Taking text right from the KREM web page “Would I be concerned if her bus driver was a habitual drunk driver-- even one who has had a clean record for ten years?” really is a two sided issue. I certainly agree with the point of this story as our children are “at risk” should a driver be intoxicated or under the influence while on the job. However if a driver having a record of related incidents ten years or older and have been clean and sober since that time, I would not be concerned. The parents must put some trust in Laidlaw’s ability to screen employees. If that is not done adequately then the school district needs to apply pressure to Laidlaw to do so. The school district is the customer and customer satisfaction is paramount especially where our children are concerned.

Perhaps other elements are at play here. What standards does Laidlaw have when hiring someone? Some of the drivers and monitors seen around the school, as reported by other parents, have a lot to be desired in their appearance and in relating to the public in general. That is to say they can be rude and argumentative. To hire quality individuals to transport our children to school is the real issue isn’t it? Perhaps an in depth investigation as to why the school district does not protest Laidlaw’s hiring of reprobate drivers and monitors. Why does Laidlaw hire these people for positions where first, the safety of our children and the future our Nation are brought to risk and secondly should be good examples for our children to model from. It is understood that not all of Laidlaw employees are this way so thanks to those who make good examples and transport our children safely to their schools and home again!

As a former broadcast news reporter/anchor/director, I have a unique perspective. Ethical questions constantly play crucial roles in whether stories are worthy of investigation, research and ultimately Air Time. Factoring in the Ratings Game and Advertising can appear to further complicate the issue; but, ultimately it comes back to basic questions... Where does the public's right to know cross the line of an invasion of privacy and what makes a story 'news-worthy'?
In this case, I believe you let your basic emotions rather than your logical processes carry you past the line. Everyone has something in their past that they would rather not have made public...sometimes criminal. The fact that the state guidelines were not violated... The fact that these 'offenses' were more than 10 years past... The fact that you chose only to investigate Laidlaw rather than compare your data against other companies shows a narrow perspective of your coverage. One basic rule of journalism I learned nearly 40 years ago was to cross reference my information against other relevant sources. I think you slipped a little in your coverage...but, don't let it get you down. Just try harder and don't be afraid to step back and apologize once in a while despite what the legal people tell you!! Your audience deserves better and will respect you for it. One last comment, I choose to watch your broadcast over all the others. That should tell you something!

Just because you write what you believe as your opinion to be news, does not mean it is healthy for you to give people your opinion. Now what you have started is a witchhunt. People are going to ask "Is he a criminal?" In the end someone with children of their own may lose a job because of a shaded past. Those that were caught, have more than likely paid the dues owed and have (hopefully) grown to be better than they were. Should they be held accountable and punished again? They should be held accountable no more than you should if they lose their job over this so-called "NEWS"

I am very upset over the newscast of our company. You made us to look like we are harden criminals. I am sure if I did a criminal background check on the employees of Krem2 I am sure that I will also find DWI's, speeding violations, maybee child abuse and other bad subjects. What gives you the right? What about all the drivers out there that are on the road that honk at us and for doing saftey checks at rail road crossings, or speed around us while our bus is stopped letting students off the bus or getting them on the bus? Going through our FLASHING RED LIGHTS? These are your children on our buses that we care for and do all safety percautions. But we can't do anything for the child when anyone drives through our red lights and could and probably already have killed our children. What about these criminals? should they be aloud to drive?
We are human and we all have made mistakes in our lives. But what I can't figure out is why can't you do a story about us caring for your children and the saftey meetings that we hvae to attend every month, do voluntary drug testing and if there is drugs in our system we are fired on the spot. But as you said in the newscast these charges were made 10 years or more ago. Why bring up someones past when they were young and foolish like maybe you were at one time or another. Out of 35 years of driving my own vehicle I have only had 1 speeding ticket. am I a convicted felon? I have learned better now. Why not go after the people who speed through our school zones. Especially the grade schools. You can drive through a grade school or a middle school at regular speed and only slow down to 20 mph when children are present. Well by the time they look to see if children are present they have gone through the school zone. I was a crossing gaurd and I have had people flip us off or go through our flashing yellow lights while we are out in the cross walks with our bright yellow vest and flags. They are just as much a criminal also.
I really do feel that you could have done a better story than that. I work for Laidlaw and I am proud of it. These children are very special to us and they bring a smile to my face. yes there are children who are very defiant and have caused problems on our bus and have threatened to kill us even, what can that tell you about maybe how they are raised in there family enviorments. I would never allow my children to talk that way to a adult or a authority figure. I would be ashamed of my parenting skills.
I am proud to work for Laidlaw. They are a great company and they also care how we present ourselves to the public. We do a Public service not only transport our students to and from school.
Thank you

This is good news for the community. First you went after the police department. Then city hall. Then some apartment owners. Now bus drivers. Kudos to KREM for keeping us informed about who and what we should be afraid of. I for one am looking forward to finding out who's next on your hit list! Not.