My wife, still on maternity leave with our nearly three-month-old, couldn't watch. I talked to Liz, the mother of a toddler, back at the station, and she said she was horrified watching it.
It was painful, thinking of that poor little boy and the fate that likely awaited him, thousands of feet up, freezing, with no sure way of landing safely.
Then came the discovery of the boy in the attic, not the balloon, and then his parents' crass attempts at milking it, and then word from cops that it was all a hoax. Tonight at 11, we await additional word on the case - as authorities say they will file criminal charges against the parents.
Also at 11, we're following developments in the stabbing death of a football player at UConn - who was attacked during a fight on campus over the weekend. Still no killer.
And what a sea change in policy about medical marijuana. The Obama Administration, in a clear rebuke of the previous White House, issuing new guidelines that will prohibit federal authorities from cracking down on state medical marijuana outlets - which are legally selling pot to patients in their localities.
There's no question there are abuses of the system, but medical experts had questioned the wisdom of arresting people who sold and bought marijuana legally and under doctor's orders.
Also at 11, a truly nauseating story - as investigative reporter Sarah Wallace takes a look at the health issues involving chickens inspected and sold at a busy wholesale market in Queens. Chickens that could end up on your table or plate - either buying them at a local grocery store or at your favorite restaurant.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast, and Scott Clark with the night's sports, including game three of the Yankees playoff game against the Angels in Anaheim. I hope you can join Liz Cho and me, tonight at 11.
BILL RITTER
