When I arrived firefighters had gotten control of the flames, and it appeared an apartment was ruined but neighboring ones were ok. No one was home and no one was hurt. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't the biggest fire in the world, not enough for me to sound an alarm and rush more crews there.

I let the family affected have their space and move things out, but eventually approached them and asked how everyone was doing. It was then I learned how horrible this fire truly had been for the Williams family. Ashley Williams was a young mother, she had just brought her newborn baby home from the hospital. He was just 1 week old. The baby lost everything, clothes, furniture, supplies, even his hand and footprints from the hospital. My heart sank and suddenly I felt compelled to share this story with all of Hampton Roads.

My photogapher Charlie Hatfield and Satellite Operator Bryan Tulwits and arrived and helped me capture the family's story and share it with all of you. Within minutes of airing the story, people were showing up on the scene knocking on the door of our newsvan. Everyone wanted to help this family, and they did. The next day they had a garage filled with clothes, diapers, even a new crib for the baby.

It made me feel so good, and my happiness was even stronger this morning when I got the email cited below. Thank you Hampton Roads for coming together to help one another.

va beach apartment fire
To: Carter, Wayne
Cc:

hi I would like to thank you so much for all you did to help my two grandbabys out after this terrible fire luckily no one was home but you and your staff have been so helpful and without your caring support I dont think we could have pulled through this Talan and skyler are going to be ok thanks to your reporting and these wonderful people who has donated so much we even had a lady drop off baby clothes and her own daughter was in the hospital ready to give birth this is an outstanding community and again I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart you helped this family out so much you were so nice to me and my husband you gave us space when we needed it and still you did a wonderful job on reporting the story I will never forget what you did for our family and especially my grandbabys your always in our hearts and prayers thank you so much
sincerly, sherry johnson

If you were a member of the media, and had three questions you could ask Ms Pailn, what would they be?

Sure, a lot of reporting so far on the governor has missed the mark and, on some levels, has been unfair. But she is running for the second highest office in the United States and could someday be our president.

So, what is it you'd like to know? You be the reporter.

Right now our crews are gearing up to provide the best coverage possible to keep you and your family safe. We're planning where we need to be to gauge the power and path of the storm.

I can tell you getting it right and not overeacting are keys to planning and executing our coverage.

From the weather lab to our crews in the field, we take this very seriously.
.
Make make sure now you have what you need to to keep you family safe--food, water, a plan to evacuate, some extra cash.

We'll have complete coverage during the critical hours of the storm.

The race is a premiere running event supported by great volunteers and residents of neighborhoods along the course who get up early and cheer on friends and strangers.

I've run almost every Rock and Roll Half in Virginia Beach, and each year I end up wondering with each bead of sweat if this is the wrong race--13.1 miles, at the wrong time of year--summer in the south.

Back in the pack where I run, where mere mortals grunt and groan, most people were just trying to survive by both walking and running.

I saw too many runners drop and heard to many sirens as paramedics rushed in to help. This is all supposed to be fun.

My guess is it would not be hard to find a medical professional who agrees that running 13.1 miles in the heat and with 97% humidity isn't a good idea. Yet, I don't hear anyone speaking out on this.

Perhaps some people don't know how challenging it can be to run a half marathon, or
some fall short in their training and still try to run the race.

The Rock and Roll Half Marathon is a great event--part of a great weekend.

Can we do this next year in, say, October.

Based on the feedback I've received from viewers about my reports, people don't like to
pay a penny more in tax than they should. With gas at $3.75 a gallon, I can't blame them.

A lot of people didn't realize that ten-years ago the state made products like medicated mouthwash, powder and shave cream, eye drops, and first aid items tax free.

Apparently, I lot of stores didn't know either. And when stores get it wrong, you pay!

This past weekend, I went to buy some running shoes and I saved a few bucks. I like that.

My daughter and I headed off to pick-up some school supplies and we saved a few dollars there as well.

We went to another store for more school supplies where I also picked up a few tax-free nonprescription drug products just to see if the Department of Taxation is working H-A-R-D to make sure stores aren't over charging us.

I can't say I was surprised, but on the state's tax-free weekend where I got a break, on running shoes and school supplies, I was charged tax on over-the-counter items that were made tax-free ten-years ago.
,
When will stores get it right?

When will the Department of Taxation make them get it right?

Who knows!

For now check your receipts and you can get a list of these tax free items at WVEC.COM.
:

Instead, C-Span was broadcasting a focus group. There sat a group of Americans who look like America, but in this case somewhere in Pennsylvania, sitting around a table answering a wide range of questions about the upcoming elections.

The focus group facilitator was trying to draw out of the group their opinions about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

What do you like about Senator Obama?

Are you ready for a woman president?

Who is the warmer candidate?

But what struck me as I watched this broadcast was how misinformed so many people around the table were when the discusison came to key issues in the campaign.

Some people in the focus group were confused about who our allies are in Europe.

There was confusion about who is fighting with us in Iraq and the administration's stated reasons for toppling Saddam Hussein.

It's a long way to the November elections. Each and every day we'll be bombarded with information about the candidates and the issues. The truth will surely not always be easy to find.

So, we're all going to have to do some homework and study.

This is a big election. Let's not get it wrong!

ZZZzzzzz