Good morning,

Brantley and Travis say we should enjoy this break in Charlottsville's annual Humidity Festival because it won't last long.  Our news crews have been returning to the station the last few days looking like worn out puppy dogs, fresh out of a swim in a pond.  Lugging the equipment and getting in and out of news vehicles is no fun when it's close to 100 degrees out.

Today, our folks are headed to Washington and Albemarle County to ferret out the impact of the ongoing struggle in Washington over the debt limit.  Anchor Carter Johnson is in Washington to spend part of this day with Rep. Robert Hurt and get an up close look at what it's like for a freshman lawmaker in the midst of this mess.  She'll be talking with Hurt about how the stalemate is hurting the 5th District.

Photographer Lewis Tingler is headed to Hurt's office on Rio Road where the group Move On Dot Org plans a protest at noon.  I covered a similar event last week and it resulted in a spirited protest and counter protest when some Tea Party members showed up with their own signs and message.

Reporter Frankie Jupiter is checking into how the FAA shutdown is impacting Charlottesville's airport and especially its runway construction project.

And we'll continue to look for updates from Washington.  We carried President Obama's speech and the rejoinder from Speaker Boehner live on two of our channels last night.  So far today, it looks like the negotiations are taking place off camera.

Also today, Rachel Ryan is talking with police about an increase in the number of pets left in hot cars.  We've had plenty of hot, lately, too.  Stephanie Satchell is preparing a Healthwise report for tomorrow.  Skip Forbes is putting together a Beth On The Bright Side segment for air on Thursday.

We're also attempting follow-ups on the Greene County missing girl from yesterday and on what Frankie calls the "Downtown Showdown" brawl that took place over the weekend.

Have a good Tuesday,

Jim