Trying to interview tragedy-stricken firefighters

Something bad happened to local firefighters (let's say this is in DC, since that's as close as I can figure). I went down to a place where firefighters would sit on the corner next to one of the columns of a building and, when there was a conflagration, the firetruck would pick them up there. I noticed a new memorial plaque etched into the column. I decided I would try to interview some of the firemen, so I waited at the column for a firetruck to come by. One did, on its way back to the fire station (only a few blocks to the left), but it didn't stop for me at the corner. I started walking down towards the station, but I also started to rethink my newly conceived career in journalism.

Yoko Ono, the newly drafted bicycle racer

Yoko Ono was kidnapped from someplace in England by a rich, powerful Jewish sect who owned their own island. Sue Gromm (? news reporter, not a real person) managed to make secret contact with Yoko and got an interview with her. Apparently they had Yoko doing bike races on the island, possibly sitting in secretly for other competitors? (Cue the high-angle camera shot, from the air, of all the bikers racing on a track.) Anyway, the captors found out about Sue and cut communications.