As news of the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore unfolded, I was on the road in the Midwest, getting information the old-fashioned way: via the radio.
Not from the viperous den of talk radio. Not from pruned-for-your-particular-ideology satellite radio stations. Just regular straight-news radio updates from normal sources like The Associated Press or CNN.
What I learned as the day rolled along was simple : A massive cargo ship lost power early Tuesday and issued a mayday call before hitting one of the bridge’s supports. The collision caused the bridge to collapse. The warning allowed authorities to shut down traffic on the bridge, likely saving many lives. Six construction workers who were filling potholes were missing and presumed dead at the time. Local, state and federal officials rightly praised the first responders and search-and-rescue…
