Deputy dies from COVID-19

https://www.khou.com/article/news/prayers-turn-to-tears-as-officers-mourn-death-of-hcso-deputy-who-died-from-covid-19/285-b83718ea-0bdf-49d7-bee4-21f4155f397b

COVID-19 has touched many lives across the nation and here at home in Houston.  The Harris County Sheriff's Office has reported a number of positive cases among its ranks.  But Sgt. Raymond Scholwinski was the first casualty.  The 70 year-old deputy had been with HCSO since 1979.  I was assigned to cover his death and wasn't sure which direction I'd go.  I got word that some of his colleagues would gather at the substation where he worked.  One of them was particularly emotional as she recalled Sgt. Scholwinski.

Texas beaches reopen after COVID-19 closures

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/galveston-beaches-reopen-with-covid-19-recommendations-in-place/285-78edf926-ba08-4d56-a497-db3667c6b62a

Texas beaches reopened on the first day of May as the fight to contain COVID-19 continued.  Recommendations were in place to help keep things in check.  And tourism officials were ready to get things moving again, to some degree.  Covering the reopening provided my photographer and me a chance to get out and about for the first time in a while.  We spent a gorgeous day on Galveston Island.  And beach visitors wasted no time hitting the surf and sand.  Time will tell if the decision to reopen the beaches was too soon. 

Longtime field reporter (me) forced to work from home for the first time

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/i-need-these-items-to-stay-safe-ppe-giveaway-attracts-hundreds-in-acres-homes-area/285-434241b4-cf52-478c-9b89-a9f0ddbeb8a1

COVID-19 changed workflow for millions of people.  Unfortunately, it's also meant a loss of employment for millions too.  Luckily, I still have a job.  But I'm doing it much differently.  My station's parent company made a decision to have reporters work from home.  Photographers still go out, in some cases, to gather video and to cover press conferences.  I thought "there's no way I can do this!"  But necessity required me to get out of my comfort zone.  I'm shooting stand-ups and myself "on camera" using the latest iPhone.  It actually works pretty well.  The phone's voice recorder is what I use to "track" packages.  I then text or email materials to the photog who edits pieces for air.  I'm not an MMJ, MSJ, or "one-man-band" as we used to call it.  But maybe I am, after all.. Just in my own way.  The attached story (about a PPE giveaway) features a stand-up I shot in my kitchen.     

COVID-19 patient shares story from his balcony

https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/no-one-really-prepares-for-this-houston-covid-19-patient-initially-thought-he-had-the-flu/285-9a6897c8-0d83-4a82-9264-c2f6ab484dd5

We've been swamped with COVID-19 coverage along with every other TV station in the nation.  Many of our colleagues are doing their jobs remotely while my photographer and I remain in the field (while taking precautions).  An acquaintance who contracted the virus agreed to speak with me about how he believes he got it, the symptoms and what it was like to deal with it.  We conducted the interview from afar as he stood on his balcony.  Fortunately, his condition has improved as so many others feel the impact of this potentially deadly condition.

Meeting NASA's newest astronauts

http://www.khou.com/video/news/local/sugar-land-native-among-newest-nasa-astronauts/285-24b0c7ea-501e-47af-8443-b540583114fa?jwsource=cl

It's been a while since I posted a story.. But this was a fun one.  I got to cover NASA's newest class of astronauts as they were introduced during a ceremony at Houston's Johnson Space Center.  I didn't realize that one of them was a Houston-area native.  Fortunately, she gave us a few words in a separate interview and became the "peg" of my story.  Being so close to a NASA facility provides a lot of interesting stories.  We could almost have a bureau there and cover nothing but space-related news.

Chemical plant explosion rocks SE Texas town

http://www.khou.com/video/news/local/officials-lift-evacuation-order-in-port-neches/285-2c201f23-9f2a-445f-9fb1-c82b76bcd1c2?jwsource=cl

I spent Thanksgiving Day and the day after in Port Neches, TX.  The town near Beaumont was rocked by a chemical plant explosion.  The blast and its resulting shockwave caused significant damage to the facilities and surrounding homes and businesses.  I put this story together on the day residents were allowed to return to their homes after an evacuation order was lifted.  Port Neches is more than a 1 1/2 hour drive from Houston.. So, we didn't have too much time to gather material for a 5:00 story.  Luckily, we found people willing to speak on the first two streets we checked.  I delivered the story from just outside the plant, which was still burning.

Texas voters pass K-9 retirement law

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/i-couldnt-imagine-losing-him-local-deputy-praises-passage-of-k-9-retirement-law/285-274d86b1-8b47-4094-b691-b736f96b7dba

Any story that allows me to hang out with animals is always fun.  In this case, the story was about the passage of a law that allows retired K-9s to live with their handlers.  Believe it or not, under Texas law, they previously had to be sold or even put down (depending on their health).  I reached out to a number of law enforcement agencies in order to help with a follow-up story.  The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office allowed us to come by and interview a deputy who works and lives with his K-9 named "Cactus Jack."  I asked if I could pet him and was told "you better not."