Earlier this afternoon, I heard a few cheers go up the newsroom when the Colorado balloon landed. People were yelling at their TV screens, as if their shouts would help to bring the boy in safely.  After a couple of minutes, I started to hear, “Where is he? Is he in there?”  A few minutes after that my colleagues would periodically ask, “Did they find him yet?  I’ll bet he’s hiding out in a closet.” 

It was almost like I didn’t have to watch CNN. I got the story from the gasps of fellow co-workers. A few minutes ago, I heard, “Oh my god, he was in a box in the attic.”

I can’t remember the last time we had a story like this … a story that captured our attention on the cable networks for most of the afternoon. Sure, we were all glued to the Twins division title game or President Obama’s inaugural address, but this was different.  This had more of a strange, car chase feel. It just made you sick to think what could have happened.

First, I have to say thank goodness he’s alive. This is great news. This could have had a terrible ending. I know every single parent in this newsroom was thinking about their own kids as they watched that balloon fly through the air.

But, now that’s he’s found, there are important questions to be asked and I have no doubt they will come fast and furious from the reporters out in Denver.  How did this happen?  How much money did taxpayers spend on the search? Why did it take so long to find the boy?  Was this homemade aircraft a good idea?  Most of questions will be good, important and justified. Some of them will not. My guess is this family will be picked apart, hounded and criticized for days, even weeks.

We’ll give the update at 10pm, but it won’t be the top story. There are many more important things for us to report. That said, we’ll probably still be talking about the balloon kid tomorrow morning. Jason and I are filling in on the anchor desk for Mike and Angela.  If you’re up from 5 to 7 am, check us out.  It should be informational and slightly humorous. The last time we appeared together on Jasoncam, I choked him by mistake.