OMC: When did journalism enter the picture for you? Why?

CL: I remember one Christmas home during college, sitting with my dad in our living room, watching Barbara Walters, of all people, conducting an interview. I'm not sure what possessed me, but I said to him, "I want to do that." And you know what he said? "OK. Do it."

From there, I did some internships in TV and radio during college. Then, in what really was a semi-miracle, I was accepted at Columbia University's graduate program in journalism, which helped in getting my first real job.

OMC: You probably had a few media jobs before arriving Milwaukee, too, right?

CL: Yes, I did some freelancing for News12 in the Bronx, right after I graduated. Then I spent two years reporting at the CBS affiliate in Florence, S.C. The debate over whether the confederate flag should fly on the statehouse dome was an ongoing story during my time there. After that, I reported at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. Then it was on to anchoring the morning show in Milwaukee!

OMC: Tell us a bit about coming to Channel 12. Did they seek you out or did you apply? What drew you here?

CL: I really don't know how it worked. My agent called and said the news director at WISN wanted to talk to me. I'm not sure how they found me. But I'm glad they did! I don't think I've ever had a job where I actually liked going to work, until now.

OMC: What were your impressions upon arriving in Milwaukee?

CL: I first flew in on a beautiful September day. The lake was so blue. The trees were just starting to change colors. I was tricked! Of course, when I actually started, it was gray for the next six months! Thank goodness I had something tangible to look forward to.

OMC: How has your view of the city changed in the two years you've been here?

CL: It's much bigger than I expected -- not in size, but in feel. There are so many good restaurants, so many things to do. It's also such a friendly city. Once I mentioned on-air that I had some sort of animal hanging out in my attic. I can't tell you how many e-mails I got from viewers, sharing all sorts of advice. At the grocery store, one woman told me mothballs are the key! For the record, it was a squirrel. And yes, it's gone.

OMC: What are some of your favorite places here? Where do you like to eat, for example?

CL: Where don't I like to eat?! Some of my favorites: Coquette Cafe, Bacchus, Roots, Crazy Water, Cempazuchi, Beans and Barley.

OMC: Is Milwaukee a good media town, especially as far as local TV news goes?

CL: I think so. I moved from another good media town, and it has been interesting to compare the two. I think what WISN seems to do well is rarely follow what the other stations are doing. There is a lot of enterprising. There is quite a bit of creativity. And something that seems to be all-too rare in local TV news. We have a lot of fun while we're at it.

OMC: Not to get you into trouble with viewers, but do local news shows spend a little too much time talking Packers and weather?

CL: Is that a hint?! All I know is the Packers are playing Sunday and it's supposed to be 54 degrees and sunny.

OMC: There seems to be something of a youth movement going on at WISN, with you, Patrick Paolantonio, Matt Salemme, DeMarco Morgan, Portia Young, Kai Reed, Chloe Morroni, Toya Washington and some others. Does it seem that way from the inside, too?

CL: I don't really think about it. Maybe because it's been that way since I started. Maybe because the younger people here seem more driven and inspired than "green." Or maybe because for every younger face here at WISN, there's a veteran reporter to balance it out.

OMC: You must all be pretty excited at the news that the news programming there has had great ratings, including for your morning news...

CL: What fun. 12 News This Morning is doing so well -- we just had our first-ever full-season win, meaning we were No. 1 for the entire 2005-'06 ratings season.

For all the fun we have, we work so hard. And for our morning crew -- Patrick and Sally and Portia and DeMarco and all of the producers and editors and floor directors and everyone else -- what those numbers mean is that all that is paying off.

OMC: Do you have wanderlust or are you hoping to stay in Milwaukee for a while?

CL: Don't we all have a bit of wanderlust in us? For now, that's what vacations are for. And yes, I hope to stay in Milwaukee for as long as Milwaukee will have me.