The pop sensation Lady Gaga made a quick stop in Portland, Maine today to attend a rally to drum up support to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The Senate is expected to begin debate on a bill tomorrow afternoon that has in it the repeal of the controversial ban on gays serving in the military. Maine’s two republican senators could either help pass that bill or help to hold it up. Gaga pleaded…screamed and pounded her fist to try to get them to listen to her. The rally was held in a Portland park where hundreds of supporters gathered with her to demand the change. We waited & waited she was suppose to be there at 4pm.. but she finally showed up around 5. There was a mad crush of people who wanted to take her picture or shake her hand. Right behind me two girls almost punched each other as they fought for a spot to catch a glimpse of gaga. Finally she walked out of her tour bus with a tie on and big round glasses. She walked slowly up to the stage to sounds of supports screaming her name. It’s one of those days where a pop star turned political. Some say that she should stick to her music… but everyone out here was happy she was taking time out of her day to help push for the repeal of  “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Ry

When you work nights like i do.. a sure sign of fall and ugh.. winter.. is how fast that sun goes down. Tonight it seemed to get dark just after 7pm and by mid December that will be oh right around 4:30pm.. I’ll practically spend my entire shift in darkness. I work 3:30pm till 11:30pm. As it gets darker sooner.. it also screws with your internal work clock. With it getting dark so much earlier you think that you’re running out of time.. but in reality.. you have plenty of it.  in the news business we live by the clock and we are constantly checking it.. making sure we get what we need to get done before we have to sit down and edit our story for the news that night. The setting sun gives you a false sense that you’re way behind schedule.

Don’t get me wrong.. i love fall. Crisp ..cool nights… the smell of burning leaves in the air.. pumpkins.. hoodies.. apple picking… haunted houses.. oh i could go on and on..fall is pretty much my favorite season. The arrival of fall however means those VERy cold nights of standing outside for long periods of time aren’t far behind. For now.. ill enjoy the great weather and brace myself for what’s down the road.

Ry

I had just taken a bite from a pancake when I looked up to see one of those planes come crashing into the world trade center. I was watching the Today show and the anchors were stunned at the live pictures they had to quickly reference for the viewers. That moment obviously changed everything.

For me.. i was a brand new reporter who had just started at WTVO Channel 17 in Rockford, IL. I remember thinking to myself as i was running around trying to get my tie on as fast as i could that what was happening that day would be news for days. Little did i know that in fact it was the top story for months and what happened that day set in motion a chain of events that would lead to 2 wars and change the way we fly ..forever.

i remember running into the newsroom as an eager young reporter trying to understand Just how big this was. My co workers in the newsroom were glued to our small tv’s watching the images replayed over and over. Remember at this point we didn’t know exactly how many attacks were taking place.. were other cities being targeted? i was sent out to gather a story at a local school about something unrelated. I remember telling my boss that we all should be working this story.. every single reporter.. but he said let’s hold off until we know what’s going on. i reluctantly went out with my photog to interview some kids at a school about an event i honestly dont even remember what it was about. all anyone could talk about was the attack taking place up and down the east coast. Finally after a few hours my boss changed his tune and every reporter was put on this major story. The networks though had taken over the airwaves with wall to wall coverage. we weren’t sure when or if we’d have a local news break to report on how our little city was dealing with this major national story. I was asked to work a double that day.. i was sent to gas stations because there was talk that gas was about to spike to $5.00 a gallon and there was some panic that there would be a gas shortage. That never happened and we never did any local news that night. when i finally got home to my small apartment i again turned on the tv and watched these tired.. raspy voiced anchors recap the days tragic events. i just couldn’t believe how many people had died.. there were so many stories  to be told and right then i thought: this is why i became a reporter.

Let us never forget 9/11

Ry

If you live under a rock or haven’t seen a TV all day.. let me be the first to tell you: TOM BRADY WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT!  No worries.. he’s just fine.. but that bulletin sent Boston TV newsrooms into a frenzy to cover what could have been a big loss to Patriots if Brady had been injured.

I was called into work early.. my first stop with photog Dusty Wood was the intersection where the accident happened in the back bay. My mission: to find any surveillance camera that may have caught the crash on tape. After much research and a lot of looking up in the air.. we found none. Then we were moved over to Tom Brady’s condo in the back bay. This is where we spent the entire day.. i was in the 4 &5 pm shows with reaction from Brady’s dad and supermodel wife. We also were sitting outside his door hoping to catch a glimpse of the QB coming or going.  Once it got dark we did see  Tom & Gisele in their kitchen I assume doing what normal people do.. cooking dinner.. unwinding from what can only be assumed to be a very stressful day. Their home is a bit of a tourist attraction with people walking by non stop and taking pictures of the address.. it was a little odd to see but I guess they are BIG time celebs.

RY

We heard the call come over the scanners in the newsroom as a light pole crashing on top of a person in Brookline. So my photog and I .. Stephen Davis raced over to Harvard & School streets in Brookline where we found this brand new traffic light smashed on the ground. Turns out victim..who works as both a crossing guard and a parking officer came upon a big truck that was trying to make a turn when it clipped the traffic light. He was on his motorcycle and quickly hopped off & tried to help. The truck somehow moved back a little and it knocked the traffic pole right on top of his head and shoulder. He luckily had his helmet on .. and now he’s only suffering from a sore shoulder.

We got to the scene about 3:45pm.. I raced to grab some interviews with some witnesses who ran over to help Malley. The clock was ticking cause the producers wanted me to do a live phoner for the 4pm news.  A phoner is when we call in and they throw us on TV but it’s just us on the phone talking about the scene. This time we had our chopper…Sky 7 live above the intersection so I had an idea: I wanted the chopper to zoom into me so I could talk to camera on board and then show people the scene as I talked on the phone. IT WORKED! I just looked right at the chopper and went live on the phone and walked around the downed light pole. That may sound not that exciting to you.. but for me.. it’s moments like on live TV that makes me love this job!

Ry

I love this story!

Yarmouth Police say a 19 year old suspect stole a canoe… pulled it up to a home along the Bass River and broke in. Little did he know that the man sitting on the couch watching tv was an 83 year Marine who served in WWII.  Police tell us the suspect confronted the Marine.. demanded money and then there was a big fight. The suspect smacked the victim on the head with a glass candlestick but the Marine used his training learned years ago… to fight back. The suspect ran out of the house covered in blood and was quickly arrested by police. 

The marine and his family didn’t want to go on camera with us but we did use the 911 calls in the story which were very dramatic. You could hear her yelling for help.

You can only imagine this suspect ..when he gets out of jail.. will think twice about breaking into another home.. you NEVER know who might be sitting on the couch waiting for you.

Ry

We’ve all been on a roof deck and I’m sure we’ve all thought about how terrifying it would be to fall off of that roof deck. Well a 22 year old man is lucky to be alive after he crashed through a skylight and fell 4 stories until he hit the first floor. He was at a party at a newbury st. apartment when his friends said he tripped and broke the plastic covering over the skylight and fell all the way down the center of the building to the first floor. I’m sure you’ve seen those movies where someone falls like that.. But this was no stunt. He shattered his hip and his face will need plastic surgery according to his good friend. At last check he was in critical condition — lucky to be alive.
So I know what you’re thinking.. Was he drunk? His friends say he did have a few drinks but he was not drunk enough to just fall over. They say he tripped and crashed through the skylight.
Everyone hoping he pulls through .. Two doctors that live in the building say they couldn’t believe he was talking when he was rushed to the hospital.

Ry

Growing up in Wisconsin I became use to huge thunderstorms & then when I worked at Channel 12 I covered my fair share of them. The was my first hurricane to cover and live through: what an experience! Yes it was only a category 1– and then quickly just a tropical storm but for me it was a great learning experience.
My photog Trung & I were up early today and off to some local stores to see how people were preparing. All stores were out of flashlights & batteries. There were long lines at the grocery stores as people stocked up. We also bought a bunch of supplies just in case the power went out.
Our coverage today started at Surfside Beach with some huge waves. It was actually a nice day out and people were out watching the surf and getting some sun.
After that we grabbed a quick lunch and I had the most amazing lobster roll ever at the Summer House. I’ll post a pic so you can be jealous
The afternoon and night was packed with live coverage. I was live at 4,5,530,6,7,730,10,10:30&11 pm!
Our main focus was a house that was about to fall into the ocean. The waves were hammering the house & we thought it might just fall into the ocean. As of this writing Gene Ratner’s home is safe .. But the ocean is still eating away at his back door.
The conditions were tough.. Rain just coming at you in all directions as you try to talk on tv… That was a challenge! Both Trung and I had full rain suits on but we are still soaked — the rain still finding it’s way inside.
Right now the rain has died down and we are driving around Nantucket to see what if any damage is out there. So far we see some minor street flooding but that’s really about it.
We’ll be up till 3 am searching for damage.
Thanks Earl for not making my first hurricane all that bad
Ry