I remember that too....
After the sun came up, the story changed.
You more so than I, being in the NYC area, would have a far better handle on what was reported at the time.
I have been a huge NYC radio and tv fan for years, and I recall the same things that you are talking about....
(I am in Va, btw)
I would think that the whole eastern seaboard was getting live feed from NY. In the first few hours at least, the truth was getting out.