the morning cram [show me the money edition]

The unemployment rate in the US has fallen to its lowest level in three years.

NPR reports last month’s surge in hiring helped to drive unemployment to 8.5%. Here’s hoping those people will be allowed to keep their jobs and their extra cash.

Kentucky~  Paducah City Commissioner Watkins announces his run for the 3rd district seat. Former McCracken county humane society workers arraigned for inhumane euthanasia. The Dorena-Hickman ferry is nearly done with its retrofit. Life is about to get better for Goldfish in Owensboro. No state department is safe from upcoming budget cuts. Beshear has appointed a group to study tax reform. A Connecticut hedge fund linked to Kentucky Retirement accounts has failed.

 

the morning cram [field of dreams edition]

The town of Greenville, South Carolina has blossomed during the recession. Why?

NPR reports that while main street and downtown areas throughout the nation are struggling, Greenville, S.C. is growing around their new downtown park. If you build it, they will come.

Kentucky~ An auditor says there is nothing wrong with clerk Jerrell’s office. Police are looking for a Paducah prostitute. Teachers are leaving to teach English in Japan. The state has its own debt problems. The will receive some help for college students.

Illinois~ Gov Quinn is protecting children’s heads.

Tennessee~ A Clarksville mom says her kids were raped at church camp.

morning cram [turn and coffee edition]

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

NPR reports a Harvard study finds that may be true.

KENTUCKY~ A section of US-62 in Carlisle County is shut down this morning as police reconstruct a fatal school bus wreck. Paducah’s City Manager recommends no new taxes and the city will fund a new Murray State extended campus there. A worker yesterday was electrocuted @ MSU. Police make McCracken County pump ‘n run arrest. GOP Gubernatorial candidate David Williams says ‘No more Mr. Nice Guy‘ and Gov Steve Beshear claims he’s ‘Tested, trusted and tough.’

TENNESSEE~ Clarksville is trying out a new way to dole out non-profit funding. TVA says next month’s electricity bills will see hikes up to 50 cents. Legislators want to change the state’s alcohol laws to woo Sierra Nevada to build a brewery there.

morning cram [still partying edition]

Tea Party activists continue to pressure congressional Republicans to make good on their promise to deliver deep federal spending cuts.

NPR reports (a few hundred) Tea Partiers yesterday came against the backdrop of negotiations on a fiscal year spending agreement.

KENTUCKY~ A Paducah DUI lawyer must serve his own full DUI sentence. A recent audit finds state government spent $100k of federal funds on questionable expenses. Report: public schools don’t spend much on health services. Kentucky’s Homeland Security… there’s an app for that. Six Fort Campbell heroes died in Afghanistan this week and Gov Beshear orders flags halfway down to honor a Fort Knox casualty. There’s a bomb disposal competition this week @ Fort Campbell. The Commonwealth’s First Lady today plans to read to rural students via Skype.

TENNESSEE~ The teacher tenure bill edges closer to passing. Young history buffs will compete in Nashville tomorrow. APSU Softballers lose to, then beat TSU.

ILLINOIS~ Senators approve combining the state’s comptroller and treasurer offices.

morning cram [flamingo edition]

While we normally associate flamingos with tropical lagoons, they’re not always warm weather birds.

As NPR‘s Robert Krulwich discovers in a rare, but repeated instance, flamingos have turned up in Siberia.

KENTUCKY~ Whistleblowers write another letter renewing scrutiny of McCracken County Clerk Jeff Jerrell’s administration. Paducah organizers cancel this summer’s Festival. A longtime Caldwell County official resigns amid an improper conduct investigation. Lawmakers legalize ‘dangerous’ fireworks! Tornado drills tomorrow will sound throughout the Commonwealth. Lawmakers head back to the hill for three more days hoping to agree on a budget.

TENNESSEE~ A judge, a printing company and a photographer team up to support a bereaved western Kentucky Amish family. Lake County cops charge a man with a weekend double murder. Former House Speaker: bill to restrict teacher’s union will die.

OVC TOURNEY~ (Men’s) MSU < TTU, MhSU > APSU. Morehead wins the championship. (Women’s) APSU < TTU, UTM > MhSU & TTU. UT Martin wins the championship.

morning cram [conflicting signals edition]

The Obama administration says with one hand it will enforce the Defense of Marriage Act in order to preserve a legal case for Congress to defend it; but on the other hand, it would tell the courts the law is unconstitutional.

NPR reports this sends conflicting signals.

KENTUCKY~ Graves County’s Amish community buries four children who drowned last week. Mayfield’s Police Chief resigns. Police nab a pair of (alleged) pharmacy burglars. A state audit uncovers the possible misuse of public funds by a Livingston County official, despite previous warnings. Fulton County/City Schools officials ponder merging. A couple of manslaughter convicts get prison time. Two KSP troopers are on leave after shooting a Webster County suspect. Legislation that overhauls the state’s criminal code passes both houses. Governor Beshear wants to let large insurance companies keep spending a good chunk of premiums on non-medical care costs.

TENNESSEE~ Governor Haslam scoffs at reasoning behind better state worker benefits despite lower pay. Senators pass a new ‘guns @ work‘ bill.

morning cram [integrity edition]

NPR faces sharp criticism after terminating news analyst Juan Williams’ contract, who was fired Wednesday for violating the news organization’s ethics policy over comments he made on Fox News about Muslims.

~ Williams’ comments and NPR‘s response is prompting a debate about where the boundaries are drawn for journalists nowadays.

KENTUCKY~ McCracken County Schools suspends its facilities director after a DUI arrest. A small plane emergency landed on KY-80 yesterday. Statewide jobless rates are still in the double digits. Jack hopes Rand will still do next week’s scheduled KET debate. The state is auditing its pension agencies.

TENNESSEE~ A man is arrested in Henry County for (alleged) severe domestic violence. Ash storage at  TVA’s coal power plant in Cumberland City has raised some red flags. Unemployment figures dip below the national average. Governor Bredesen cites drought in requesting federal disaster relief.

morning cram [big difficult edition]

“The New Orleans Police Department has long battled a bad reputation. But after Hurricane Katrina, the dept’s flaws unraveled.”

~NPR hears how it’s not so easy to be the NOPD.

KENTUCKY~ A state audit criticizes McCracken’s Clerk policies. McCracken County and Paducah agree on paying for ‘pauper burials’. Paducah School students are eating more cafeteria food this year. MSU beats out most state schools on Forbes’ Top 500 list. Fort Campbell’s hospital is expanding in Clarksville’s. A 10-year-old Oak Grove child gets a felony for arson. UK may be forced to turn over participant’s names of a study on the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (due out this fall). A bill that would stop executing the mentally ill faces many challenges. A newly signed federal act may impact (but remains totally unclear) food stamp programs. Beshear’s top aide resigns.

TENNESSEE~ Clarksville’s Mayor asks his Chief of Staff to resign (then fires him.)

ILLINOIS~ The next (epic) Honeywell and USW sitdown remains unscheduled.

morning cram (tea party edition)

10% of Americans party, but almost half the country doesn’t know what it is.

KY~ Car vs pedestrian on US-60… McCracken Schools announces two more superintendent finalists and Trigg County picks theirs. An IED killed a Fort Campbell medic in Afghanistan. The Attorney General targets the League of Cities. Retiring Senator Bunning blesses the Rand Paul campaign. The budget is down to the wire, and (surprise!) the GPS tracking bill passes. Just put those school repairs on the ole tab. Don’t forget to pay your taxes.

SPORTS~ (OVC Baseball) MSU < UE; (OVC Softball) MSU < UTM, APSU > TSU.