Justice: Commonwealths Attorney David Stengel told reporters Tuesday that his office prosecuted the wrong man in connection with the 1993 shooting death of a Chevron clerk. Edwin Chandler served nine years for the crime after being wrongly convicted of second-degree manslaughter, in large part due to what turned out to be inaccurate witness accounts and a coerced confession. Upon his release in 2002, Chandler contacted the Kentucky Innocence Project and continued fighting to prove his innocence. That officially happened Tuesday when a judge vacated the manslaughter and robbery charges. A new suspect, Percy Phillips, was indicted yesterday in connection with the crime; he already is serving a lengthy sentence for assault, and was recently declared incompetent to stand trial on unrelated charges.
Basketball roundup: Arena Authority officials say workers are ahead of schedule on construction of the University of Louisville basketball team’s new downtown home. The $238 million facility is slated for completion in time for next year’s basketball season. In other Cards basketball news — sophomore Terrence Jennings has apologized for a scuffle with police that resulted in him being Tasered. Both he and senior Jerry Smith were arrested following the altercation during an alumni party in Southern Indiana. Coach Pitino has made it clear he is handling the situation internally. And in Lexington, UK has settled with former coach Billy Gillespie, agreeing to pay him nearly $3 million plus attorneys’ fees to end a contract dispute.
Health of the nation: Yesterday was a big day for health care reform on Capitol Hill, with Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee finally managing to win over GOP Sen. Olypmia Snowe of Maine. After weeks of playing coy, Snowe became the only Republican thus far to support the massive reform bill. Although Dems already have 60 votes in the Senate, Snowe’s support will help prevent wavering moderates from jumping ship. Needless to say, yesterday’s vote sparked a frenzy among health insurance companies, with industry leaders waging an all-out war against health care reform.