#atctexas

[nprontheroad]

The final howdy from ATC Team Texas. The Ft. Hood shooting led us to change course and head from Dallas to Killeen to talk to folks in the shaken community. Senior producer Matt Martinez worked the phones to line up logistics and interviews, producer Greg Dixon turned a Toyota Corolla into a mobile studio and filing center, and assistant producer Viet Le got a whirlwind tutorial on deadline field production with correspondent John Burnett. Given the news from Ft. Hood, we ended up holding a few pieces that were slated to run last week. We'll air our story on the Eagle Ford Shale boom next week and discuss air pollution concerns raised by that fracking boom. Also, correspondent Wade Goodwyn will revisit West, Texas, the scene of that terrible fertilizer plant explosion last year. Stay tuned for those stories, and thanks for riding along with us on our Texas travels.

[nprontheroad]

Last day in Dallas. Producer Viet Le and I are having an art day. At the Nasher Sculpture Center. Fantastic collection. Picasso, Miro, Calder. Thanks Dallas.

[nprontheroad]

Question to waitress: “what makes Texas fries, Texas fries?”

Answer: “They’re just bigger.”

[nprontheroad]

Again? Again???

First Ltnt. Christopher Clark, reacting to the mass shooting at Ft. Hood. Read my blog post here. 

[nprontheroad]

Melissa and ATC producer Greg Dixon interviewing trauma therapists who work with soldiers at Fort Hood. The shooting last night had significant ripples across the community of Killeen, TX, especially among those still struggling with the deadly 2009 shooting here.

[nprontheroad]

Our mobile studio as we cover the Ft. Hood shooting is a Toyota Corolla. Producer Greg Dixon is working on cutting down early morning interviews for my story later on ATC.

[nprontheroad]

Flags are flying at half staff in Killeen, TX, home to Ft. Hood. As one Army Lieutenant told me, "we're getting notorious for bad events."

[nprontheroad]

Our week in Texas has taken a sad, unexpected turn. We are driving down to Ft. Hood to cover the shooting today. We’ll be joining Austin-based NPR Correspondent John Burnett there. Coverage tomorrow on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.