and maybe the paper, had a special story and photo of the owners of the cats that were rescued at Castle West after the fire.  Did you know that News Blab was also there when that rescue took place? Actually, only the Gazette and News Blab were there. No other news reporting activity got that story as it happened.

And only News Blab got video as it happened.  That (my) video was seen on CNN and KKTV.  In case you missed that story, I still have my videos here:

Castle West cat rescue -

My raw video part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flUrPZC6UjE

My raw video part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG2Y4KR-CXo

"Mother Nature 1 - Weathercasters 0"

01/16/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  I woke up this morning thinking I was going to see blowing and drifting snow, and all that comes with that.  But when I looked out my window, it looked no different than when I went to bed, only lighter.

What happened to all that was promised... or forecaster the day before?  Where was the 2 hour delay I was to expect... the reprieve I was expecting to get from getting out of a nice warm bed, hitting the cold wooden floor, and preparing for work at such an early hour?  I wanted to sleep-in... and my local weathercasters teased me into thinking it would be a morning to do that.  But... hey... I guess Mother Nature has to sometimes make sure THEY all realize who is boss... and today, SHE is!

"Laurie White promises more fun!"

01/15/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  Laurie White, former 740 KVOR morning talk radio personality who recently disappeared from the air has promised to"...step up the level of fun a few notches here in the Springs."  That's what White told Gazette TV & Radio guy, Andy Wineke according to a recent blog post of Andy's.

Laurie White says she has started a new business since leaving KVOR.  You can read more about it at:

http://springstvtalk.blogspot.com/2008/01/mia-laurie-white.html

"Bruce kicks RMN photog, News Blab kicks RMN"

01/15/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  Well, now a special committee is being set up to look into the kicking of the Rocky Mountain News photographer.  Yesterday, with eyes closed and head bowed, Douglas Bruce's face was illuminated by the flash of two cameras as he was participating in the opening prayer.  Sitting on the floor directly under him was a photog from the RMN (or two).  If you've seen the video, you know what went down, and you know who was involved.

Anyway... today I called the Rocky Mountain News and cancelled my home delivery subscription.  Why...??? Because I've been covering the media for 7 years, and I know how many of them act, when they shouldn't be acting like they are.  It's amazing what they do behind the scenes, when cameras are not on them... and yesterday was just a quick peek into a bigger problem.  And then for the editor of the RMN to go on like he did.

Yes, I think, what I saw yesterday was another one of those times.  I've seen some of them (media people) act like disrespectful little children who need their mouths washed out with soap and a time-out or two. Especially at times when heads are bowed, and silence is expected.  Although I'm not saying they all act disrespectful, enough of them do to make up for those who don't.  And I know for a fact that the good media people are very much embarrassed by those who do not act accordingly, unlike the RMN editor who would rather make excuses.

I know... I know... they would tell you they are just doing their jobs.  Yea, right...

(Note: Another reason I decided to cancel the subscription is because of the Parade Magazine insert in the RMN/DP with the article about Benazir Bhutto, which was published over a week after her death.  That article, written when she was still alive, was published... when it shouldn't have been.  I'm sure the decision to publish was made purely with pre-paid advertising dollars in mind. Shame on those who made that decision!)

"Doug Bruce kicks RMN photog"

01/14/08: Denver, CO  -  As you can see in the screen capture of the Rocky Mountain News website (below), this was the photo before the kick.  Douglas Bruce, while participating in the opening prayer, kicked the RMN photographer who took this picture, just after the picture was taken.

From RMN website

You can read more of the story at the RMN, here: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/14/bruce-kicks-photographer/

And Denver's CBS4 had raw video of the kicking action on their website, here: http://cbs4denver.com/politics/bruce.photographer.kick.2.629381.html

Stills from the video (CBS4 website)

"KRDO Radio's 'Ask the Chief' segment"

01/14/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  I normally haven't been listening to radio, but this morning was different.  I stayed home from work because of a "pain in the neck", so I got the chance to listen to KRDO AM and KVOR AM.  I was lucky enough to catch KRDO's "Ask the Chief" segment, a once-a-month talk with CSPD Chief Myers.  Very impressive and informative!  KRDO Radio gets two News Blab thumbs up for this one...

"300 plus 31 = minus 11?"

01/13/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  From the, "You've got to be kidding" files - 31 police officers respond to a major fight call involving 200-300 people in downtown Colorado Springs early this morning, and KKTV 11 News features a crime story of a small time robbery that happened weeks ago. And they tout that they are the only ones with the video... that video, from the survielance cam. (Rolls eyes)

Wake up 11 News... all your competitors ran with the 31 officers versus 300 people story, tonight... because it was a big crime story and it just happened... like early this morning. You know... today's news.
Oh my... I'll bet no one at your station even knew it happened.... did you...???

KRDO News Channel 13 even had video of the scene, with the many, many police units on Tejon. They ran it in their "A" block, as did KOAA Ch 5/30, who even had a reporter out there, LIVE on Tejon tonight.

I know... I know... I promised myself I would try to go easier on you guys... but you make it very hard for me to keep that promise.
And now I'm hearing rumors that your book numbers are even lower, but nobody wants to talk about it.... is that true?
You best send your ND to Omaha... and quick!

Anyway... I' guessing maybe someone in your news room saw the other stations report it tonight on those TVs you have on your assignment desk. So now you know, ... "Five different police divisions, including the K9, DUI, and Tactical units respond to downtown Colorado Springs earlier this morning, making up for a total of 31 officers on the scene." (From KRDO website)

Here's the blotter entry for you to read. Maybe you can save face and give a brief mention of this story during your 10 PM newscast.

From the blotter:
Incident Date: January 13, 2008

Time: 2:00:00 AM

Division: Gold Hill

Shift: III
Title: Downtown Location 00 block of N Tejon Street
Summary: Officers were dispatched to 25 N Tejon Street reference a disturbance inside of the Vue Bar. When officers arrived on scene there were approximately 30-40 persons inside the bar actively fighting and around 100 people attempting to exit the building. One female was transported to Memorial Hospital for lacerations to her face and head caused by thrown glass. Several customers and officers received minor injuries during the melee. Officers dispersed an uncooperative group of about 200-300 people at the entrance of the bar. Several arrests were made for failing to disperse, fighting and obstruction.

Oh yes... I'm back!!!
 

"A weather babe... or baby?"

Kristin Clark - From KOAA.com

01/13/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  I received a "Got a tip?" question the other day; one asking me when I would be mentioning the two weather ladies that arrived while I was neglecting News Blab? Well, today I'll mention one of those ladies. This one might be considered a "weather baby" if you know a bit of her background.

Kristin Clark started at KOAA Weather First in August 2007.

According to what I've read, Kristin's parents (both of them) are meteorologists, so you can imagine what Kristin's first words may have been; a complete forecast possibly...???

Anyway, here's a bit about Kristin, from a couple of bios on the web.

From Weather World

From her Penn State, Weather World "Student Forecaster" Bio:
Kristin graduated from Penn State in meteorology in May, 2007 and is very special in that both of her parents are television meteorologists! By growing up in Mountain Top, PA in a household where the Weather Channel was constantly on and dinner table conversations consisted of fronts, troughs, and weather data, it is no wonder that Kristin is choosing a career in weather.
Kristin joined the Weather World team in the fall of 2006. In addition to her work with Weather World, she produces 90-second weather features for the Weather Channel's Abrams and Bettes show. She has been actively involved with the Penn State Campus Weather Service television and radio operations. Kristin spent a summer interning in Minneapolis, MN at the CBS affiliate, WCCO-TV.
Kristin has a passion for mountain biking and as a member of the Penn State Cycling Club she has competed in intercollegiate mountain bike races. In addition to biking, she enjoys many outdoor activities including fishing and walking her two Old English Sheepdogs. Kristin is pursuing a career in broadcast meteorology.

From her KOAA Bio:
Kristin Clark
Meteorologist
Started at News First: August 2007
Hometown: Mountain Top, PA
Previous station: "Weather World", Pennyslvania Public Broadcasting stations including WPSU

Note: Weather World is a 15-minute weather magazine show seen each weeknight on PCN across Pennsylvania.
Education: B.S. in Meteorology from the Penn State University
Personal interests: Avid mountain biker. I also enjoy fishing.
Little-known fact: I have a big obsession with singer/songwriter/actress Gwen Stefani. (Also, both of Kristin's parents are meteorologists!)
 

Some of her other activities have been:

Magna Cum Laude on National Latin Examination, 2001
Honors Wilkes-Barre City 2001 Volunteerism Award
National Council on Youth Leadership, 2002
Investigative Biology Workshop, King's College, 2002
Who's Who Among American High School Students, 2002
Academic All American, 2003, Bishop Hoban Swim Team
Rotary Interact Club

Senior Club President, 2002-2003
Joseph Keller Memoriable Award, 2002-2003
McGreth, Nicholls, Vincko Distinguished Leader Award, 2003
Swim Team, 1999-2003, Bishop Hoban
 

"Colorado Springs 'news babe' from long ago"

01/11/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  The date was August 5th, 1901 and a reporter who worked for the Gazette newspaper back then placed a note and a photo of herself into a container for other reporters to see, long after her death.  That 1901 "news babe" was Louise Agnes Weick, and the container where her photo was found is the Colorado Springs century chest, buried in 1901 to be opened by the people of Colorado Springs after midnight of December 31st, 2000; which they did.

There were a few more Gazette related items in the chest, but I found the photo and note from Louise Weick to be the most interesting.

So... I guess Louise Agnes Weick is officially declared the oldest "news babe" ever to grace the pages of News Blab.  Congratulations Louise, wherever you are...

Louise Agnes Weick

All photos from Special Collections, Tutt Library, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Note from Louise Agnes Weick

Another note from chest

"To the City Editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette (if there is one)" - a photograph - Edward F. McKay

"Where's K. Cook & K. MacMullan?"

01/10/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  I got a couple more questions on the "Got a tip?" form asking, "Where is Katherine Cook? She was my fave, I miss her... I hope she didn't get fired, she was so good. Please help!"
And then this one, "What happened to Kellie MacMullan?"

No, K. Cook didn't get fired, she left here to work at KGW in Oregon.

http://newsblab.com/blabbingmikesblog/nfblog/?p=1828

K. MacMullan went to CW2 in Denver. I wrote about that last week.

http://www.newsblab.com/newsblab_jan1to4_08.htm

"What's Kyle Troxel doing now?"

01/10/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  I got a question on the "Got a tip?" form asking where Kyle Troxel is now days?

Well, Kyle went from KRDO's Good Morning Colorado, left there to go to KRDO News Radio, left there to go to Rockrimmon Contractors as the COSMIX PIO, and then left there to go over to 740 AM KVOR radio, in the mornings.

"No more Laurie White in the morning at 740 AM KVOR"

01/10/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -  News Blab has learned that you will no longer be hearing Laurie White in the morning on 740 AM KVOR anymore.  A quick phone call to the station this morning confirmed something I received via my "Got a tip?" form.  I was told that Laurie White, as of yesterday, no longer works at the station or for the company. I was not told if she was fired from the station, but that is the tip I received.