The difference between cable coverage and local coverage

[frazzled]

2. In my channel hopping this morning

I finally settled on NBC as having the most rational, and helpful, national coverage. Flipping to CNN and MSNBC made me press the button immediately.

I agree with the OP that local news, in these types of situations, gives the truer picture of an event than anything. But a national broadcast can tie all the larger strands together on the investigation.