I used to disagree but @tyler_baker is right, the hands-on part matters.

Yeah, wrapping the int() conversion in a try/except block is the move. That way it can catch the error and ask for the number again instead of just crashing.

Totally noticed that too. My local station does the same thing now. They had that dramatic music and a "DEVELOPING STORY" graphic for a lost dog report last week. It feels like they're just yelling at us all the time for no good reason. Makes it hard to know when something is actually serious anymore. What's the point if everything is treated like an emergency?