BACK ON TRACK

At least that is the graphic "ribbon" that will appear over our piece on the end of the MTA strike here in New York.  They have managed to drive a stake in the city's economy during the prime shopping and tourism days before Christmas... it is a story you feel deeply in this city.

Another thing you feel deeply: the ticking clock.

Right now in the various offices (more like hutches in most cases) that line our hallway, wrapping is going on, farewells and good wishes are being exchanged, as many of us get ready to say our goodbyes and leave to spend valuable time with friends and family. It's always a difficult equation making sure the folks who work so hard all year long are able to take time off and see family... while making sure we have the troops to put on the best possible broadcast and cover whatever comes up. It's not unlike public sector jobs, where some combination of seniority and horse-trading usually carries the day. Most workplaces feel decidedly different this time of year, and our office is no exception. I just heard the satellite guys in London joking with the satellite guys in Jersey. You just know it's a special time of year. Satellite guys seldom joke.

Tonight the first block of the broadcast is very much up in the air due to moveable pieces on the political front. I imagine we won't be exactly sure of our story order until much closer to airtime.  There has been rare and actual drama in Washington (the Senate finally packed it in at 12:13 a.m.) and as we noted last night: as is too often the case, some of the most crucial legislation is now being held up against the calendar and heated political pressures prior to passage or decline. The President has left town and is at Camp David.

We'll also take a look tonight at the new security regulations at airports. Scissors are back! So are random checks! In short, the TSA is going to remain an entrenched part of our lives as long as we depend on narrow steel tubes to move us from place to place in a hurry.

We'll check in on the folks in the Gulf tonight via a story on FEMA, and we'll look at the churches that plan to CLOSE for Christmas... and their reasons for it.

As we started saying a few days ago... and it bears repeating as often as possible this time of year: we truly hope the holiday spirit is felt by all, and we're feeling very fortunate and thankful for all those viewers and readers of this blog who have been so loyal.