Groups Rally for Coal Plants as Jobs Issue

Groups Rally for Coal Plants as Jobs Issue

Supporters of two new coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas... took their case to the Statehouse Friday.

More than 200 people attended a rally aimed to convince lawmakers to override a veto by former governor Kathleen Sebelius. She said no to a bill that would have allowed the plants.

Kirk Miller, a Democrat from Jackson County who is also union representative for Local 441, said it's not just about the power supply - it would also create jobs for those in the building and trade industries. He says 30 percent of them are expected to be out of work next year. When they're out of work, he says, they'll be getting assistance, their children will eat free lunches and other issues arise - a trickle down effect he described as "scary."

I didn't really know that people were still fighting for this coal plant. I'm not even sure that Sunflower is still really interested. But if it can be built, I am in favor. Coal energy is cleaner than it used to be, and most importantly, it is American energy.

Obama's Mistake: Britain Did Torture - Swampland - TIME.com

Obama's Mistake: Britain Did Torture - Swampland - TIME.com

Last night, Barack Obama said he had recently read an article about Winston Churchill during the London blitz. "Churchill said, 'We don't torture,' when the entire British -- all of the British people were being subjected to unimaginable risk and threat," Obama said. "And then the reason was that Churchill understood, you start taking short-cuts, over time, that corrodes what's -- what's best in a people. It corrodes the character of a country."

It was, perhaps, the most powerful anecdote of the night, and an apparently powerful moral condemnation of President Bush, an admitted admirer of Churchill who kept the British leader's bust in the Oval Office. But it was not entirely true. Churchill may well have said that Britain did not torture, but British archives show clearly that captured Nazis were subjected to harsh treatment in order to extract information during World War II. This morning, Michael Tomasky points to this 2005 story in the Guardian about a secret World War II detention center called the "London Cage":

Of course, the Obama administration wouldn't want to let facts get in the way of their policy arguments.

First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they're only $540!

First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they're only $540!

Michelle Obama has taken casual to a haute new level.

While volunteering Wednesday at a D.C. food bank, the First Lady sported her usual J.Crew cardigan, a pair of utilitarian capri pants and, on her feet, a sneaky splurge: trainers that go for $540.

That's right: These sneakers - suede, with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps - are made by French design house Lanvin, one of fashion's hottest labels. They come in denim and satin versions, and have been a brisk seller all spring.

How about them shoes? I am not sure what to make of them myself. I don't they are particularly attractive. And they are foreign made. Does it matter to you? Or should the media be talking about other stuff?

Poll: Should state employees give 5 percent of pay to relieve deficit? | CJOnline.com

Poll: Should state employees give 5 percent of pay to relieve deficit? CJOnline.com

The House budget committee Thursday approved a jaw-dropping plan to slash salaries of all state employees by 5 percent.

The mandatory one-year rollback endorsed by the House Appropriations Committee would save the state at least $40 million, with the average reduction pegged at $1,600 for each state classified employee.

“We can fire more workers or reduce the pay of all workers,” said Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, and committee chairman.

CJ Online is taking a poll on this topic. I would love for you all to vote. It will be interesting to find out how this is going to turn out.

Supreme Court Justice Souter To Retire : NPR

Supreme Court Justice Souter To Retire : NPR

NPR has learned that Supreme Court Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the current court term.

The vacancy will give President Obama his first chance to name a member of the high court and begin to shape its future direction.

Just in case you didn't have enough to pray about, here is another issue. This retirement shouldn't shake up the court too much, as Souter tended to be on the liberal side. But with much of the court being older than Souter, There could be a lot of concern over the next 3 1/2 years.

Five percent state pay cut advances | CJOnline.com

Five percent state pay cut advances CJOnline.com

The House budget committee Thursday approved a jaw-dropping plan to slash salaries of all state employees by 5 percent.

The mandatory one-year rollback endorsed by the House Appropriations Committee would save the state at least $40 million, with the average reduction pegged at $1,600 for each state classified employee.

“We can fire more workers or reduce the pay of all workers,” said Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, and committee chairman.

The salary knife would hit paychecks of 42,000 state government employees. The committee included state university professors, legislators, other elected officials and judges in its proposal.

At least Cumulus employees aren't the only ones feeling the pain right now. But this particular cut will hurt retailers and businesses across Topeka, since this community has more state workers than any other in Kansas. Honestly, a better solution would be spending cuts which are more permanent, rather than one year pay cuts. This spending will just return a year from now.

Cumulus orders furloughs | CJOnline.com

Cumulus orders furloughs CJOnline.com

By June 30, all employees of Cumulus Media Inc., the Atlanta-based broadcasting company that owns or operates six Topeka radio station, must take five days of unpaid leave.

Cumulus president and chief executive officer Lew Dickey Jr. informed employees of their mandatory furloughs Wednesday in a corporatewide conference call.

Dickey in an interview published online by Radio Ink called the furloughs a “shared sacrifice.” He told Radio Ink that he and all other Cumulus top brass are subject to the five-day furlough.

The blood letting continues in big corporate radio. I feel sorry for my friends who still work at 9th and Kansas. But as traditional radio slowly dies, I am excited to be a part of something new. Come join many of your old radio friends at radiorichandlouann.com. I will be doing another practice show from 1-3 this afternoon.