A Nebraska Anchor’s 9/11 Memory | Lincoln News

0:00It's September 12th. Welcome in. This is Lincoln News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. On September 11th, 2001, a former news anchor named Colleen Williams found herself right in the middle of the unfolding chaos in New York City. She was working for CBS at the time, and as the events of that day took hold, she made a call back to her old station in Nebraska to share her. First-hand experience with Central Nebraska's, giving them a unique perspective on what was happening. Williams was on her way to work when she first heard about the initial plane hitting the tower, initially thinking it was an accident. But once she got to her office, with TV's blaring and everyone glued to the screens, the reality of a deliberate attack set in. She described the chilling moment of hearing screens from other offices as the first tower fell, a sound she interpreted as pure anguish from people, witnessing unimaginable loss. The decision to cut into national programming to let Williams report live from her New York City office was made by the news director. Williams felt

1:04it was important to be the eyes and ears for people back home, to humanize the event that might have seemed distant. She wanted to connect the people of Nebraska to what was happening through her own experience, making it feel more real. After her report, Williams began the journey home, navigating a city that had shut down. She described an eerie silence on the streets, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle. She encountered others listening to radios for updates, learning about the Pentagon attack, and facing the uncertainty of what else might happen. Even 25 years later, Williams holds on to mementos from that day, including notes she scribbled and newspapers. She remembers seeing missing person posters plastered everywhere, and the lingering dust from the fallen towers. Williams feels a deep connection to New York City, and is proud of her time living there, carrying the memory of those lost with her.