Lane Luckie

Business is booming again on Florida’s Space Coast

As NASA prepares to return humans to the surface of the Moon, tests for the space agency’s Artemis I mission aren’t the only activities at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. LUNAR LAUNCH On June 20, the space agency completed a critical dress-rehearsal of a launch for its new Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket and…

WATCH: Airboat ride through Florida’s Everglades

An airboat ride is the perfect way to get around in the Florida Everglades. Click here to watch.

WATCH: Florida’s mind-blowing waters of Crystal River

Come along as we explore the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Florida.

NASA conducts critical dress rehearsal for new moon rocket

NASA is taking a big step toward returning humans to the surface of Moon. Monday, the space agency conducted a “wet test” dress rehearsal for its new SLS, or Space Launch System, moon rocket and Orion spacecraft. This was expected to be a final test before the launch of the Artemis I demonstration mission later…

East Texas children send message to Ukrainian refugees through original artwork

Young artists from East Texas are sending a message of hope to Ukrainian refugees a world away. Students of the Tyler Art School, a private studio located in southeast Tyler, have created artwork that reflects their concern for the millions of Ukrainian children forced to flee their homes due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine….

Lane Luckie’s special reports from Germany honored by Texas Association of Broadcasters

KLTV news anchor and reporter Lane Luckie’s special series ‘Germany In Focus’ was honored with a first place award from the Texas Association of Broadcasters. His on-the-ground coverage of last year’s German Federal Parliamentary Election from Berlin was recognized as the winner of the Multimedia/ Digital Storytelling category in the TV II division of the…

Lane Luckie named to NSU Greek Hall of Fame

As part of its Greek Life Centennial celebration, Northwestern State University recognized 100 distinguished individuals for their notable contributions to fraternity and sorority life at the university over the last century. Lane Luckie, a 2008 graduate and an alumnus of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, was among the graduates honored through…

Last-minute moves set up exciting race finish at Texas Motor Speedway

The first day of Spring provided perfect weather for IndyCar racing at Texas Motor Speedway. Click here for highlights.

Tyler partnering with Polish sister city to offer assistance to Ukrainian refugees

The Polish sister city of Tyler, Texas has become a receiving point for hundreds of Ukrainian citizens fleeing their home country after the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jelenia Góra, a city of more than 78 thousand residents in southwestern Poland, has mobilized its municipal government to provide humanitarian services in response to…

Donna McCollum: 44 Years as the Voice for Deep East Texas

In our industry, a tenure this long is uncommon. But that’s Donna — truly exceptional — both as a journalist and as a person. Retirement is a bittersweet moment for a beloved collegiate. KTRE and KLTV veteran reporter Donna McCollum is retiring after an amazing career of 44 years telling the stories of Deep East…

Napa Valley, California: America’s Wine Country

California’s Wine Country has become a destination for wine lovers and foodies alike. Napa Valley and Sonoma County are home to hundreds of wineries, with most offering tours of their vineyards, tasting rooms, wine cellars and caves, as well as production facilities. The region has become a hospitality destination, catering to those seeking a world-class…

WATCH: San Francisco, the City By the Bay

Click here to hop aboard a cable car and tour some of San Francisco’s iconic landmarks.

WATCH: A Golden Gate sunset

Click here for unbelievable views of the Golden Gate, the bridge, and the Pacific Ocean.

Pro-democracy Hong Kong news organization to end operations after police raid

In another major blow to independent journalism in Hong Kong, police have raided the offices of Stand News, a non-profit online media outlet. According to the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force, more than 200 officers were involved in a search of Stand News offices and the homes of current and former…

Race Day: Marathon, historic election generate buzz in Germany’s capital city

Two big races are drawing crowds of people to Germany’s capitol city Sunday — the annual BMW Berlin Marathon and a historic parliamentary election that will decide who succeeds Angela Merkel as chancellor. More than 25 thousand runners and other athletes from all over the world are weaving through the city, with spectators and supporters…

‘Stumbling stones’ serve as persistent reminders of Germany’s dark past

Every time I’m in Germany, I’m struck by the sheer number of Stolpersteine or “stumbling stones” I come across. These mini memorials throughout Germany are placed outside the last known residence of Holocaust victims. 75,000 plaques have been installed in sidewalks so far. These are real people, each with a story to be remembered. Not…

WATCH: Final day of campaigning in Germany’s parliamentary elections

Lane Luckie has a look at the final day of campaigning ahead of German’s federal parliament elections on Sunday.

Former Cold War-era NSA listening post overlooks Berlin

This hill in western Berlin was actually created from all of the rubble left over after Allied bombings in World War II. It stands 180 feet tall and contains 420 million cubic feet of debris. You might be wondering about those three white radome “balls” sitting atop Teufelsberg. During the Cold War, the U.S. constructed…

East Texas state rep. recalls watching Ronald Reagan deliver ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall’ speech in Berlin

Six decades have now passed since the Berlin Wall first went up, not only dividing a nation, but also becoming a globally-recognized symbol of government oppression. On August 13, 1961, the government of East Germany began construction on a barrier surrounding the Allied-controlled West Berlin to stem mass migration from the Soviet-controlled East. In 1987,…

Lingering East-West division in Germany highlighted by economic issues

This August marked 60 years since the Berlin Wall first went up, creating a physical barrier between East and West Germany. Despite the wall coming down nearly three decades later, a lagging economy in parts of the former East are creating new divisions. Wages, unemployment, and GDP are lower in the former communist East Germany,…

Inside German broadcaster Welt’s new Berlin headquarters

It’s all hands on deck for election week at the Welt TV network, which is owned by German media giant Axel Springer. The Bundestag elections in September are the first major parliamentary election broadcast from Welt’s studio inside the new Axel Springer Building. The facility, along Zimmerstrasse in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood, opened in April. The…

America’s military presence in Germany remains fresh issue for both countries

As Germany votes this Sunday in a historic election to usher-in a new chancellor for the first time in 16 years, recent polling shows eligible voters are most concerned with campaign issues like the environment and the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of the vote will likely have a significant impact on Transatlantic relations, as Germany’s…

WATCH: Site of the post-WWII Potsdam Conference

In the the summer of 1945, Cecilienhof Palace was the site of the Potsdam Conference between the U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain.

COVID-era changes you’ll notice at DFW International Airport and some you won’t

Travelers flying out of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport or East Texas Regional Airport connect through Dallas Fort Worth International Airports, one of the busiest in the world. Passenger figures show people are taking to the skies again, nearing pre-pandemic levels. The latest available totals show 6,866,796 people traveled through DFW in the month of July,…

WATCH: Soak up the sun on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast

Click here to soak up views of the black sand beaches at Playas del Coco on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

WATCH: Encountering sloths in Costa Rica’s rainforests

Click here to spot some friendly-faced sloth dangling high in the canopy of Costa Rica’s rainforests.

WATCH: Ziplining above a Costa Rican rainforest

Click here to experience ziplining at speeds of 40 mph above a rainforest.

WATCH: An incredible adventure at Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano

Click here to see why Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano is the perfect place to connect with nature.

WATCH: Nighttime flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

DFW International Airport lights up the night sky like few other airports. Click here to see why.

Texas weathers historic winter storm

The effects of a week below freezing and record-setting winter weather will certainly be felt long after East Texas begins to thaw. Starting Sunday, February 14, much of Texas faced a period of historic cold. Snow, freezing rain, and ice triggered the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Warning lasting several days. In…

WATCH: Discussing Texas’ winter storm on BBC Breakfast

Click here to watch my report on the historic winter storm in Texas.

WATCH: Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy 18th anniversary coverage

Click here to watch my reports from the ‘Remembering Columbia’ NASA Museum.

Hemphill museum to commemorate 18th anniversary of Shuttle Columbia tragedy

The Hemphill museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Space Shuttle Columbia will host its annual memorial service on Monday, the 18th anniversary of the tragedy that trust East Texas into international headlines. On the morning of February 1, 2003, the orbiter broke apart in the skies over East Texas, just minutes before Columbia’s…

WATCH: Fireworks illuminate sky at Natchitoches Festival of Lights

Click here to watch highlights from a world-class fireworks display at the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights.

Iconic ‘Tiny Target’ razed in remote West Texas

A pile of concrete blocks is all that remains of the so-called ‘World’s Smallest Target Store,’ a popular roadside destination in West Texas. Situated along a remote stretch of U.S. Highway 90 in Brewster County, the iconic desert structure drew curiosity seekers to the town of Marathon, not far from Big Bend National Park. KOSA-TV…