Beyond the Headlines

A Once-In-A-Lifetime Journey

2008-05-10T00:30:59Z

This has nothing to do with news, but I wanted to share a cool picture on this Friday afternoon. Last month, I took a journey with my husband I'll probably only take once. And, while it wasn't exactly the Tour de France, it was quite an amazing ride.

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When we planned our trip to San Francisco, we came across a website about riding bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge. It didn't sound like a particularly difficult ride - the bridge itself is only 1.7 miles. We did the ride from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito, which was a bit longer. A lot of it, especially once we got across the bridge, was downhill. What we did face, though, was the wind. A couple times, I thought I would blow off the side and into the bay. I only whined at my husband a few times on the trip - but, when it was done, it was an amazing accomplishment. Now, every time I see the bridge on TV I get to say: "I biked across that." And, somewhere, someone will someday be impressed.

More Frustration Over Duncan Secrecy

2008-05-10T00:21:30Z

Again this week, media outlets in Boise and Spokane asked a federal judge to unseal records in the Joseph Duncan death penalty case. Once again, we've been denied access. This time, it has nothing to do with privacy for his victims, but his own privacy. And, if the case continues this way, there may be more sealed in this case than what the public has access to.

]]> Duncan's jury selection has been on hold for several weeks; ever since Duncan asked a judge to throw out his defense team and let him defend himself. The judge then ordered Duncan to undergo a mental evaluation and halted jury selection until that was complete. That evaluation is now done - though, because it is sealed, we can't see what it says. We can't see who did the exam, we can't see if Duncan cooperated and we can't see what, if anything, was determined as to his mental state. We're paying for his defense, but we don't get to know a thing about it.

As you can tell, I'm frustrated. I understand the judge's desire to keep from tainting the jury pool. I understand that, while most people don't like it, Duncan still has rights. While I understand those things, I don't think precluding the public from access to ANY of the information is the right decision. The judge even says that they could still release the report and redact the potentially embarrassing information about Duncan, but that if they did that, there wouldn't be much else to see. So, why not let us be the judge? Redact what you think you need to, yet keep the records open. This is the first federal death penalty case in recorded Idaho history, though the taxpayers and citizens who are paying for it won't have a clue how the process works and how the judge and jury came to their decisions. I understand the argument that victims need to be protected, but what's being done now is giving a convicted child serial killer more rights than the public and the press.

Duncan Trial: Insider Coverage

2008-04-17T04:13:43Z

While I wish we could be there every day, we won't be back down in Boise probably until they seat a jury in the Duncan sentencing. It's just too far, too expensive and we don't have the staff to do it. We will absolutely cover every advance in the process - and, will be back down there when the "trial" actually starts. In the meantime, though, I want to steer you to some great coverage. Betsy Russell is covering the case for the Spokesman-Review. She's based in Boise and is also acting as the media liason for the proceedings. She's blogging about what happens in court - and, it's fascinating. Here's the link, if you're interested.

You Know Who You Look Like?

2008-04-17T02:54:20Z

All my life, I've wanted people to tell me I look like someone famous. It's never really happened. Instead, I've found random people that I think I look like - and, they aren't always the most flattering comparisons.

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That's infamous former student Villi Fualaau. I look like him. It's not good.

That's WSU basketball player Derek Lowe. I look like him, without the athleticism.

The only other person I've ever been compared to is someone I really, really like.

I'm such a fan of Tina Fey, a friend of mine likes to call me Liz Lemon, her character's name on "30 Rock." Well, this week, I completed the transformation.

I got glasses. I'm slowly becoming Tina Fey. I guess that's good. I guess it's better than Villi Fuallau.

"Aren't You the Girl From.... Radio?"

2008-04-15T19:18:33Z

I've been on TV in Spokane for the last five and a half years. While I'm not on very often anymore, there was a time that I was on every day, Monday through Friday. Still, I've never been under the illusion that people will recognize me and know who I am. If they do, they're often brutally honest (see earlier blog) But, in recent months, I've started to get recognized for my work on... radio.

]]> About a year ago, our friends Dave, Ken and Molly at ZZU asked me to join an esteemed group. Now, every Thursday morning at 8:30, I join Molly, Kalae Chock, Leslie Lowe and Phaedra Hansen on the "Panel of Women." As Dave, Ken and Molly like to say, we're real women, talking about real issues... really. It is absolutely the most fun I have at work every day. I actually get to laugh, be honest and show my personality (yes, a personality! Shocking!). It's a big change from the serious, child-killer, polygamy stories I usually do. Unfortunately for my husband, I often share stories about him that are not so flattering. I've been shocked in recent months to realize a LOT more people recognize me from radio than anything I've done on TV. On New Year's Eve, a woman at a convenience store recognized my voice before she ever looked up at me. I'm not bragging, I hope it doesn't sound like that. It's just very strange to be recognized purely from the way I sound.

This recognition has both pros and cons. First, I've had people call in with TV news story ideas because they heard me on the radio. But, it has its downside, too. My husband is being recognized for things he'd rather not be known for. A guy at the gym approached him and said "I hear you cry at movies all the time." Mr. TV Sports Guy LOVED that(truth be told, though, he DOES cry at a lot of movies). And, a lot of my freakish tendencies have become public because of things I've said on the radio. Everyone now knows I have freakishly-short T-Rex arms. And, most notably, Kalae Chock let it spill that I have a freakish obsession with Abe Lincoln. That has become the subject of a lot of conversations I've had over the last few months. AND, people are now bringing me their Abe Lincoln mementos. One guy brought me a head of Abe Lincoln he found outside a dumpster in Spokane. It is now a permanent fixture in my office. Check it out:

In short, I'm not complaining. I actually LOVE doing these brief radio gigs, as it's something totally different than what I do every day. So, keep listening - or start this week, if you haven't heard it before. I'll be on vacation this week so I won't be there, but I'm sure they'll find a way to make fun of me in my absence. But, if you listen, do me one favor: go easy on my husband! He has enough to deal with, trying to live up to Abe Lincoln.

Long Live the "Chicken Dance"

2008-04-10T19:58:19Z

I came across a very sad piece of news last night and wanted to share it with all of you. This week, a musical icon passed away at his home in my hometown of Milwaukee. You probably don't know Bob Kames by name, but I'm sure you know the song for which he's responsible.

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Okay, so that video is not the best example of how it's really done, but you can't negate the power of the Chicken Dance. I haven't been to a Wisconsin wedding without hearing that classic polka and flapping my arms along with it. I've never been entirely sure why I love it so much, but I realize now it's because its creator is also from Milwaukee. He's enough of an icon there that the story of his death was on the front page last night of the recent-Pulitzer Prize award-winning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

I love the Chicken Dance so much, it became a bone of contention during my wedding plans. My husband (who is, apparently, a commumnist) HATES the Chicken Dance. He prefers the less-charismatic Electric Slide, which I LOATHE. For every bit of excitement and enthusiasm I have for the Chicken Dance, he has an ounce or two more for the Electric Slide. He runs out to the front of the crowd to help "lead" the dance at every wedding we've ever been to. So, as we planned the playlist for our wedding, we had a tough decision to make: which cheesy group dance should we allow? That decision was a tough one and, ultimately, was the first compromise of our wedding, made just hours after we said our vows. We did both. I Chicken Danced my heart out and he proudly led the crowd on the Electric Slide. I didn't take the floor for that. I was too tired from the Chicken Dance.

So, rest in peace Mr. Kames. I hope you find a chorus of accordians waiting for you in heaven. You can rest easy, knowing I'll carry on your tradition on your behalf.

Polygamy Case - Best Coverage

2008-04-09T01:05:35Z

If you're glued to the coverage of the polygamist raid in Texas (like I am), you may be frustrated about the SLOOOOWWW leak of information relating to the case. Eldorado is miles and miles away from the closest TV market - and, this ranch is private property. A lot of media outlets are covering this right now, but the best I've seen is the Eldorado Success. It's the local paper there and they've been following this case very closely since the beginning. They've posted the most up to the minute information and new pictures of what's going on there.

Scrabble, Anyone?

2008-04-08T01:30:19Z

As I've confessed on this blog before, I'm kind of a word nerd. I love reading and grammar and books. Diagramming sentences is one of my favorite activities (though, I really can't find much need for it anymore). I love crossword puzzles. And, more than almost anything in my life, I love Scrabble. In recent months, I've found the online alternative that kept me awake many late nights. Now, my new favorite obsession is coming under fire!

]]> I'm a longtime Scrabble player, dating back to playing at my grandmother's dinner table in Great Falls. Now, my grandma will try to lie to you and tell you she did not cheat. Trust me, she did. I have very vivid memories of those days, down to the smell of oranges and coffee that often filled my grandmother's kitchen. I remember that old brown box that held the Scrabble game - and, the sound of the tiles as we reached into the plastic bag to collect them. After the age of 10, though, I don't remember playing Scrabble at all! Instead, it was the phone and the mall and probably boys that occupied my time. It wasn't until college that I rekindled my love for the game. My college roommate's dad ALWAYS wanted to play "Scrabbies" as he called it. I think we fired up the board a couple times to keep him quiet.

When I got married, I thought life was going to be all about board games! I mean, now I have a partner living in my house! Turns out Derek HATES board games and never wanted to play. When I goaded him to play Scrabble, he resisted for a long time. He knows I'm a word nerd and I think he was scared to play! When he finally agreed... he walloped me the first six games or so! Now, we play every couple months - and, we're pretty competitive.

But, what am I supposed to do when he's not there? I can't very well play Scrabble by myself! Then, I discovered Scrabulous and my life changed forever. Scrabulous offers interactive games where you can play either against the computer or against people from all over the world. The first night, I played for about 5 hours straight! No wonder my eyes are starting to fail!!! I don't feel pathetic saying that, either. According to the NY Times, 70,000 people play Scrabulous every day!

Now, though, Scrabulous is in jeopardy! Hasbro, the company that makes Scrabble, is reportedly trying to shut it down (copyright issues, etc.) They may have good reason to do so. Sales of the board game are declining and Hasbro is blaming Scrabulous for that. I say Scrabulous can only help Scrabble sales in the long run. A whole new generation of young people is now being exposed to the game. They'll eventually get tired of only playing online (or, like me, they'll start to go blind!) and they'll turn to the traditional old game. They'll miss the sound of the tiles. They'll miss the thrill of actually seeing your competitors face fall when you use a "Z" on a triple letter score. They'll miss that memory of their grandmother and they'll need a Scrabble board to bring it back.

Please, Scrabulous, stay strong! Me and my 70,000 fellow word nerds need you!

C'Mon, Tony Bennett, You Know You Want It..

2008-04-02T00:39:57Z

I realize the subject of this blog may be turning a few heads today, but this really IS a plea to WSU basketball coach Tony Bennett. If you're not Tony, you don't really need to read this anymore. Tony, this one is just for you...

]]> Tony, I sure have enjoyed watching you build the WSU basketball program over the last couple years. I enjoy your coaching style, your humble persona and the fact that you're a family man. And, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit, like most women in the Inland Northwest, I sure think you're easy on the eyes. But, with the seniors you have graduating and leaving the program this year, I think you've done all that you can at WSU - and, I have a new job offer for you.

On behalf the Marquette University students, alumni and friends, I would like to formally offer you the job as head basketball coach at Marquette. You see, I just found out our coach is going to Indiana and we could really use someone. Think of it this way, you want to get back to your home state of Wisconsin. There, you and your dad are already legends! You'll be close to your family and friends, you'll be in your home state and you can coach at a school where basketball is king! We don't have a pesky football team to share money and attention with. At Marquette, it's ALL about basketball. Besides, you have a built-in team there, ready to get back to the tournament. Most of our starters are returning next year and they already play your brand of basketball. They're scrappy, they're good defenders and they have heart. They're just missing one thing: you.

So, c'mon Tony... give Steve Cottingham a call and tell him you're interested. And, tell your Cougar faithful I'm so sorry! But, they've had you long enough and it's time to send you home.

We'll be waiting...

Goin' to Carolina?

2008-03-23T22:56:56Z

While my Marquette boys couldn't quite eek that one out, I'm very excited for the Cougs to be heading to the Sweet 16! It helps that I live with a die-hard Coug who couldn't be more excited... but, I'm also proud to root for the "hometown" team. We're sending a couple crews out to cover the excitement, so we're looking for Coug fans who are heading to Charlotte! Drop me a line and let me know - we'd love to put you on TV either when you're there or before you leave.

Our Kids, Our Business: Another Year, Another Case

2008-03-21T23:43:44Z

For the last few weeks, we've been working with our partners at the Spokesman-Review and the other local TV stations on our second year of the Our Kids, Our Business campaign. It was launched last year in the wake of the abuse death of Summer Phelps as a way to bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and neglect in our community. The campaign kicks off next week and, wouldn't you know... we now have another horrific case of child abuse in our city.

]]> Jeff Humphrey learned about the story this morning and broke the news to us in our morning news meeting. Before he came in, it really felt like a Friday. We were watching the beginning of the Zags game and talking about the snow, getting ready for a pretty benign news day. Jeff's news came like a ton of bricks: a six month old baby, struggling to survive - her mom's boyfriend accused of shaking her. Let's just say the air, in a lot of ways, came out of the room.

It's hard to think of this case as an isolated case, though each child abuse case has its own backstory and circumstances. However, since I've been in Spokane, I've covered way too many of these cases. It's often mom's boyfriend - or anyone that the child should never be left alone with to begin with. Sadly, I can't think of the names of these individual children and would have to look them up to remember how each one played out. That sounds callous, I'm sure, and I don't mean it to be - there have just been so many cases that, instead of sadness over each one, there's nothing more than collective heartbreak for them all.

Next week, the Our Kids, Our Business campaign kicks off and we'll do what we can to highlight the problem of child abuse in our region. We'll show you the agencies dedicated to preventing it. We'll meet families who have reached out and got help, just in time. We will do our best, though I fear it will never be enough. We will always have these cases, we will always have this heartbreak. I just hope the faces of these innocent young children are enough to stop even one case.

I Implore You, Pac-10 Fans, Root for Marquette!

2008-03-21T19:34:51Z

I don't know how many sports fans actually read my blog, but I'm making my pitch here anyway because it is my only real platform. This is my plea for all WSU fans and Pac-10 fans in general: please, for the love of God, drop your Pac-10 loyalty Saturday and root for the Golden Eagles of Marquette!

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I've never been one to show great loyalty to the conference. That's probably because Marquette changed conferences after I graduated. And, while I like to see the Big East get some respect in the tournament, I don't care too much about the conference as a whole.

Which brings me to my point... Coug fans, Stanford has been a thorn in your side this season. They've beat you three times this year, including a game on your home court that I witnessed. If they win and you lose tomorrow, that just solidifies them as a better team in your conference. They get the bragging rights all the way into next year! But, if Marquette wins, Stanford goes home early and they get a taste of the defeat like they handed you three times this year. Besides, Marquette is similar to you in a lot of ways. We're scrappy. We have heart. We have something to prove. So, do me a favor... visit their website, learn about them and learn to love them before tomorrow afternoon. Find out why Dominic James is such an incredible leader. Find out why I call Jerel McNeal the Hamburgler And, I implore you to just this once go against your conference loyalty and cheer for my Golden Eagles. We could really use your help!

MADDENING!!!!

2008-03-20T20:45:15Z

I have no idea how the rest of you are coping if you have a team in the tournament. Marquette started @ 11:30 and I've been trying desperately to get some work done! It doesn't help that I work in a newsroom that has 35 TV's all within my sightline. Yikes.

Basketball vs. Girl Scout Cookies

2008-03-18T00:50:06Z

Today in the kxly newsroom, two topics are dominating the conversation: NCAA basketball and girl scout cookies! Which one is more important in your mind? I haven't yet decided, though I just ordered mine from Robyn Nance. And, my bracket is not quite done yet.

"You... You're Not So Personable..."

2008-03-16T21:39:07Z

Being on television makes for a slightly strange existence. Because they see you on TV every night, people will come up to you at times and say the most random things. Sometimes, it's about your hair - sometimes, a story you did. Quite often, it's complimentary - though definitely not always. Yesterday, I had one of these strange TV experiences and it got me thinking...

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Saturday afternoon, I was downtown celebrating St. Patrick's Day, like any good Irish-Catholic girl would do. I was with friends that included KXLY's Karina Shagren and Kalae Chock. While I get recognized less and less these days, hanging out with these other two TV gals attracted a small amount of attention. We were in a downtown restaurant when a young man started a conversation with Kalae, I'm sure complimenting her on her TV skills. This man named Tim then came over to me and Karina. He was complimenting Karina on her TV skills and saying how much he enjoyed Karina's weather forecasts. Then, he looked right at me and said, "You... you're not so personable!" My first instinct was to laugh - as he said he was just kidding. I knew he was not - and, I'm actually okay with that. As we discussed afterwards, weather people and morning anchors and sports guys are supposed to be personable on TV. That's why people like them. I've always been - and, wanted to be - a hard news reporter. Kalae pointed out, every time I'm on TV, I'm talking about federal indictments, Joseph Duncan and small children being abused by their foster parents. So, I guess maybe it's a compliment that this young man (who's a solidly-built guy, with a decidedly "tough guy" job) also told me when he sees me on TV, he feels like I could kick his butt!!!!

Don't get me wrong: Tim was a very nice guy. He's an obvious avid KXLY viewer and I hope he continues to be. We posed for a picture with them and talked about his job and his work for KXLY's Extreme Team. I guess I should appreciate that people at least watch enough to know who the three of us were - and, felt comfortable enough to talk to us for a few minutes. It's just always amazing to me what people will say just because they feel they know you from TV. When I worked in my first TV job in Tri-Cities, I was really excited one night because a woman recognized me. It was the first time it happened. She said to me, "Wow, you look a lot bigger on TV! Look at you: you're scrawny!" That woman managed to insult me in two very different ways in one sentence! She meant well, I'm sure. And, I'll take "not so personable" over looking like a hog on TV any day! But, I wonder if any other profession has to deal with this strange phenomenon as much as people who are on TV for a living.

I guess I just can't imagine approaching someone and telling them what I REALLY think about how they do their job. But, then again, I'm not so personable...