Lane Luckie

NASA spacesuit designer reveals changes to new ‘pumpkin suit’

NASA’s aging stock of spacesuits is coming under great scrutiny as the space agency investigates the near-drowning of an astronaut. Wednesday, an investigation board released its report on the July 2013 incident involving a water leak in Italian astronaut’s Luca Parmitano’s helmet. More than a liter of liquid pooled around Parmitano’s eyes, nose and ears,…

WATCH: Making snow for Holiday in the Park

Click here to see how they make snow for Holiday in the Park when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.

Next-gen NASA spacecraft to visit E. Texas on cross-country road trip

A test version of the Orion capsule left NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia early Thursday on the bed of an 18-wheeler, headed for California. The four-week road trip will make stops in Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before an early January arrival in San Diego, California. A map showing the convoy’s…

Oscar-winning composer Will Jennings inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame

Will Jennings, a native of Kilgore, Texas, is the newest member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. I met Jennings earlier this year, learning of his storied career and roots planted firmly in East Texas. In the late 1970s he wrote Barry Manilow’s hit, ‘Looks Like We Made It,’ and teamed with…

WATCH: Breathtaking views from the Rockies of southwest Colorado

Some of the most breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains can be found in southwest Colorado. Click here for highlights from my trip to Durango, Silverton, San Juan Mountains, the “Million Dollar Highway,” Ouray, the Animas River, Telluride, and the Dallas Divide.

‘Name the Shuttle’ contest gives Texans chance to name space history icon

Texans now have the opportunity to name a high-fidelity replica of a NASA Space Shuttle, the centerpiece of a new attraction set to open in Houston. In early 2015, Space Center Houston will unveil an exhibit featuring the Shuttle replica seated atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet that ferried…

WATCH: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin speaks at CR Smith Museum

Click here to watch a portion of moon-walking astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s lecture at the CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

Meeting moon-walking astronaut Buzz Aldrin

As a life-long space enthusiast, meeting astronaut Buzz Aldrin was a great honor for me. He gave a lecture and signed copies of his new book, “Mission to Mars,” at the American Airlines CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth on June 22, 2013.

WATCH: West Texas storm chase

Click here to watch our storm chase in the Texas panhandle.

Up close: West Texas storm chase intercepts tornado

Chasing funnel clouds through the rolling hills of Rusk County to being pummeled with hail on the interstate in Harrison County, the KLTV Mobile StormTracker vehicle has already been put through the gauntlet. Wanting to test some modifications to the camera system on the chase vehicle, Meteorologist Grant Dade and I set out to track…

WATCH: Truck crushed by tornado-toppled tree

Click here to watch my report on our storm chase that headed into the path of a destructive tornado.

Storm chase heads straight into path of destructive East Texas tornado

The threat of severe weather was looming and I got the call from KLTV 7 meteorologist Grant Dade that our latest chase was hours away. After filling up the Mobile StormTracker chase vehicle, Grant spent some time checking models, radar and forecast discussions to pinpoint the ideal place to watch storms fire up. An impressive…

Tonight Show ties to East Texas

This weekend I had the great pleasure of attending a performance by Doc Severinsen, the longtime bandleader of NBC’s Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra brought him to Caldwell Auditorium for a concert with his band, The San Miguel Five. They were phenomenal! As a fellow trumpeter, hearing his high notes…

Texas lands massive piece of Space Shuttle history

Space Center Houston is adding a “jumbo” piece of space history to its already impressive fleet of retired spacecraft and aerospace vehicles. Thursday, NASA announced the transfer of ownership of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, to the official visitor’s center of the Johnson Space Center. The SCA, one of two modified Boeing 747 jumbo…

WATCH: Aerial view of ice storm from Chopper 7

Click here for an aerial view of the East Texas ice storm from KLTV’s Chopper 7.

Communication restored to International Space Station after computer glitch

Communication has been restored to the International Space Station after a computer glitch Tuesday morning left crew members unable to reach ground controllers for more than two hours. Around 8:45 a.m. Central Time, the ISS lost contact with Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas, according to a NASA news release. By…

WATCH: East Texans mark 10 years since Shuttle Columbia tragedy

Click here for my coverage of the 10th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy and recovery effort.

10 years after Shuttle Columbia tragedy, E. Texas museum preserves crew’s legacy

10 years have passed since East Texas was thrust into the national spotlight after Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart on re-entry over the Piney Woods. Obviously, it’s an emotional time for the families of the seven brave astronauts, but the small town of Hemphill is reflecting on their very deep and personal connection to the tragedy….

WATCH: My night with blues legend BB King

Click here for my interview with Blues legend BB King.

Legendary musician B.B. King sings the blues for East Texas audience

It’s not every day one of the most prolific musicians of the modern era performs in East Texas. Living legend B.B. King performed Thursday night in front of a crowd of hundreds at Tyler’s Caldwell Auditorium. Fans were treated to a trip through decades of musical magic from the moment the 87-year-old strapped on his…

KLTV Thanksgiving behind-the-scenes & a collection of recipes

Originally posted on In Mama Steph's Kitchen:
November has been a lovely, busy month. Some of the crew along with Grant, Dia, Lane and me. My son Justin is right behind me! He operates a camera on GMET. I was excited to be a part of a special edition of Good Morning East Texas.…

E. Texas priest awaits ordination as bishop of Tyler diocese

In the two months since the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI had chosen a local priest to become the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Reverend Monsignor Joseph E. Strickland has kept a whirlwind schedule. Through his blog, “Run Father Run,” Bishop-elect Strickland has provided an inside look at his latest spiritual journey…

WATCH: CNN’s Candy Crowley joins GMET for Presidential Debate analysis

Click here to watch CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley join Good Morning East Texas for a preview the October 16, 2012 presidential debate.

GMET’s Shrimp & Grits Showdown

Each Friday our GMET Meteorologist Grant Dade shares his favorite recipes during our ‘Cooking Up a Storm’ segment. This week, Dia and I decided to settle our claims of serving superior Shrimp & Grits. In a head-to-head competition we donned aprons and headed into the kitchen, fists flying. Ultimately, my version of shrimp & grits swept…

WATCH: Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final ferried flight

Click here for my coverage of the final ferried flight of Shuttle Endeavour from Florida to California.

Lane Luckie named Pi Kappa Phi’s 2012 ‘Facilitator of the Year’

Pi Kappa Phi is privileged to have over 1,300 volunteers nationwide, who give their time, talent and treasures to ensure student members are afforded an outstanding fraternity experience. Lane Luckie, an alumnus of the Beta Omicron Chapter at Northwestern State University, was recognized among the fraternity’s most dedicated volunteers, being named 2012 National ‘Facilitator of…

Time to rise & shine with Good Morning East Texas

Tonight was my final East Texas News at Six broadcast on KTRE. Starting next week, I’ll be embarking on a new adventure, anchoring the Emmy Award-winning Good Morning East Texas on KLTV and KTRE. This is an opportunity I’m excited about and I hope you will be too! Moving to Tyler is bittersweet, especially with all the friendships and connections…

HOSTS: Helping One Student To Succeed

As I prepare to move to Tyler, I’m quickly taking stock of all the people and connections in Lufkin that mean so much to me. The past three years, I’ve had the great privilege of spending one day a week at Brandon Elementary School, working with students who surprisingly have taught me some valuable lessons….

KTRE newscast featured in MSNBC coverage of rare East Texas earthquake

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow featured a clip from KTRE’s newscast in her coverage of the May 2012 earthquake in Shelby County, Texas. Click here to watch.

Houston’s new space shuttle replica arrives by sea

After its hopes of landing a retired Space Shuttle were scrapped, Houston is now home to the next-closest thing — a full-size replica. Friday marked the end to an 8-day voyage across the Gulf of Mexico for the orbiter mock-up that had previously welcomed visitors to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Hundreds crowded along the…

Storm watch: Inside the National Weather Service

While the robotic voice announcing emergency alerts over your NOAA weather radio sounds like it couldn’t be further from life, there are actually dozens of real people behind the message who are working to save lives. I recently got a behind the scenes look at the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Shreveport, Louisiana. Local…

Celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday

Sam-I-Am may have turned his nose up to a plate of green eggs and ham, but that’s okay. That leaves more for the rest of us! Pineywoods Academy in Lufkin served up plates of the iconic dish for breakfast as part of their annual observance of Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday, which has become a…

Coach’s post-game rant after loss to SFA catches national attention

Visibly riled over a dismal loss, Lamar University Head Basketball Coach Pat Knight never minced words in a post-game press conference that has now gone viral. After dropping a critical conference game Wednesday to Stephen F. Austin in a 62-52 loss, the first-year head coach lashed out, placing blame on his senior players. Knight’s heated…

WATCH: Power line wildfire spreads through Jasper County

Click the video below to watch my report on the ‘Power line’ wildfire spreading through Jasper County. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of KTRE/KLTV-TV or Raycom Media. They are solely the opinion of the author. All content © Copyright 2011 Lane Luckie

Comedian Tom Green runs amok in KTRE studio

The news isn’t always serious in nature. It took an unpredictably turn on January 24, 2011 when comedian and actor Tom Green visited the KTRE studio prior to performing in a sold-out show in Nacogdoches. When asked if he’s calmed down any since his MTV years, he created a bit of commotion in the studio….