Back from Joplin

Photo by Subrata De

Wedding photo of Bethany and Don Lansaw

I cannot shake my feelings for Joplin, Missouri. Nor can I express how they are holding up. It was an emotional few days—including a visit back to where I lived, and where I started my career. And at one point, 30 years ago, I thought that would mean putting down roots and settling into a life of local news in Joplin, as several of my friends did. It turns out my friend Dowe Quick (who is my age and has been married exactly as long as I have) is the dean of the local anchors, always so steady and superb on the air, always a great journalist and a first-rate reporter. He taught me a lot when I first arrived at that first TV station, and he's a wonderful guy whose decency comes flying through the screen.

Before leaving Joplin, I stopped to visit with a young woman. The interview I conducted with her will air on the broadcast tonight. It’s a tragic story of love and loss and heroism and survival—and tonight I want you all to meet an extraordinary young woman named Bethany Lansaw.

With one eye on the weather radar from the Midwest, and forever changed by what we saw in Joplin—we hope you can join us here tonight.