Dispatches From a Reporter's Notebook

On the Run

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:09:52 -0500

How many years does it take to right a wrong? What would you do if you thought your life was in danger?

Opting Out

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:35:52 -0400

It happens to all of us. We sit down at our computer and log-on to our e-mail account and are bombarded with junk mail. Not unlike going to the mailbox and retrieving a pile of colorful advertisements, it's annoying and time-consuming.

The Ripple Effect

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:53:55 -0400

When I first heard the news that a little girl had been hit and killed by a car while getting off of the school bus Wednesday, I felt sick to my stomach. I have a daughter the same age, and my heart immediately went out to the grieving mother and her family. I had little time to ponder the gut-wrenching heartache, however, because I had to be on the air with the story in just about twenty-five minutes.

Giving Voice

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:22:49 -0400

Hundreds of people turned out for a vigil in Rocky Mount last night to honor five murdered women and three others who are missing. The remains of a sixth person have been found, but not identified. It appears the cases which date back to October of 2005 may be connected--most of the bodies were found in Edgecombe County near Seven Bridges Road.

No immunity from grief

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:42:28 -0400

When the prosecutor's voice cracked as he read a letter from the mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by a drunk driver, I knew that something unusual was happening in the courtroom.

Staying clean

Wed, 27 May 2009 18:30:38 -0400

This week a twenty year old man who admitted to killing someone in a drunk driving crash in 2007 butted heads with the law again.

And justice for all

Wed, 06 May 2009 18:12:43 -0400

We've gotten a tremendous amount of feedback on our story about the Patriot Act that aired on WRAL April 29. It has consistently been one of our most highly viewed stories on WRAL.com. In addition, we have gotten inquiries from media outlets in Indiana where the teenager is in custody, and from national media as well. One of the newest platforms that we monitor is the prevalence of our stories on social networking sites and on blogs. Again this story is getting unprecedented attention in those areas

The power of one

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:48:08 -0400

Soon after Nancy Cooper was found murdered near her Cary home her friends and family started noticing butterflies in their neighborhoods.

Putting a price tag on life

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:49:32 -0400

Tuesday, the family of a murdered Wake County woman, Michelle Young, was awarded $15.5 million in damages for her loss. The money is slated to go to the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Cassidy. The compensatory and punitive damages are to be paid by the victim's husband, Jason Young.

"Big Brother"

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:16:39 -0500

When I first read George Orwell's science fiction novel entitled 1984 in high school, I didn't really get it. First and foremost, I wasn't a science fiction fan, so I read it with an innate skepticism. Secondly, I couldn't imagine a world where your every move could be monitored and documented.