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News BLOG |
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July 2008 ArchivesWhat happens when someone says something about you and it's not true? What if that something they say is a criminal accusation? In high school, rumors and falsehoods spread faster than the common cold. You rarely got to the bottom of who said what to whom. But in a recent story I covered, one man says the truth finally came out. For the past several months I have covered the story of Clayton Pruett. A Bullitt County Youth Pastor... It's my very favorite convention. I love it when the street rods come to town. ...There's rain in the forecast for Wednesday night. Not just a few sprinkles, but the kind of rain that makes puddles in the streets and washes down through the city drains. I can't help but wonder what will happen to the mound of carefully placed toys and stuffed animals -- the memorial for Claudia and Riley. Tripping Out When we came up with the idea to do stories on our summer vacations my first thought was "Is nothing sacred?" Asking television personalities to bring cameras with them on vacation is like asking a doctor to bring his stethoscope to Club Med. Accountants leave their calculators at home when they travel to Cabo Wabo, and judges are rarely seen holding a gavel in St Croix. So, why should I have to wear a microphone when I... As I was covering the funeral for Claudia Wadlington and Riley Lawrence on Tuesday, I noticed a large number of butterflies surrounding the area of St. Andrews Episopal Church as the bodies of the two little girls were being carried out. ...As a news reporter and mother, a vacation is not something I really get. So when we had the chance to take an overnight trip, we chose my home state of Tennessee. I am from East Tennessee originally and spent most of my life swimming in creeks, hiking in the mountains, and cave exploring. I have camped in the Great Smoky Mountains and have spent countless days during my life embracing the beauty of Appalachia. It is a big part of who I am.... Yes, I still write checks in line at Kroger. No, I don't have voice mail on my cell phone. In fact, it irritated my co-worker Mark Hebert so much, he tried to put it on my cell phone for me, but couldn't. But despite all of this, I am going to try to learn how to text. ...The anthem, or Offertory song at the joint funeral of four year old Riley Lawrence and five year old Claudia Wadlington, both killed by a hit and run driver near U of L last week, was composed for the funeral by Tom Bailey, Resurrection's music director. Here are the lyrics: ...The media kept a respectful distance from the joint funeral of four year old Riley Lawrence and five year old Claudia Wadlington, both killed by a hit and run driver near U of L last week. It was important for us to be there, however, to document the price paid by the little girls and their families for someone else's choices. ...For the last five years or so, my father, brother and I have embarked upon a "baseball trip," a chance for the three of us to travel together, see some baseball and make new memories. Never could I have known how significant our Hall of Fame trip would be. ...It's the one place I could find where inflation and a tough economy have led to more business: the Louisville Free Public Library. ...
Russo is director over six North American Assembly plants, including Louisville Assembly. Q and A is interesting as much for what he doesn't reveal as what he does. http://www.whas11.com/video/whas11video-index.html?nvid=266734 ...KY Economic Development Secretary John Hindman tells me that despite Thursday's announcement, Ford and Kentucky have not yet reached an agreement on the new incentives package that Ford is banking on for a new flex body shop at Louisville Assembly Plant. ...Governor Steve Beshear and Mayor Jerry Abramson confirm Ford's plans for Louisville. http://www.whas11.com/video/?z=y&nvid=266436 ...The mayor took an uncharacteristic backseat to Governor Steve Beshear at the Ford announcement, and in the most political moment, turned and thanked the governor for his role in securing Ford's future in Louisville, shaking his hand to applause. As I noted in an earlier blog, Abramson was most direct about how close Ford was to closing the Louisville Assembly Plant, even after Ford agreed to save it and invest anew as part of the UAW... The Governor Despite heavy involvement from Metro Louisville in negotiations with Ford, the Thursday morning news conference was Governor Steve Beshear's show. I'm sure protocol requires it in any event, but the pecking order was underscored when a member of the governor's staff velcroed the Commonwealth of Kentucky seal over the Metro Louisville seal on the mayor's podium. Mayor Jerry Abrams... After an extremely long day covering the Ford developments in Louisville, I hope you'll pardon some stream of consciousness observations from the day. Keep an eye out on WHAS11.com for the news conference with Ford Manufacturing Director Bill Russo. I need to make sure our internet staff loads it. Very interesting in what he does and doesn't say. ...When the UAW approved a new contract with Ford last year, the deal came with a promise from Ford that it would not close Louisville Assembly Plant and would instead invest in flexible manufacturing for both Louisville plants. Ford workers were encouraged, but cautious. As it turns out, they were wise not to count their chickens before they were hatched. ...Let's face it, we in "the media" aren't always depicted in the most flattering light. I'm sitting at the Hardee's across the street from the UAW Local 862 office on Fern Valley Road, a few hours after Ford announced it would transform the Louisville Assembly Plant into a "C car platform" plant. LAP is on life support now, but it's about to get a new lease on life. We'll be talking with Ford and UAW officials at 2pm at the plant -- also asking questions about jobs from Michigan Truck Plant - will they move with the Expe... Ford car gets 76 mpg and sells for $23,574. On sale in Great Britain. Take a look at Ford's press release: ...When Dr. Warren Breidenbach first proposed performing a hand transplant some ten years ago, he says 99% of the medical community opposed the idea and some people even threatened to yank his medical license. Fast forward ten years and four successful transplants, and not only are the transplants considered here to stay, but bigger hospitals and universities want to hijack hand transplants from Louisville. ...With Ford needing to reduce payroll by inducing more employees to take a buyout, will; that affect how specific the automaker will be in announcing changes to specific plants? ...Whether you are a Ford worker, retiree or simply someone following Ford developments, I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on Ford's future and the automaker's strategy thus far. Post your comments on this blog or send me a private e-mail, joe.arnold@whas11.com ...It's been tough to keep track of how many times Ford Motor has had to rethink its "Way Forward" plan to lift the automaker out of its spiral. The plan Ford is about to announce this week appears to be what Ford workers have been saying for years: "build vehicles people want." ...Here's the AP update: AP source: Ford to retool truck lines to make cars
Sources confirm published reports that Ford Motor Company's transformation of three North American truck plants to car plants include the Louisville Assembly Plant, which will shift from the Explorer SUV to a European version of the Focus and/or other vehicles which share the Focus' platform. ...It's looking more and more likely that Ford's announcement this Thursday of "changes to the overall plan" will include changes to Louisville's two Ford plants. The New York Times is reporting that as Ford transforms some truck plants into car plants, production of the Expedition and Navigator will move "to a Kentucky plant," which in all probability is the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane. It appears that Ford is consolidating...
After nearly thirty years on 103.1 FM in Louisville, Oldies 103 WRKA is history just as its frequency is getting an improved signal. In fact, the radio station's new tower in eastern Jefferson County was deemed too good to waste on an oldies station. So make way for..... ...Ford Motor Company says it will announce "changes to Ford's overall plan" when quarterly results are released next week. With the auto industry believing that higher gas prices have permanently altered demand in favor of smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, GM and Chrysler have already cut more jobs and closed plants. Speculation is rampant what Ford will do, but the Kentucky Truck Plant, the sole producer of Super Duty Trucks, is c... As a reporter, I have the unique opportunity to see and hear things that many people never do. ...When something is different we often find ourselves staring. We can't help it. It's human nature. That is the way I felt about a story we ran. The event we were covering was certainly news. It is different and it captures people's attention. But many people don't quite know what to make of it. And that got me wondering... A popular evangelist made a stop in Louisville at Evangel World Prayer Center. His name is Todd Bentley. Y... When I heard Miranda Goranflo was lonely I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, stuck in a hospital for 7 weeks in a foreign country where she doesn't speak the language. On top of all that she's dealing with the emotions that go with watching her five year old daughter Hailey fight for her life. ... What in the world is a locavore? I have to admit the first time I heard the word was when I read it in our newscast Thursday night. Yesterday I had the opportunity to witness a court martial at Fort Knox. I went as media, but hadn't realized that court martials were open to the public as well. The accused was a soldier- Private First Class James Burmeister, who was charged with going AWOL from his unit stationed in Iraq. Burmeister pleaded guilty to this charge. He admitted that he left without telling his superiors or asking for permission. If that's all someone ... I was reporting live from Slugger Field after Wednesday night's Triple-A All-Star game. Problem was, it was clean up time. Not only was I surrounded by 19 giant garbage bags filled with the foul-smelling remains of the evening, but the guys who use gas-powered blowers to clear the aisles were coming right by during one of my live reports. Sure the nose was bad, but you can only imagine what was getting blown up in the air. Be sure to watch my special report Thursday at 11pm on WHAS11. I talked to those on both sides of the issue of whipping race horses. After Eight Belles death at the Derby and a steroid-free Big Brown running so poorly, the sport is very much under the microscope. Congress got involved with a hearing on Capitol Hill and PETA has new ammunition. I think most of the focus right now is on getting rid of drugs in the sport. But I decided to explore... As I reported several weeks ago, Louisville Slugger is anxiously awaiting a decision from Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig whether he will ban maple bats out of safety concerns. The Commissioner was asked about the issue during the All-Star Game events in New York. ...After my earlier blog on army recruiting, a U-S Army contact was able to pass along this update -- which indicates my analysis of the earlier numbers was incorrect, and that the Army is on pace with its recruiting mission. The earlier post is below. UPDATE: Through the end of June, the Army has achieved 51,269 recruits for Forever frozen in time, that moment at midnight October 13, 2004. Sergeant First Class John Adams stands with his laser sighted pistol firing at an Iraqi insurgent, killing him. That moment is now an action figure, soon to be on Toys R Us shelves. ...When I first met hand surgeon Warren Breidenbach ten years ago, he was a guest on my talk show on WHAS Radio. He discussed his radical proposal that he wanted to attempt a hand transplant and to invite any amputees who may be interested to contact him. From the beginning, Breidenbach conceded the ethical issue whether someone should risk their health, even their life, for an elective surgery. Up to that point, organ transplants were extreme... Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, the "slow" time of year isn't so slow. Friday, I interviewed UofL track coach Ron Mann. He's been coaching for 28 years and now finally he's going to coach in the Olympics. He'll coach the middle distance runners in Beijing. Mann is a very friendly, warm guy. You can see why he makes such a successful coach. He leaves for China later this month, what a trip! I also got to talk with the one and... Today, I said goodbye to a friend. I met Rev. Louis Coleman when he walked into a local radio station and told them he would like to start a radio show. The station had to have someone who could produce and keep him on time plus help with his topics every week. The station approached me and wanted to know if I would be interested. I jumped at the opportunity to work with the man I fondly called "Revie Rev." because he was always running. ...
Friday, I reported on a yard sale --- a special yard sale for a 16 year old girl who has a brain tumor. But, the report is also about Lisa's family and how every member of the family battles when one is facing down cancer. We all make mistakes growing up. Hopefully, we learn from those mistakes and don't make the same ones again. I went to college in Boston. A prime location to take advantage of aloof students.
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Every Thursday during our 5pm newscast you can catch a new series we call Smart Savings. We take a look at money saving ideas and pass them on to you. Who doesn't want to save money these days? Gas prices alone are causing people to reevaluate what they are spending. I wanted to pass on a smart savings tip I recently discovered. As many of you know I had baby four months ago. I know babies are expensive. I just didn't realize how... As a reporter, I'm lucky to be able to go into other people's life each day. If it's for ten minutes or two hours I get to glimpse into someone else's life. Sometimes there are stories that touch you in a way that make you want to go above and beyond your job to help. It's a very fine line. ...Week two on the job has really flown by. I had the opportunity to put together a package on an unusual story we covered yesterday. Who knew that dachshunds, chihuahuas and jack russell terriers were the most aggressive dogs? According to one study, they are. I don't know that the story changed anyone elses' opinions about dogs in general, but I personally was affected by it. ...Ladies, this one is for you. A new law that is. In Indiana it's now the law that new moms must be given the time and place to pump at work. May not sound like a big deal, but let me tell you a story. Think back to when you were 18, 19 or 20 years old. Think of all the random road trips you took without thinking twice. I know when I was in college I took a few. I took some in the middle of the night without much planning or forethought. I never once thought I wouldn't make it back home. I didn't realized how blessed I was. For the past two days I have been covering a triple fatal car accident in Clinton County, IN. That's no...
I remember my mom breaking out in a sweat when I was growing up, not because of something I did, but because she was going through "The Change." Now my kids are looking at me asking why my emotions can turn on a dime, or why I like my fan blowing at high speeds in the bedroom all the time. Is it Global Warming? No, just a hot flash. Just the other day when news broke that Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway was hit by credit card fraud my first thought was,"Gee, it can happen to anyone." The next thing I know it has happened to anyone. No, not anyone. Someone. Someone I call Mom and Dad. ...O.K. What's it like to work with Rachel Platt? It's a question I hear at least one time every day. I hear it so often I've decided to blog about it here on WHAS 11.com. ...I have seen it all. I always think that in this business but as far as animals go I think I really have seen it all now. I am working on a series about pet sanctuaries and animal rescues. These places pride themselves on being what's known as "no-kill" facilities. Every animal they house can stay there indefinitely. I traveled to Nicholasville, KY to check out a couple of sanctuaries I found online. The first place is called Primate Resc...
I first learned about gangs using sports logos to represent their names when an email was forwarded to me. The email had a video clip showing young men flashing sports symbols on their clothes and throwing up gang signs. ... |
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WHAS11.com Political Blog
WHAS11 Reporters blog the latest political news from the campaign trail and beyond. 
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