CBS 2 News Covers Steam Pipe Explosion

Jim Rosenfield broke the news on CBS 2 News at 6:08: Police were being called to 42nd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues after reports of underground explosions. They then returned to the regular newscast until 6:15 when the story was again reported and updated. At 6:19, Rosenfield and Dana Tyler conducted a phone interview with a spokesman for the Transit Authority. A live metrocam shot showing the steam billowing up into the skyline. That there was no reason to suspect terrorism was a point that was frequently made. This coverage remained sustained until 6:30, when the station aired the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric."

CBS 2 News returned at 7 with two more hours of live coverage, anchored by Chris Wragge and Kristine Johnson. Reporters on the scene included Dave Carlin (via phone), Scott Weinberger (via phone), Sean Hennessey (via phone), Brendan Keefe and Pablo Guzman (on the phone at first but on camera later in the evening). Casualty numbers came in: One dead and at least 20 injured. At 8:21, CBS 2 went live to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's press conference, at which the mayor declared that the incident was the result of "a failure of our infrastructure" and not related to terrorism.

Sharon Persaud Named Public Affairs Manager

Sharon Persaud will be the new public affairs manager at CBS 2, the station announced today. The appointment is effective Monday. She previously worked as an associate producer in Creative Services.

President and General Manager Peter Dunn: "Sharon has already done a fantastic job in the Creative Services arena for the station. With her people skills and vast knowledge of what this position already entails, she will be able to efficiently address the needs and concerns of our viewers while attending to important community issues."

Persaud fills the position that was previously held by Vanessa Kenon-Hunt.

Tanya Rivero Leaves CBS 2 News

It appears that reporter Tanya Rivero has left CBS 2 News as her bio on wcbstv.com was removed today. Rivero joined CBS 2 News in July 2005 and served as a general assignment reporter during her two years with the station.

Health Watch Team

Dr. Max Gomez debuted on CBS 2 News This Morning last Wednesday. He was with WCBS from 1994 until 1997. He was previously with WNBC from July 1997 until last December.

Gomez joins Dr. Holly Phillips to form CBS 2 News' Health Watch team. A promo for the team is on the air now:



Phillips was live in the studio today at 5:00 with tips on dealing with this week's hot weather. She then tossed to a Gomez package on the heat.

Weather @ Bryant Park

CBS 2 has been airing this promo for Bryant Park for several weeks. Now we're starting to see more signs of this partnership.

Today at noon, John Elliott gave the forecast for the Bryant Park Film Festival tonight. He then tossed to Scott Rapoport, who reported live from the park and talked about how parkgoers were trying to beat the heat.

Bolaris to Return to Philadelphia?

This morning's Philadelphia Daily News reports that John Bolaris is looking into returning to Philadelphia this fall. " Friends of Bolaris, a Long Island native, say he misses Philadelphia and is very much hoping to return," the paper says. He has supposedly spoken to KYW/CBS 3, WCAU/NBC10 and WTXF/Fox 29. Bolaris spent 12 years at WCAU before returning to WCBS in 2002.