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,…
Category: Lane’s Topics
These posts are general interest topics that I address.
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’ historic winter storm on the BBC
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…
Showing off Tyler, Texas as Lone Star Emmy Awards goes virtual
This year’s Lone Star Emmy Awards show is going virtual due to the pandemic. When my co-anchor Erika Bazaldua and I were asked to be presenters in a taped broadcast, we thought it’d be a great idea to show off ‘The Rose Capital of America’ during our segment. Tyler’s Rose Garden Center and Museum served…
Talking Politics: Analyzing Texas election outcomes with international journalists
With a historic voter turnout in Texas during an unprecedented pandemic, the 2020 general election will likely be studied for years. President Donald Trump garnered roughly 600 thousand more votes in the Lone Star State than Democratic challenger Joe Biden, upending pundits’ predictions that Texas would turn “blue.” Democrats did make in-roads, expanding their reach…
WATCH: Hiking to one of the most spectacular views in Arkansas
Click here to experience one of the most scenic hikes in the Natural State — the trail to Hawksbill Crag.
WATCH: Autumn adventure at Paige Falls along the Buffalo National River
Click here to see the beauty of Paige Falls in northern Arkansas.
Election 2020: The Morning After
What an awesome opportunity, the morning after the election, talking to students about the role of journalism in democracy. Journalism teacher Josh Ault, a former KXAS-TV (NBC 5) reporter and fellow Northwestern State University alum, invited me to lead a virtual Q&A with his class at Southlake ISD’s Dawson Middle School. There’s a reason why…
Celebrating Autumn in the Arboretum
With the changing of seasons, Fall colors come alive at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Click here to take a tour.
Greta Van Susteren discusses first presidential debate of 2020
Greta weighs in on the first presidential debate of 2020, which was certainly unlike any other.
NASA closer to locating small leak in International Space Station after months-long search
NASA has isolated a persistent air leak in the International Space Station to the main work area of the Zvezda Service Module, the space agency announced Tuesday. For months, the Expedition 63 crew and ground teams have been analyzing data to locate the precise source of an increased air leak at the orbiting complex. Monday…
Astronauts emerge from shelter after ‘avoidance maneuver’ successful
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have emerged from their ‘safe haven’ after taking shelter inside their Soyuz spacecraft as an unknown piece of space debris approached the orbiting outpost. According to NASA, the object was expected to pass within .8 of a mile of the space station Tuesday afternoon. Around 4:19 p.m., the Russian…
Spacecraft to be named for astronaut who died in 2003 space shuttle tragedy
A spacecraft set to launch later this month will be named for a pioneer astronaut who died in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy in East Texas. Northrop Grumman announced its un-crewed NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft will be named for Kalpana Chawla, a NASA astronaut assigned to Shuttle Columbia’s ill-fated final mission. “It is the company’s…
Hitting close to home: Riding out Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles
Learning my Dad was okay after riding out Hurricane Laura in my hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana was an answered prayer. Cell service is nearly non-existing in some places right now, so he was able to turn on the mobile WiFi hotspot in his vehicle long enough to share why he’ll never do this again….
Remembering General Erbon Wise, an extraordinary life of service
I was so very sad to hear of the passing of General Erbon Wise this week, just two days shy of his 100th birthday. I always looked forward to visiting with him every Fall in Natchitoches during our NSU Alumni Association/Foundation board luncheon. My college career was possible, in large part due to his generosity,…
WATCH: Hong Kong is home to the world’s fanciest McDonalds
Click here to see what’s on the menu at the fast-food chain’s concept store.
East Texas NASA facility to play key role in football stadium-sized balloon mission to study stars
One of NASA’s next missions to study the origins of stars will feature a record-breaking telescope hoisted by a football stadium-sized balloon and the space agency is relying on an East Texas facility to make sure it gets off the ground. The Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths, or ASTHROS, is…
Why is there a Prada store in the West Texas desert?
Perhaps you’ve heard of Prada Marfa on social media? Not far from the West Texas town made famous by its mysterious lights on the horizon, another landmark is drawing people to the remote desert community. Established in 2005, the single room structure is the vision of artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The art installation has become…
WATCH: Monahans Sandhills, a Texas-sized natural sandbox
Click here to look around dune field with some dunes as tall as 50 feet!
Big Bend Ranch: Where solitude meets adventure
Spectacular scenery and unmatched adventure await visitors to Big Bend Ranch State Park. The 300,000-plus-acre park in Presidio and Brewster counties is the largest in Texas. The West Texas desert landscape’s geological features and recreational opportunities draw outdoors enthusiasts from around the country. One of the easiest ways to take-in the vastness of the state…
A goat has been mayor of this remote Texas town since the 1980s
Every day since the mid-1980s, the mayor of Lajitas has held court on the side of dusty Farm to Market Road 170, just outside Big Bend National Park in remote West Texas. An unassuming pen next to the town’s general store is home of ‘The World Famous Clay Henry Mayor Mayor of Lajitas.” The title…
Lane Luckie 