Lots of Breaking News: Ferry Crash and Crane Collapse

It was a busy day for breaking news in New York.

CBS 2 broke in after a commuter ferry crashed into Pier 11 at South Street Seaport at around 8:45 a.m..  Mary Calvi handled the early coverage and was soon joined by Rob Morrison.  Jim Smith reported from above the scene in Chopper 2 and, because of a chopper sharing agreement with Fox 5, Smith was also heard reporting "in SkyFox."

John Slattery reported from the pier via Mobile 2 signal by 10:22.  At 10:51, Sean Hennessey was live at New York Downtown Hospital, where around 20 of the injured had been taken, and the camera showed very close-up images of patients being loaded off ambulances.  Dr. Max Gomez later joined the coverage from the desk with analysis on what types of injuries might have been suffered.

As if often the case during special report situations lately, WLNY switched to airing CBS network programming, so viewers looking for "Let's Make a Deal" and "The Price is Right" didn't miss their shows if they knew where to look.  CBS 2 ended their special report at 11:30 and included more coverage during the regular noon newscast with reports from Slattery, Hennessey, Gomez as well as Tony Aiello in the newsroom and Steve Langford at the scene.

CBS 2 News interrupted regular programming again just before 3:00 with news of a 380-foot crane collapse in Long Island City, Queens.  Dana Tyler handled the brief special report with Chopper 2 coverage from Joe Biermann.  The station switched to "Dr. Phil" at 3:04.

CBS 2 broke in once again at 4:15 to carry an NTSB press conference with coverage anchored by Maurice DuBois until 4:30.

KYW Pays Off Bet With CBS 2 News This Morning

Start spreading the news.

Before the World Series began, the morning team at KYW-TV in Philadelphia bet the crew of CBS 2 News This Morning that the Phillies would win. If they were right, Maurice DuBois, Kate Sullivan, John Elliott and Katie McGee would have to sing Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" live in New York and Philly.

Last night, the Yankees beat the Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 of the Fall Classic, bringing home the Yankees' franchise 27th ring. That meant the CBS 3 Eyewitness News This Morning team of Ukee Washington, Liz Keptner, Maria LaRosa and Bob Kelly had to sing Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." CBS 2 rubbed it in a little more by showing video of the champagne celebration in the Yankees' clubhouse during the early morning performance. At the end, both teams said they were hopeful to be at it again next year.

If you want your ears to bleed, check out the simulcast from CBS 2 and KYW.

World Series Wager with KYW

The CBS 2 News This Morning crew has a lot at stake in the outcome of the World Series, which begins this evening. Maurice DuBois led the team in some trash talk with Ukee Washington and KYW Philadelphia's CBS 3 Eyewitness News This Morning. If the Yankees win, CBS 3 will have to sing Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." CBS 2 will have to sing Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" if the Yanks somehow lose to the Phillies.

Check out video from the 5:40 simulcast this morning from the CBS 2 perspective and the KYW perspective.

Oh, and someone please tell the KYW anchors that her name is Katie McGee.

Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" Special

Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan host an hour-long special about breast cancer this weekend.  "Race for the Cure" airs tomorrow night at 7:00.  For more information about Susan G. Komen, including next weekend's race, go to wcbstv.com.

CBS 2 News Covers Deadly Upper East Side Crane Collapse

CBS 2 News broke in at 8:25 during its regular cut-in during "The Early Show" to report news of a crane collapsing on a 20-story building on 354 East 91st Street by 1st Avenue at around 8:00 (watch the initial report here on wcbstv.com). Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan handled the breaking news coverage, which lasted for the rest of the morning into the noon news. Initial reports said that two people were dead but that was later revised at 9:27 to at least one dead with several others injured. WCBSTV.com's breaking news text message alert was sent at 8:20 while the website streamed the live coverage.

Most of the pictures came from Reggie Harrison (a former NYPD cop) and Chopper 2. Sean Hennessey began reporting from the ground via phone but was later seen on camera at around 9:13 interviewing many witnesses of the collapse. Jay Dow also reported via his phone at around that time and was first seen on camera at East 91st and 2nd at 9:53. At 9:37, the first video from the scene was fed in as DuBois explained to viewers that it was difficult to get a live truck any closer. Katie McGee came on several times to talk about the traffic conditions and the bus detours. At 10:14, Chris Wragge reported from the 92nd and 2nd began interviewing witnesses and later spoke with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Magee Hickey, who said it took her and her crew nearly an hour to get from another story in Brooklyn, joined the live coverage from the ground at 10:56. Additional reporting was sourced to Tony Aiello and John Slattery.

As is often the case during breaking news coverage, the anchors spoke with politicians, experts and witnesses via the phone. Among the phone interviews were: Councilman Tony Avella, Buildings Committe - NYC Council; Jessica Lappin, (D) NYC Council - Manhattan; Bo Dietl, retired NYPD detective; Ann Marie Kross, 60 Minutes producer/witness; James Pritchett, crane collapse expert in Mobile, AL; Phillip Shiffman, lives in building/witness; Erik Dilan, Chairman of Buildings Committee - NYC Council; Mary Jo Gillis, who lives nearby and was woken up by the sound of the crash; and Ira Goldman, Red Cross spokesperson. Audio and then video of Mayor Michael Bloomberg calling the accident "unacceptable" on his weekly WOR radio show ran a few times.

At 9:51, pictures that viewer Victoria Pericon e-mailed in to wcbstv.com came on the screen. The series of three shots showed the crane as it fell.

A new conference with Mayor Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson and Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri began at 11:21. They provided some new information, including the fact that the one fatality and the two seriously injured were construction workers, and took questions from reporters.

Sullivan and DuBois signed off at the top of the hour as Don Dahler anchored CBS 2 News at Noon from the ground. He tossed to Hickey, Dow, Slattery, Wragge, Harrison in Chopper 2, and McGee in the studio with traffic updates. The station took its first break in almost four hours at 12:18. When Dahler returned 90 seconds later, he tossed to Sullivan in the studio with a brief look at the other stories making news before turning to John Elliott with the weather. Sullivan then tossed back to Dahler and then Harrison with some final comments before saying goodbye and closing just before 12:28.

Here are some snapshots of the coverage:


























Updated news on this story is available at wcbstv.com.

Update: CBS 2 News broke in again at 3:00. Don Dahler, reporting from the scene, reported the news that a second victim had passed away. He also provided the identities of the two fatalities. The special report lasted just over 90 seconds. Dahler returned at 4:00 with a quick update and said that one of the victims who had died was in the taxi cab that the crane fell onto.

New Round of Still Photos Promos

CBS 2 is now airing what looks to be a second round of those still photos promos. Reporters Mary Calvi and Lou Young are featured as well as the morning team of Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan.

"Reporting What Matters"


"Knowledge and Experience"


"Start Your Day with a Smile"

CBS 2 at the March for Babies

The CBS 2 team participated in this morning's March for Babies in Lincoln Center. The walk, previously known as WalkAmerica, has been going on since 1970 and is organized by the March of Dimes to raise money to combat premature births and help premature babies. CBS 2 is the official media sponsor for the March for Babies.

NewsByte2 was at the walk and took these pictures:


Public affairs manager Sharon Persaud on the left, her assistant Karina Roa on the right, and Karina's parents in the middle.


CBS 2 meteorologist Elise Finch and sports anchor Sam Ryan.


The CBS 2 table offered coffee, donuts and tee-shirts to participants and fans.


Sam Ryan and Maurice DuBois chat with Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, fresh off his honeymoon, live on CBS 2 News Sunday Morning.


Elise Finch provided the forecast from the site of the walk at the corner of Columbus and 64th. Her CBS 2 HD umbrella tells it all.


Sam Ryan and Maurice DuBois hosted the 9:00 kickoff program, which included Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The walk started at 9:30.


CBS 2 anchor Chris Wragge poses for a picture with a fan (me).

DuBois and Sullivan Host Folios

CBS 2 News This Morning anchors Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan were on hand earlier today to host the Folio Awards ceremony in Woodbury. The awards are given out annually by the Fair Media Council as a way to promote increased media coverage of Long Island. DuBois and Sullivan were joined on this busy news day by veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas, who gave the keynote address, as well as their colleagues from the other New York stations.

Daddy DuBois

Some happy news to end the week: Morning anchor Maurice DuBois is a new dad. The Daily News says that wife Andrea gave birth Wednesday to Brandon James. The proud father tells the paper that mother and baby are doing well.

Special "Eye on the Storm" Coverage

CBS 2 News is on the air right now with a special "Eye on the Storm," with live coverage of the biggest snow storm to hit the tri-state all season. Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan are anchoring the broadcast, which opened at 8:55 and will continue until 10:00. John Elliott and Lonnie Quinn are providing team weather, forecasting six-to-nine inches for the city, while Katie McGee is updating viewers on the traffic and transit. A team of reporters are out in the snow, including Magee Hickey in Woodside, Queens; Jay Dow in Paramus; Deborah Garcia in Yonkers; Pablo Guzman at LaGuardia Airport; Tamsen Fadal at Penn Station; and Steve Bartelstein in Jericho, Long Island.

Bartelstein Makes CBS 2 Debut

The newest addition to the CBS 2 News team made his debut at 6:22 this morning. After a Dr. Max Gomez "Health Watch" piece on testicular cancer, Steve Bartelstein joined Maurice DuBois and Kate Sullivan at the desk to talk about his experience in dealing with the disease. He looked noticeably different, having shaved his head so that he would not have to watch his hair fall out as a result of the chemotherapy.

When asked about his prognosis, Bartelstein said, "I think everybody thinks it's pretty good." The chemo, which he does Mondays through Fridays between two-week breaks, makes him feel tired. He said that he looks forward to the new job because "it gives me a place to go in the morning. Coming here gets my mind off -- I've been laughing all morning." He added "CBS has been great throughout all of this," saying that they understand if he needs to stay home on his bad days.

You can watch Bartelstein's appearance on wcbstv.com by clicking here.

Cindy Hsu Anchors From "Race For The Cure"

From 6:oo to 9:00 this morning, Cindy Hsu provided live reports from the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. Brendan Keefe anchored the rest of CBS 2 News Sunday Morning from the studio. Hsu was joined by breast cancer survivors and their families, some of whom were featured on last night's special.




At the end of the newscast, Hsu was joined by the rest of CBS 2's team participating in the event: Maurice DuBois, Kate Sullivan, Dana Tyler, Chris Wragge, Kristine Johnson, Lonnie Quinn, Tamsen Fadal and Dr. Holly Phillips.