Lane Luckie

NBC News’ Tim Russert dead at 58

I just learned of the death of Tim Russert, long-time moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. As we approach Father’s Day on Sunday, I can’t help but think of the many stories I remember hearing in interviews about his close relationship with his father. This is certainly very sad news for journalists, young and old….

Pursuing a “mid-year resolution”

Who needs January 1st to resolve to make change in your life? Most people break their New Year’s resolution within a week or two. In January I didn’t make a traditional “resolution,” but I made a conscious effort to be healthier. Many people set out to lose weight, quit smoking, or get fit for their spring…

My photographic journey hits bookshelves

I’ve always had a love and respect for documentary photography. As a journalist, I appreciate quality storytelling. I think a powerful photograph or visual medium is an incredible means for creatively telling a story without leading the observer. I’ve always enjoyed photographing the natural beauty of historic Natchitoches, Louisiana, so I’ve assembled my favorite shots into a published…

Meet the woman profiled in ‘The Armless Marvel’

Natchitoches, Louisiana is home to an extraordinary number of remarkable individuals.While Mary Belle de Vargas’ name may not be widely known, her story is deserving of attention and admiration. Born without arms, she refused to let others’ perceptions limit her abilities. She taught herself to paint using her toes and feet, gaining the attention of…

DFWReporting.com is news without the blues

A new website aims to prove a different angle of news coverage for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. DFWReporting.com will tell stories that might sometimes fall through the cracks amid the wall-to-wall coverage of car chases and murders. It was founded by Chris Ghanbari, a young professional who I worked with at WFAA in Dallas last summer….

Is texting messaging helping or hurting our ability to communicate?

No, an international “thumb war” craze hasn’t hit America, but text messaging seems to be giving us a workout. This simple form of communication has evolved faster than anyone could have imagined. Billions of short messages are sent each year, with unbridled growth expected in the future. Do your thumbs hurt already? Most of you would…

Raymond Strother: The Father of Political Consulting

Using the word “colorful” to describe Louisiana’s political scene has become so cliché. With grandiose political personalities in every corner of the country from Senator Robert Byrd, to Governor Schwarzenegger and Senators Larry Craig and Ted Kennedy, Louisiana isn’t the only state with famous politicians. Louisiana, however, still maintains control of its own style of…

From the Town Talk: “Greeks Work to Change Stereotype”

It’s no secret that the Greek System at NSU is going through a rough patch. Low recruitment, retention, and accountability are among some of the biggest obstacles. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however. Some very capable student leaders are at the helm of their respective organizations. Comittment to philanthropic service…

Discovering a road paved in good intention

So few communities today embrace their past as closely as Natchitoches, Louisiana. The town is a heritage tourism hot-spot due to its unique blend of the past and present. While the locals are a relatively forward-looking population, tradition and culture are planted deep within daily life. The relaxed style of living adds to the close-knit…

Is the state of Greek Life at NSU in danger?

In an effort to improve the current state of fraternities at Northwestern State University, the Interfraternity Council, or IFC, is undertaking a self-imposed reorganization. The IFC, which serves as the governing body of six chartered fraternities, voted earlier this semester to disband temporarily and to allow the group to restructure their operations. “Many fraternities felt…

More than 50 thousand demonstrators pack tiny Louisiana town to protest injustice

Thousands of marchers gathered in Jena, Louisiana on Thursday to rally support for Mychal Bell, one of six black students initially charged with attempted murder for the beating of a white classmate. Charges were eventually dropped against five of the teens, while Bell still sits behind bars awaiting trial. I traveled to Jena with my crew…

New semester, new ideas

Upon arrival in Natchitoches in early August, I hit the ground running with re-tooling my duties with NSU22 News. I planned to return to anchoring this fall, but a class conflict will prevent me from scheduling around the newscast. This may prove to be a favorable coincidence because I have been named to the investigative beat…

Lane anchors the WFAA intern newscast

You can now check out the WFAA intern newscast online. I was selected to co-anchor our intern-produced newscast on Sunday, July 29, 2007. Each of the readers and packages were produced by the interns. This video was a highlight reel of my segments that was edited down for my NSU coursework.

Day 52: Explosions rock downtown Dallas

It seems that most major disasters seem to occur on days that people describe as, “It was a beautiful morning.” This morning was just that. A few weeks ago, I shifted my morning commute from the DART rail to driving I-30. Because my work schedule has kept me later and later, I convinced myself driving…

Day 45: Troy Dungan, the man behind the bowtie

“I wonder what they’re like in person?” We’ve all heard rumors and stories about what our favorite television personalities are like off-camera. Some can be prima donnas, others are consummate professionals. There are many tried and true, genuine people out there and WFAA’s Troy Dungan is one of them. As I blogged earlier, I have been…

Day 37: Interesting alternatives to traditional burials

How do you want to be remembered in death? The end of life is often a taboo topic, something people don’t frequently discuss, except out of necessity. For many, dealing with death can be an especially troubling time because few are adequately prepared for a loved one’s passing. Losing someone special, particularly if they’re young, is an extremely painful experience…

Day 31: God Bless the USA

Happy Independence Day everyone! I’m taking a much-needed trip home to visit family in Louisiana for the remainder of the week. I’ll be back first thing Monday with more news and views. By then, I’ll also up-to-date on my “back-posting,” so look for new posts. July will mark my second month at WFAA, which means it’s…

Day 29: Protecting airports, starting at the curb

Many people live in fear because they believe their lives are in constant danger. I ride mass transit, go out in public, and visit large arenas and landmarks. I do not, however, take unnecessary risks when it comes to my personal safety. When we stop living in the spirit of “pursuing the American Dream,” we may as…

Day 26: Fighting the bite of West Nile in North Texas

Fridays can sometimes be fairly slow news days, but today must have been a fluke. Many of the reporters had scheduled vacation, which I assume is due to the upcoming 4th of July holiday. Today I worked with government reporter Chris Heinbaugh, who was shifted to cover another reporter’s beat. Chris was assigned to the Fort Worth…

Day 25: It’s all about perspective

“Did you see that show the other night? The one where the guy was carrying a bunch of boxes and he kept getting tripped up by different things. He finally fell and everything went flying! That was so funny.” How many times have you re-told a story that no one found interesting or funny? Sometimes…

Day 23: Mastering the art of interviewing

Sam Waterston is one of my favorite actors of the Law and Order television series. His character Jack McCoy, the determined prosecutor, often lets his emotions and personal views drive his courtroom behavior. In the series, Lady Justice often “peeks through her blindfold” and creates a difficult situation in the hearings. Though he usually maintains…

Day 19: Who’s behind News 8 graphics

“Now… news that matters to you. This is NSU22 News, working in the spirit of Northwestern.” Purple swirls and dissolves, beauty shots of campus landmarks, the NSU22 logo — all elements of the newscast open for Northwestern State University’s student newscast. In the late 1980s, news graphics staked their claim as a critical element of…

Day 18: How do J-schools stack up?

Do I cut the red wire, or do I cut the blue wire? There are 10 seconds left on the timer. Tick tock, tick tock. The voice over the radio screams “Come on, you’ve got to cut the wire.” You know the inevitable is looming. If you cut the wrong wire, it’s over. Your heart…

Day 17: Adventures in mass transit

After returning to the station from Gainesville on Tuesday, I realized that I had to figure out which train to take home from downtown. After checking the schedule, I waited for the train, when suddenly it hit me. I had always been told “Do not take the DART rail after dark.” Friends and family had…

Day 16: Flooding devastates North Texas community

Early Monday morning torrential rains soaked much of the northern part of the Metroplex. Gainesville was the unfortunate target for the brunt of Mother Nature’s fury. So far officials have estimated damage at more than 30 million dollars. Several people lost their lives, while others find themselves with only the clothes on their back. Flood waters ripped through…

Day 13: And the winner is…

I’ve always been a huge history buff. Whether it’s the Articles of Confederation, the Lincoln presidency or World War II, I’m fascinated. Being interested in history plays a huge role in why I’m studying to become a journalist. Watching current events unfold before my eyes each day and being able to share this news with countless others is exactly what drives…

Day 12: Stumbling upon hidden treasure

Take a step in any direction in downtown Dallas, and the only way to find any sign of nature, is to look straight up — way up at the sky, slightly hazy from the tinge of smog lingering over the city. One would not expect to see the simple, delicate spirit of Mother Nature present in this jungle…

Day 11: No shortage of big news in the ‘Big D’

Time and again we hear stories of criminals caught because of their stupidity — the bank robber who leaves his drivers license behind at the teller window or the thief who takes time to stop and stare into the security camera.

Day 10: The rush of breaking news

Competition keeps multiple news outlets in the same coverage area constantly sharpening their skills. I would imagine in some smaller markets, news outlets cut corners or fall into poor routines due to the lack of competition from other television stations. There is no race to cover a big story or effort to attain a unique angle. Sometimes,…

Day 9: The answer is right under my nose

Every person, in some way draws inspiration into their life, whether they are honest enough to admit it. Some look toward personal heroes- mothers, celebrities, spiritual leaders. Others nurture their determination by immersing themselves in the serenity of nature. So many more get their “kick” each day with a cup of coffee and a few moments of…

Day 8: Living in Cowboy Country

After only one week in the Lone Star State, I’m starting to immerse myself in the culture of Cowboy Country. This morning’s DART Rail commute to the station led to a surprise discovery on my iPOD. I don’t recall having 45 minutes of country/western music on my playlist, but apparently it was just what I…

Day 5: My first week in the WFAA newsroom

I’ve had a spectacular first week at WFAA. Let me recap some of the highlights. I couldn’t ask for a group of people who are so professional, personable, and committed to their responsibilities as journalists. I’ve learned walking is the cheapest form of transportation. Gas prices are still ridiculously high (might be the topic of…

Day 4: Learning the ropes in the newsroom

Today I’ll start by saying, “This is exactly how I had dreamed WFAA would be.” I arrived a little early to finish some work on a story from the previous day. My mentor David Schechter arrived shortly thereafter and we delved into his upcoming special project. He’s working on a sweeps piece for later in the…

Day 3: Starting to settle in

Let me begin tonight by thanking the growing number of you who take time to stop in and read about my daily happenings. I appreciate the comments and feedback I receive. Please continue to add ideas and suggestions for future posts. I’m starting to feel that I’m developing a routine, which is not necessarily a…

Day 2: “I Can See Clearly Now…the Rain is Gone”

Before I start, let me apologize for the cliche song reference in the headline. I can’t help but be thankful that the monsoon is over, but also shrug at the scorching week ahead. Today’s hot, dry weather is closer to the normal weather patterns for north Texas. Upon arrival at work, I finally worked out the kinks with…