KCRA 3 Reports, Weekend Morning Edition: August 16, 2008: Authorities deal with huge crowds and fights on Opening Night of California’s State Fair.
KCRA 3 Reports, Weekend Morning Edition: August 24, 2008: The Walt Gray Ride trying to raise $50,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation. Before the ride, Walt interviews Steve Brown, the father of Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton.
Kris earned her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. After working in tech support for three years, she earned her master’s of science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Through the Medill News Service, Kris worked as an assistant producer for Reuters Television in London. In Medill’s Chicago newsroom, she covered the technology beat for Chicago daily papers and produced a weekly news program for Evanston and Chicago Public Television. She also joined the D.C. Bureau of the Medill News Service where she reported on the Illinois and Kentucky delegations on Capitol Hill.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Kris reported on politics, business and culture for KALX News on 90.7 FM.
]]>
June 24, 2008, KCRA 3 Reports at Noon - U.S. Forest Service updates containment efforts on the wildfires burning in California.
June 14, 2008, Weekend Morning Edition of KCRA 3 Reports: Calm winds help firefighters working on the Humboldt Fire
June 22, 2008, Weekend Morning Edition of KCRA 3 Reports - Interstate 5 opens ahead of schedule. It’s all part of the largest construction project in Sacramento’s history.
This is a collection of reports I filed in Chicago and Washington D.C. (2004-2005).
- February 24, 2008: Snow Storm in Blue Canyon
- May 18, 2008: Interview with A Chance for Bliss
- March 28, 2008: ‘Deal or No Deal’ Auditions
1. 49 News at 10:00
2. Breaking News: Missing Boy in the Kansas River, August 2007.
3. 49 News at 6:00: Neighborhoods Making a Difference.
4. Good Morning Kansas ]]>
ABC affiliate (2006-2007).
1. 49 News at 10:00
2. Breaking News: Severe Weather and Flood Damage, May 2007.
3. Breaking News: Election Updates, November 2006
4. Good Morning Kansas ]]>
Aired on WYCC - Chicago 2/04/05 (Northwestern News Report) ]]>
Story by Kris Vera (March 4, 2005)
Now we take a look at an unusual breed of detectives working for the Department of Homeland Security. At Dulles International Airport, Kris Vera introduces us to one of the nosiest inspectors.
(aired on WYCC-Chicago on April 1, 2005, in the news magazine, “Medill Reports: Movers and Shakers.”)
Download the story.
Listen to this story about a furry little inspector.
International travelers often bring in gifts of food and vegetation through the arrivals terminal at Dulles – every year.
And Ilka Matthes of Homeland Security inspects their gifts.
She’s one half of a dynamic duo responsible for protecting America’s agriculture from pests and diseases.
She takes cues from her partner – who has a nose for food.
Despite his friendly face – Comet is a dogged investigator. He’s sniffing out forbidden fruits, vegetables and meat that could harbor harmful pests and diseases. And not much gets by him.
Comet belongs to the Beagle Brigade. The Department of Homeland Security employs 60 beagles at airports nationwide.
Matthes says beagles are suited to working as detector dogs because of their innate hunting abilities. And their small furry bodies make it easy for canine specialists to weave through the crowds.
“He’s a very thorough worker – I’m just the mouth piece at the end of the leash and he does most of the work,” said Canine Specialist Ilka Matthes. “And he makes me look good.”
Comet graduated from the National Detector Dog Training Center in Florida in 1999. He’s been on the job ever since. His natural love of food makes him an ideal inspector.
“All of our dogs are trained to sit when they find the proper odor, the odors they’ve been trained for,” Matthes said. “With Comet – not only does he do that, but i know, if he’s licking his lips, in anticipation of a food reward – I know he’s found something good for me.”
For Matthes – this is a full-time job. For Comet – it’s fun and games.
“This is play. Beagles are typical hounds and they love to follow their noses,” Matthes said. “They’re not very good at listening all the time. but they love to follow their noses.”
Because of their working relationship - Matthes has a special place in her heart for her canine partner.
“What makes comet different from the other beagles – he has a wonderful drive to work,” said Matthes. “He has great work ethics. If I’m ever having a bad day, I know I can follow my little boy around the carousel and he’ll take care of me.”
]]>
I used a Canon PowerShot S410 for this shot. (4.0 megapixels)
]]>