the morning cram [You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity edition]

On the first day of Christmas, congress gave to me…nothing.

NPR reports as the holidays are on their way, our lawmakers want to go home feeling as if they’ve done something. Cue the theatrics…

Kentucky~ Conway offers state officials DUI classes. Elaine Walker finishes cancer treatment.

Illinois~ Metropolis is changing its health insurance carrier. Here’s a shocker: youth prison programs don’t work.

the morning cram [empty nest egg edition]

Retirement may not be as enjoyable as it once was.

NPR reports retirees are finding the golden years to be much more difficult than they expected.

Kentucky~An accidental shooting claims a life in Graves County.  No Child Left Behind grades are in.   Senator Paul wants to block pipeline regulations.  Williams and Galbraith sound off on Race to the Top funds.

Illinois~ Metropolis ok’s booze on Sunday.

the morning cram [FBI bugs edition]

The FBI has a special unit that goes into people’s homes while they are on vacation and plants bugs. Is your home bugged?

NPR talks with author Ronald Kessler about his new book, ‘Secrets of the FBI’.

Kentucky~  The Governor’s wife is going to talk with military spouses at Fort Campbell. Sen Leeper says don’t get to excited about extra money. Gubernatorial hopeful Williams’ daddy-in-law is giving a lot of money to the cause. Not enough people are playing the lottery.  Candidates for Governor are slinging mud (surprise, surprise).

Illinois~ The Union votes today to go back to Honeywell.

Datebook: June 20 – Louis XVI’s Flight to Varennes 220 years ago

The Flight to Varennes began June 20 1791. It was a significant turning point in the French Revolution during which King Louis XVI of France, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family were unsuccessful in their attempt to escape from the radical agitation of the Jacobins in Paris. Their destination was the fortress at Montmédy in northeastern France, but they were only able to make it as far as the small town of Varennes. The king’s attempted flight provoked the charges of treason which ultimately led to his execution in 1793.

It’s Monday, June 20

RecycleNow in Paducah announces its summer hours. Starting today, the recycling center will be open Monday through Friday from 7AM to 2:30PM and on Saturdays from 8AM to noon. For a complete list of recyclable items, visit recyclenowpaducah.com.

Wednesday is the deadline to make reservations for this weekend’s Twilight Theatre production of three original plays. Dinner is at 6:30 at Kenlake State Resort Park, and the show starts at 8 on both Friday and Saturday. The show runs through July 30th. For reservations, call 270-436-2399.

The Paducah Photo 2011 Exhibition will be on display at the Yeiser Art Center through July 30. The center, located at 200 Broadway, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 4. Admission is free.

Tomorrow through Sunday, the Mermet Fish and Wildlife Area of Metropolis hosts two archery tournaments: the Superman Classic and the Illinois Pro-Am Tournament. Spectators are welcome at both tournaments. Visit metropolistourism.com for a schedule of events.

Find more regional events on our website, wkms.org.

the morning cram [dengue fever edition]

Mosquitoes are mostly just annoying, though some carry disease.

NPR reports the city of Iquitos, Peru has become a giant, open-air lab for the study of dengue fever spread by mosquitoes.

Kentucky~ 200 temp jobs will be available in western Kentucky for flood clean-up. The trial for an accused baby smotherer has been postponed. A Paducah man is arrested for making meth. A state program is helping college drop-outs get back into school. Police may not arrest you for your minor crime anymore (but you will get a fine).

Tennessee~ Gov Haslam signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits.

Illinois~ It’s Superman celebration time in Metropolis.

morning cram [strauss-kahn edition]

Embattled International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned.

NPR reports he wants to devote “all his energy” to battle the sexual assault charges he faces in New York.

KENTUCKY~ Livingston County may may have 150 damaged homes. The Army Corps of Engineers will set up a Birds Point/New Madrid Levee Info Center. Paducah is closing roads prepping for the Lowertown Music & Arts Fest. MSU officials will vote tomorrow to accept Paducah/McCracken County’s funding agreement for their own mini-campus. Murray’s Pella will add 75 jobs. US Sen McConnell defends the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The (unofficial) loser in the GOP Secretary of State race isn’t conceding and will ask for a recanvass. Voter counts prove not many cared about Tuesday’s Primary. The Governor’s race is heating up and Beshear is launching TV ads next week.

TENNESSEE~ Contractors don’t want a deadline to finish the Clarksville Marina. Henry County buddies up with Bethel University to add financial stability to a HCMC expansion project.

ILLINOIS~ Another round of Honeywell v USW is slated for next week.

Video of Metropolis, IL Flooding

Cellphone video footage from Youtube user 1kingofhalloween depicts Ohio River flooding from an inundated trailer park in Metropolis, Illinois. The videographer, Steve Chaney, says “It’s quite a disturbing thing to look out your front door and see nothing but water and seeing the water levels increasing slowly.”

In his series of uploads, residents allege emergency officials are apathetic to their plight. Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel dismisses the accusation (below).

Landlord Virgil Thomas alleges Emergency officials “don’t care”.

A Metropolis, Illinois resident says she’s left without help.

Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel says two emergency shelters are open in the city. He dismisses allegations of official apathy, saying Chaney is a disgruntled candidate for city Alderman trying to stir up trouble.

You can hear McDaniel’s explanation here.

morning cram [eject edition]

US military officials say an Air Force fighter jet crashed in Libya but was not shot down.

NPR reports both crew members are alive.

KENTUCKY~ Paducah’s population has thinned. The EPA has cleaned up a semi-truck wreck-caused chemical spill. A Wickliffe woman will compete on CMT’s Next Superstar (see below). Learn to fight mine fires @ Madisonville Community College. There’s a Hopkinsville-based effort to support Japan. School admins will learn how to save energy this week. The House passes a Medicaid budget bill. Gov Beshear will pick up his state plane tab.

TENNESSEE~ Some 100 people are displaced after a Clarksville apartment complex burns down.

ILLINOIS~ Gambling resumes in Metropolis this morning.

morning cram [ceasefire edition]

Libya’s foreign minister announced an immediate ceasefire today, in response to a United Nations resolution authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people.

NPR reports the announcement is a quick turnaround after Moammar Gadhafi initially defied the move.

KENTUCKY~ Therapists allege the Heath High shooter exaggerates his mental illness. A Murray drywall installer dies in an undetailed Fort Knox accident. Ohio River levels in Paducah begin to recede. Some areas of LBL remain closed (flooded).  State demographics diversify a bit. A (committee) vote on the Medicaid budget could happen at the start of next week. Mining unions back Gov Beshear’s re-bid.

TENNESSEE~ Construction of Clarksville’s upcoming solar panel plant is halfway done. State and federal officials allocate $20mil to build a Mississippi River port in Lake County.

morning cram [falter edition]

Japanese officials have made little apparent progress bringing the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear crisis under control.

NPR reports neither helicopters nor water cannon trucks have delivered much water to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods at the stricken complex.

KENTUCKY~ Some 200 people swarmed a proposed coal2liquid plant zoning meeting and are worried about pollution. The Heath High shooter testifies hallucinated voices told him to attack. An education official will tour Paducah tomorrow. The state’s Homeland Security Director resigns. Democrats support (but question) Gov Beshear’s Medicaid solution as the bipartisan effort continues. House members pass the drop out bill (again).

TENNESSEE~ The state’s demographics are diversifying (78% white | 17% black | 5% latino).

ILLINOIS~ Ohio River flooding worries shut down Harrah’s Casino & Hotel.