I genuinely never thought I’d be the one making this post.
News is tough. It’s competitive, you work odd hours, holidays, sometimes hours or states away from home, and usually jobs don’t pay what you think they do. You have to pay close attention to detail, keep your personal opinions to yourself and you figure out pretty quickly you’ll need tough skin since there is a lot of criticism in this business and sometimes, rightfully so. And truthfully, I have learned to love most of that.
I was about four when I started asking my mom questions like where racing police cars were going or to chase an ambulance so we could find out where they were going. In grade school, I have recordings of me interviewing my grandparents on TV. By 8th grade, I knew I wanted to go into journalism. I spent my four years in high school doing student news, the newspaper, yearbook, speech and debate. Then, I went to one of the best colleges for journalism. And I was lucky enough to get a job a few months after graduation (shoutout to Eugene, Oregon). It was in Albuquerque, New Mexico that I discovered a special love for breaking news, crime reporting and investigative journalism. And then in Indianapolis, a deeper love for waking up in the middle of the night to help start your day.
All that said, I will admit: it has been a difficult couple of years in news for me. A lot has happened behind the scenes that really made me question my worth. There have been several times recently I had to stop and ask myself why I got into news to begin with. As cliche as it sounds, it was to to help people. To listen when no one else was. And to give people a voice. And then all of a sudden, I was asking, how could I possibly give others a voice when I felt I barely had one for myself?
So then it all came down to this. Someone I spoke with asked me to fill in the blank: “I am at my best when ______. I am at my worst when _____.” My answers were quick. I am at my best when I am passionate ab
Fake Rolex watches, counterfeit purses, and boxes claiming to be Apple Airpods.
I got a rare, in-person, behind-the-scenes look at some of the items U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis.
Two things I learned: Agents are on track to seize a record amount of product this year & some of that money could be funding terrorism overseas
#newsreporter #newsanchor #journalism #investigativejournalist #Consumer
WATCH:
Remember last week when Justin Kollar and Zach Myers couldn't get enough of KFC's promotional video showing off their new finger sporks? (Post is below ICYMI!)
Well, thanks to Google, Archie McPhee and my debit card, they now have their very own!
I think they love them...
Usually, we hate Tuesdays. We all agree, it’s the worst day of the week. But boy, did we have some fun yesterday. Thanks to our editors for clipping all the ridiculous moments and putting them into one big montage 📺
Meteorologist Beth Finello Justin Kollar Zach Myers
Everyone in our CBS4 Indy studio is loving these finger sporks, but I just...cannot.
And Zach Myers and Justin Kollar are pressing buttons this morning 😜
What a mess on the roads this morning!
There was an eight-car pileup on WB I-465 and then a jack knifed semi on EB I-70. The backup on each lasted miles! It looks like 465 has been cleared but if you drive 70 near exits 9, 9 A-B close to the airport, maybe find an alternate route.
Safe to say we were on an emotional roller coaster during our trending stories this morning...
French's, we need answers. Who is behind this?
Meteorologist Beth Finello Zach Myers
#ICYMI
I'm a little late to post the announcement on Facebook, but this week is Nick McGill's last on CBS4 Indy.
He received a well-deserved promotion and will be the new evening anchor for our sister station.
Please congratulate him! We're sad to see him go, but this is a such a wonderful opportunity for him! We'll say our goodbyes on air tomorrow.
We're ready for race weekend! And now we know what all the flags mean. I have only been to the race once, so I was surprised I got as many as I did.
How many did you get correctly?
Did you know the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety do not use average-sized female dummies when performing crash tests and determining vehicle safety?
It means you - or the female drivers in your household - may be more at risk for injury or death on the road.
Here is my latest @CBS4Indy Consumer Investigation:
It was a months-long investigation.
Dozens of customers wanted to go green and save money, so they decided to install a bunch of solar panels. Each told me they were verbally promised one thing, signed their contract for something else, and felt as though they got nothing at all...except a large loan.
There were 705 complaints closed through the BBB...
135 consumer complaints filed with the FTC.
Here is how Powerhome Solar, LLC responded when we asked what happened:
Four months after my CBS4 Consumer Investigation about a shift from away from "sharenting," the Fishers Police Department wants to have a conversation about parenting in the digital age.
Why should you care?
New numbers from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows there was a steep increase in concerning material that was reported online last year. The Hamilton County Child Exploitation Task Force in Indiana confirms it, too, investigated more than 250 reports of child exploitation in 2021.
How do you protect your son or daughter from child predators online? Do you know which tools are available? It's time to find out.
Info to register for this virtual conversation is posted right now on CBS4 Indy.com
By Thursday, we're delirious.
Guac out, this rain is the pits.
Nick McGill Krista McEnany Meteorologist
BUYING IN BULK: After months of investigating, I have confirmed the BMV has been selling your information -- not just to local tow companies, private investigators and more -- but to large businesses in bulk.
Seven entities accessed your data last year. Several of them advertise themselves as market data resources, offering to sell that information to others.
A privacy attorney believes this is how you're getting car warranty mailers and some robocalls.
Have you ever gotten those mailers?
For the first time in more than 30 years, there is a new baby changing table on the market! FINALLY!
And this one claims to be self cleaning 🙌🏽
Pluie
CBS4 Indy
Research shows kids spend 4-7 hours on screens per day but only 4-7 minutes outside every day! We need to fix this!
It's why Ginny Yurich started the 1000 Hours Outside movement. She said after changing her family's lifestyle, she saw her children thrive. Now, families are shooting for at least half of that. They're spending time in the backyard, hiking, snow tubing and doing scavenger hunts. Whatever it takes!
You can print off your free tracker (so fun!) & find easy outdoor ideas here: 1000hoursoutside.com
A few of you have messaged me asking why I moved out of the studio. I appreciate your concern! Unfortunately, my kid(s) tested positive for Coronavirus this week. As you can imagine, being 2.5 years old and 8 months old, I have had extremely high exposure while caring for them.
I'm vaccinated and boosted and just had COVID in October, but to be safe, I separated from my colleagues. I will anchor in a different part of the building for the rest of the week. I wear a mask everywhere else outside of the newscast.
The good news is that everyone appears to be in good spirits! Symptoms included a horrible cough, slight fevers, a small bit of fatigue, sore throats (I think?) congestion and VERY runny noses. Some of that is subsiding, so I am hoping everyone is on the up and up 🤞
Here is to a little (a lot) more sleep in the days to come!
And me not flailing my arms around anymore (Note to self: stop talking with your hands)
I know a lot of you use these peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Zelle.
This morning, financial experts are warning about scams that are specifically targeting those services!
Here are the red flags you need to watch out for
CBS4 Indy
DID YOU KNOW ⁉️
The BMV has been selling your personal information for years! We dug through public records to find out which companies paid for the "enhanced access." Among them were tow companies, lawyers, police agencies and private investigators.
Is this legal? 👀
@CBS4Indy finds out -->
