Sheriff: Rumors about arrests in Jessica Chambers case are false
I got a call from the station at 7:15 Easter Sunday morning. Not good when you're the on-call reporter. I was asked to come in as soon as possible. Rumors had arisen that several people were charged in connection with the murder of Jessica Chambers. The 19 year-old was killed four months ago and the case has garnered international attention. Anyway, the rumors turned out to be false. However, I still managed to cobble together two stories on how false hope affected the family, again.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
Injured MPD Officer's Neighbors React To Shooting
Injured officer's neighbors react to shooting
I hit the door as soon as I got into work shortly after a Memphis Police officer was shot in the line of duty. My assignment: find family, neighbors, or anyone else who knew him. We gathered a list of about 8 possible addresses using his name. Fortunately, the first two I randomly picked ended up being his home and the home of an uncle. Family members were at the hospital with the officer.. But several neighbors shared their thoughts about the shooting. "Good man," "family man," and "great cop" were among the ways they described the officer.
I hit the door as soon as I got into work shortly after a Memphis Police officer was shot in the line of duty. My assignment: find family, neighbors, or anyone else who knew him. We gathered a list of about 8 possible addresses using his name. Fortunately, the first two I randomly picked ended up being his home and the home of an uncle. Family members were at the hospital with the officer.. But several neighbors shared their thoughts about the shooting. "Good man," "family man," and "great cop" were among the ways they described the officer.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
House Of Blues Coming To Beale Street?
Big announcement planned for Beale Street
This story was generated by a news release. It let us know about a "big announcement" concerning a project on Beale Street. A partnership between some developers and Live Nation Entertainment would be announced. House of Blues high-ups would be in attendance. None of those close to the project would reveal anything before the planned announcement. So, I built this story around speculation that a House of Blues location might be coming to Beale. Needless to say, business owners and others along the famous street were excited by the possibilities.
This story was generated by a news release. It let us know about a "big announcement" concerning a project on Beale Street. A partnership between some developers and Live Nation Entertainment would be announced. House of Blues high-ups would be in attendance. None of those close to the project would reveal anything before the planned announcement. So, I built this story around speculation that a House of Blues location might be coming to Beale. Needless to say, business owners and others along the famous street were excited by the possibilities.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Woman Raped After Meeting Man On Beale Street
Woman says she was raped after meeting man in Beale Street club
I peruse police incident reports daily and came across a "forcible rape" that was reported on Beale Street. It caught my attention because of the location. Beale is the #1 tourist attraction in Tennessee. MPD would only release very limited information because the crime is sexual in nature. Efforts are always taken to protect the alleged victim. But I had enough information to do a story. I relied heavily on MOS ("man on the street") interviews.. Or, in this case, women on the street.
I peruse police incident reports daily and came across a "forcible rape" that was reported on Beale Street. It caught my attention because of the location. Beale is the #1 tourist attraction in Tennessee. MPD would only release very limited information because the crime is sexual in nature. Efforts are always taken to protect the alleged victim. But I had enough information to do a story. I relied heavily on MOS ("man on the street") interviews.. Or, in this case, women on the street.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Whitehaven Apartment Fire Intentionally Set
Fire at Whitehaven apartment complex intentionally set
I needed a story this particular night after my first one fell through. There had been a fire earlier in the day that gutted a Whitehaven apartment complex. I was tasked with going out and trying to find victims or residents who lost things. I was able to convince a couple of guys to talk and the Red Cross showed up while we were there. Then, about 30 minutes before the newscast, I got an email from MFD revealing the fire was intentionally set. We quickly re-edited part of my story and made it to Whitehaven for this live shot.
I needed a story this particular night after my first one fell through. There had been a fire earlier in the day that gutted a Whitehaven apartment complex. I was tasked with going out and trying to find victims or residents who lost things. I was able to convince a couple of guys to talk and the Red Cross showed up while we were there. Then, about 30 minutes before the newscast, I got an email from MFD revealing the fire was intentionally set. We quickly re-edited part of my story and made it to Whitehaven for this live shot.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Cars Under Siege By Thrown Rocks
Drivers under siege by thrown rocks where school bus was struck
I was dispatched to breaking news Monday about a student on board a bus injured by a rock that was thrown through a window. I interviewed the kid who, fortunately, suffered only minor injuries. We got an email after the story aired from another driver who said rocks shattered his Coca-Cola truck window in the very same area on Southern Avenue. MPD confirmed there have been at least 3 other attacks in the last 2 weeks. I did this live shot (in my follow-up story) on the railroad tracks that run along Southern Avenue. I held up some rocks like the ones likely being thrown.
I was dispatched to breaking news Monday about a student on board a bus injured by a rock that was thrown through a window. I interviewed the kid who, fortunately, suffered only minor injuries. We got an email after the story aired from another driver who said rocks shattered his Coca-Cola truck window in the very same area on Southern Avenue. MPD confirmed there have been at least 3 other attacks in the last 2 weeks. I did this live shot (in my follow-up story) on the railroad tracks that run along Southern Avenue. I held up some rocks like the ones likely being thrown.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Margaritas At Middle School
Middle school students suspended for bringing alcohol to school
We got a tip about students boozing it up at a middle school. It was difficult to believe.. But I reached out to the school district to try and confirm the story. 10 students had indeed been expelled for bringing alcohol onto the Kate Bond Middle School campus. Students and a teacher told me the kids were making margaritas. I didn't get out to the school to get reaction until well after dismissal. Fortunately, there was an event going on and several parents and students were accessible. I also found a cooperative liquor store owner who let us get some video of tequila and margarita mix
We got a tip about students boozing it up at a middle school. It was difficult to believe.. But I reached out to the school district to try and confirm the story. 10 students had indeed been expelled for bringing alcohol onto the Kate Bond Middle School campus. Students and a teacher told me the kids were making margaritas. I didn't get out to the school to get reaction until well after dismissal. Fortunately, there was an event going on and several parents and students were accessible. I also found a cooperative liquor store owner who let us get some video of tequila and margarita mix
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