Posted: November 21, 2008 – 12:00 pm
Execution nears: Last night, the Kentucky Supreme Court cleared what was likely the final hurdle standing between Marco Allen Chapman and his scheduled execution tonight at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Friendship pays?: Gov. Steve Beshear upped the salary of a longtime pal now working for the state by 25 percent. Ralph Coldiron, executive director of the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Emergency Telecommunications Board, makes $100,000, a salary set by the governor. The job was advertised as having a pay range from $60,000 to $80,000.
Take a cab: A Metro Police officer sustained minor injuries last night after a suspected drunk driver crashed into his cruiser at Fourth and Oak streets.
Madam secretary: It’s not official, but insiders say Sen. Hillary Clinton is a sure thing for secretary of state. An adviser to president-elect Barack Obama says the appointment likely will be made after Thanksgiving, assuming all goes as planned.
About time: Barack Obama wants to lift the ban on gays in the military. President Clinton tried the same thing after taking office, but was met with fierce opposition. As a result, he compromised, settling for the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which requires homosexuals in the military to keep their sexual orientation a secret or face being kicked to the curb. Good luck Barack.
Sarah at the slaughter: Still riding the pre-election publicity wave, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin chose an unfortunate location for her latest press appearance. The former Republican veep candidate talks turkey as a man in the background does, uh, something unpleasant to one that’s just been killed. Seriously, she is so Jack London.
Arghhh: The modern-day pirates wreaking havoc off the coast of Somalia are “not just unskilled bandits” … and they’re well-armed.
Posted: November 21, 2008 – 11:06 am
LEO Weekly’s post-election cover (shown above) was selected as one of 75 newspaper front pages from around the world to be included in a book published by the Poynter Institute.
In fact, LEO was one of only three alt-weeklies chosen — along with the Village Voice and Willamette Week; most were U.S. and international dailies.
The book is available for purchase at this website. All profits will help fund educational programs for journalists at the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school dedicated to training aspiring journalists and providing resources for current members of the media.
Posted: November 20, 2008 – 12:01 pm
Screw you, heroes: For eight years, Louisville firefighters have been battling Metro government in the courts over wages and miscalculated overtime. The Kentucky Supreme Court ended that fight last month, ruling the city owed the firefighters five years of back pay plus their earnings since. It will likely cost the city millions. Now, the city says it will stop handling state incentive pay for firefighters. On the bright side, it will save taxpayers $1 million.
VA scandal brewing: A federal indictment was handed down to 13 former veterans and one other person over false disability benefits. WHAS-11’s Mark Hebert says stay tuned.
Recession nation: The Dow Jones dropped below 8000 points. The U.S. jobless rate jumped to a 16-year high. Bush is signing an extension for unemployment benefits. It’s pretty depressing.
Bush cooties: Speaking of the lame duck, CNN ran a video taken at the G-20 Summit showing every world leader giving Bush the proverbial cold shoulder. He walked across the line of world leaders without shaking any hands or being offered their handshake. Maybe this is overplayed, 24/7 news channel psychoanalysis. Or maybe it’s symbolic that the world is waiting on 44.
Clinton alumni association: Ummm, Mr. President-elect, given your appointees thus far, did Hillary really win the election? Politico reports more than 31 of the 47 people so far “named to transition or staff posts have ties to the Clinton administration, including all but one of the members of his 12-person Transition Advisory Board and both of his White House staff choices.”
Posted: November 20, 2008 – 9:27 am
Five citizens are continuing their fight to save the life of Marco Allen Chapman, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection Friday night.
The group recently filed a motion asking a Franklin County Circuit Court judge to temporarily halt executions statewide because the Kentucky Department of Corrections failed to allow public comment when it established its execution protocol. The judge denied the motion on Tuesday, and now the group is appealing.
“Marco Chapman’s execution is scheduled for November 21, 2008 and unless enjoined by this court will proceed in accordance with the illegal execution protocol,” Philip Longmeyer - lawyer for the group - wrote in a motion filed yesterday with the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Specifically, they believe the Department of Corrections adopted standards regarding lethal injections without opening the process up to public scrutiny, as required by state law.
It’s an issue currently being considered by the Kentucky Supreme Court (in an unrelated case), but it is unlikely the justices will rule on the matter before Chapman is scheduled to be put to death at 7 p.m. Friday for the 2002 murder of two children.
Posted: November 19, 2008 – 1:58 pm
Butchertown stench: The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board today imposed a $47,800 fine on Swift Co., the Story Avenue pork plant that has long been the source of gag-inducing odors. In response, the company now says it will spend $250,000 on new equipment to reduce the noxious fumes.
Big three bailout: A U of L economist says the proposed $25 billion bailout of the American auto industry is not the solution. Instead, he believes it’s time for the companies to renegotiate their union contract, suggesting wages are too high. Needless to say, local auto workers strongly disagree.
Alaska going blue?: The votes have finally been tallied and the winner is … not Ted Stevens. The longest-serving Republican in Senate history lost his seat to Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Given Stevens recently was convicted on seven felony counts of failing to disclose more than $250,000 in gifts, the race really shouldn’t have been this close.
Cabinetry: Rumors still are flying about whether president-elect Barack Obama will tap former foe Sen. Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. In other cabinet news, Obama did ask former Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle (of Ricin recipient fame) to become secretary of Health and Human Services.
Al-Crazy: In al-Qaida’s latest video, the terrorist group’s second-in-command insults Barack Obama, referring to him in a demeaning way that suggests he simply does the bidding of whites, and that he does not represent change. Assholes.
Posted: November 18, 2008 – 12:00 pm
Mad TV: FOX-41 reporter Dick Irby and cameraman Dave White stood up to a bully who thought he could muscle them away from a story. It started with Irby’s investigative piece on why the Department of Planning refuses to hold businessman Michael Gordon accountable for destroying a 213-year-old historic building. Irby reports that Gordon covered the 1795-era brick Funk House with a fake field stone, which is a violation. For a day or two, FOX-41 teased the story with footage of the attack, which took place while the FOX-41 crew was filming his auto dealership. The station is now pursuing charges against Gordon.
Recession City: If you didn’t hear, the country’s economic crisis has officially hit Main Street in Louisville. The hiring freeze that is suppose to help with Metro Louisville’s $20 million revenue shortfall also includes emergency services.
BarackBerry: Become the leader of the free world or lose the BlackBerry? For an entire generation whose hand held devices have become an appendage, the question would be a no-brainer. B-Rock will have to weigh the consequences, but likely he’ll quit using his beloved BlackBerry. Unless the president-elect wants that e-mail correspondence, which can be subpoenaed by Congress, to be made public.
Ayo Technology: And just when the new first touchscreen BlackBerry is coming out.
Prop 8 to Cali High Court: The fight over gay marriage will likely go back to the courts. After Proposition 8 passed with 52 percent of the vote earlier this month, a number of plaintiffs, including the city of San Francisco and state attorney general, have petitioned the California Supreme Court to hear a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn the ban.
Posted: November 17, 2008 – 1:11 pm
Budget blues: Mayor Jerry Abramson today announced the city’s finances are in dire straits; a hiring freeze and scaling back spending will be necessary to address a projected $20 million budget shortfall.
Coach K: University of Louisville Coach Steve Kragthorpe takes the blame for the team’s poor performance this season.
Fattest city: And the winner is … Huntington, W.Va. Nearly 50 percent of all adults residing in the appalachian city are obese. As a result, Huntington also takes the title of the nation’s unhealthiest metropolis, with a large percentage of residents suffering from heart disease, diabetes and other weight-related illnesses. On the flip-side, the country’s healthiest city is Burlington, Vt.
Tales of a plumber: From unlicensed plumber to would-be country music star to author. That’s right, Joe the Plumber is cashing in on a book deal. Rumor has it the book, entitled “Joe the Plumber — Fighting for the American Dream,” could be out by the end of the year.
Grand Old Party?: Republican leaders lament losing major elections and plot the party’s resurgence. RNC Chairman Mike Duncan — who started his career working in Kentucky politics — is optimistic about the GOP’s prospects for the 2010 mid-term elections
Posted: November 14, 2008 – 2:44 pm
Supporters of gay marriage are planning to converge on downtown Louisville tomorrow afternoon to show their contempt for California’s passage of Proposition 8. California voters approved the ballot measure last week, clearing the way for lawmakers to amend the state’s constitution to explicitly prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.
The protest starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in front of City Hall, 601 W. Jefferson St. Similar demonstrations are expected to take place in other cities throughout the country.
Those involved in planning the local protest are hoping hundreds if not thousands of Kentuckians come out to show their support for equality. We’ll see if the turnout is as good as expected.
Posted: November 14, 2008 – 12:00 pm
Ripple effect: As unemployment continues to rise, Americans’ penchant for spending is waning, resulting in … you guessed it: a worsening economy. It’s a trend that has not spared Louisville, where local retailers and restaurants are reporting a noticeable drop in sales.
What the hay?: As people struggle to feed their families, it seems farmers are struggling to feed their horses as well, resulting in strays in rural parts of the state. Getty up.
Not exactly John Grisham material: In Graves County, Ky., nine Amish men are on trial for refusing to post bright orange safety triangles to the back of their buggies. State law requires slow-moving vehicles to do so, but these Amish say it’s an affront to God.
Pipe dream: Human rights activists were psyched to learn Obama reportedly plans to shut down Guantanamo Bay after taking office. Skeptics ask: What are you going to do with those 250 prisoners?
Bill Doh’Reilly: Fox News talking head Bill O’Reilly makes a hilariously awkward appearance on Jon Stewart. The two spar, drink hot cocoa. Good times.
Posted: November 13, 2008 – 12:01 pm
Eat it: Fallout at the University of Louisville over the mandatory student meal plan being forced on students was the genesis of a nice piece in the student newspaper, The Cardinal, on how other students across North American universities are facing the same issue. Meanwhile, the U of L students’ opposition to the food plan is growing.
Patrick’s U of L: More bad press for U of L. The war of words between Patrick Henry Hughes and the U of L Athletics Department continues. WLKY reported that U of L officials said Hughes had rescinded his previous statements about boycotting the school’s new pep band. Not so says Patrick’s dad. Looking back, hasn’t 2008 been the worst PR year for the university?
To the wire: With 57 seats in the Democrats column already, the three remaining Senate races in Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia are all dead heats. In the wilderness of Alaska, Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, who was convicted of a felony last month, was up by 3,200 votes Wednesday morning. Late last night when the rest of the country was sleeping election officials were still counting. Now the longest serving Senate Republican is behind by more than 800 votes to Democrat Mark Begich, the two-term mayor of Anchorage. Maybe the Democrats can reach that magic filibuster proof 60-seat margin after all.
When Joe met Dick: Much more low-key than the earlier meeting between Bush and Obama is the same meeting between their second in commands. Today Vice President Dick Cheney is hosting his successor, Vice President-elect Joe Biden. We’re crossing our fingers for some off-script fireworks.
Palin TV: Could someone please tell Gov. Sarah Palin the campaign is over. You lost! Don’t you have a state to run?
All eyes on Obama: After eight years of criticizing a president, there might be a small patriotic soft spot in the media to spare the new one, at least until the inauguration. Mr. Hope is easy to love. However, sparing him criticism would serve absolutely no one in these troubling times. Here’s a few early pieces on Obama that take him to task on foreign affairs, namely the President-elect’s plans to expand the U.S. role in Afghanistan and the possible creation of a “national security courts” as a remedy to closing GITMO.
