I definitely got more into this style debate than the previous ones we have seen. It was interesting to see how the candidates would respond to some of the unexpected questions. Leave your video thoughts on our youtube site here.

I’m watching the YouTube presidential debate on CNN. Its actually pretty interesting to hear the questions from YouTubers…some are funny but many are questions we’ve all asked ourselves but never had the chance to ask policy makers.

I’m loving the heat between Ron Paul and McCain over Iraq right now! It certainly livens up the canned responses we’re getting to most of the questions.

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts on the debates… so leave them! Also, we took to the streets today and interviewed Austin voters on what they would ask..you can see the story by going to www.kxan.com or youtube.com/kxan.

You can also leave your questions for the candidates on our youtube channel!

Representative Mike Krusee announced he will not seek re-election to the Texas Legislature this afternoon. The announcement came after the Speaker’s office talked to Texas Weekly. Krusee fell out of favor with Craddick during the last session.

Krusee also faced criticism over his transportation bill that created regional mobility authorities, the Trans-Texas Corridor and the increased use of toll roads to fund major road projects.

Diana Maldonado, who serves on the Round Rock school board has indicated her intention to run for the seat in the Democratic primary. Read her statement regarding Krusee’s announcement on the Eye On Williamson blog.

My mom came to visit for Thanksgiving and I made her join me on air for a cooking demonstration. I wish you could have smelled the studio, it was just like home!

Those beautiful children in my pictures, in the stories we showed on television remain targets in their own country. The children are targets. Several schoolchildren were just killed near Kabul for daring to try and get an education. When I think of those beautiful faces, those eyes filled with joy when they’re distracted from their daily lives…and then think of what happened, I can’t help but feel sick.

You can see the story here

Check out the news on the Afghan police who were killed. Its horrible. It also reiterates the fact that police in Afghanistan are now targets as much as the military, even more in some cases because they don’t have the weapons to fight back. When we spoke with our former police chief, Stan Knee, he said the officers were almost on the front lines because they are the ones to stop the cars and look for explosives or to question suspicious people. Having been there and having met the officers in training, it breaks your heart. They also have large families to take care of and loved ones who have already lost so much.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) – Taliban militants slashed the hands and legs of five abducted policemen in southern Afghanistan and hung their mutilated bodies from trees in a warning to villagers against working with the government, officials said Sunday.

This morning I woke up at 5am as has become the norm this week to preview our series on Afghanistan. This morning I also had the pleasure to do an on-air interview with Bob Cole of KVET (Tuesday I went to the KASE studio to talk on their morning show about the trip). It was actually a lot of fun and a nice change to be able to laugh and relax while talking about news.

The feedback from these stories has been really uplifting. When you know your work is more than just “interesting” to a viewer but it also moves them — there is no greater job satisfaction. I’ve heard from many wives of soldiers and war veterans about how much they’ve enjoyed the series and how it helps them explain to their children what their daddies are doing overseas… so, thank you to everyone who has posted comments or sent me e-mails or called my desk. Know they are appreciated and taken to heart.

Don’t forget to watch tonight! At 5pm, we go to Afghanistan’s version of the Texas State Fair and interview the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. Then, at 6pm we’ll show you the streets of Kabul as they are now…and talk to soldiers about their impression of the country. I hope you enjoy!

Our Thursday night piece in the series featured our former police chief, Stan Knee. We drove with him through the streets of Kabul, went with him to the police training ranges and visited Camp Gibson, the compound he now calls home. We’ll get the story posted here but if you want to check it out….just head to www.kxan.com and watch it on the video player to the right. If you don’t see his face in the box, just drag your mouse of the little boxes underneath the main one until you see Austin News in Afghanistan: former APD chief.

 P.S. Please ignore the audio problems with my introduction—mistakes happen!

Austin News in Afghanistan continues with the children of Kabul.

Tonight we aired my interview with a soldier from Round Rock and his wife here at home. You can watch the video here.