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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 truck long enough to share why he’ll never do this again….

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…