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AN AGGIE LINE: USU cheerleaders perform during the Aggies' final exhibition game. It's time to cheer for basketball. / Photo by Brianna Mortensen

Today's word on journalism

Friday, November 10, 2006

Q&A with Ed Bradley:

Q: What single issue should be covered more at CBS News?
A: Foreign news.

Q: Have you ever been assigned a story you objected to? How did you deal with it?
A: When I first started in New York at WCBS radio, the assignment editor automatically assigned any story that had a minority in it to me. I objected to being typecast and told him if I didn't get a variety of stories -- as other reporters did -- then I would take it up with the news director.

Q: If you were not in news, what would you be doing?
A: If I had the talent, I'd play bass guitar and sing in a kicking band.

--Ed Bradley, reporter, "60 Minutes," died yesterday of leukemia at age 65 (2006)

Arts & Life : : Features

'Unbelievable! Most exquisite' says family member of ABC-TV's choice

By Rebekah Bradway

October 16, 2006 | Emotions were flowing Monday morning after the crew of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition announced a Logan family as the recipients of a customized dream house to be built this week.

"It's crazy-- that's it! Unbelievable! Most exquisite! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we got it! We are really blessed," Spencer Pauni, 20, said.

The Pauni family, who moved from Tonga over 15 years ago, consists of the mother, Janet Pauni, and nine children, eight of them living in the house. Family members and neighbors said the family also hosts extended family, sometimes for over a month, packing the 6-bedroom home.

The father of the family, Danny Pauni, died of a heart attack in 2004, leaving all means of support to Janet.

"I just can't explain what I feel in my heart," Janet said. "We knew that today was decision day, and we didn't know what was going to happen. We didn't expect to find anything this morning.

As soon as the family heard yelling from the show's team leader Ty Pennington, they rushed to their porch.

"It's a lot at one time," Lame Pauni, 22, said. "There was a lot of screaming, yelling, pushing and shoving. When my brother heard, we just followed and started running.

Joe Puani, 16, said, "We heard this guy screaming and we all ran over my brother, but I picked him up like a football and swooped him in my arms and I just kept running.

"It was crazy," Siujane Pauni, 18, said. "We were fighting about who's going to go to the door first, who's going to hug who.

"A lot of people fell on the porch. I didn't think it would get this big. It's just crazy," Ilaise Puani, 14, said.

Even after seeing the crew for the project, family members said they still couldn't believe the great news.

"I didn't think they were real! Ty was this close to me, and I didn't know if I could touch him or not," Joe said with his hand about an inch away from his face.

After hearing Pennington's news, the family learned that they would be vacationing in the Virgin Islands for the week while a new house was being built.

EMOTIONS: Janet Pauni, above, carries a photo of her late husband. Below, Simione, the youngest Pauni, dances to his brother's beat-boxing. / Photos by Rebekah Bradway

"[The opportunity to go on the vacation] brings back memories of where we come from in the islands, and it's nice and tropical," Latu, 12, said.

"We get to go there and then we get to come back to our new house," Simione Pauni, 5, said. "It's cool because I get a new room. "I'm so excited because we get to leave, and we get a new house!" George Pauni, 15, said.

He said he has heard so many rumors about if his family was going to be chosen to participate on the show.

"It's been so stressful," George said.

The family left for their vacation Monday night and will return to their home Sunday, when the Extreme Makeover crew will reveal the new house.

"Thank you. This is a blessing for my family. We've been loved by the community, there have been a lot of prayers and I've been so thankful. I just can't say much," Janet said.

"Just as long as my mom's happy with the house and she likes it, then we'll be happy," Lame said.

 

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