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JS Online: On blogs, libel law not so cut and dried

It has been discovered that liberal radio network Air America has received an illegal “loan” of some $480,000 of tax dollars that were to go to help inner-city kids and Alzheimer’s patients. Does it surprise anyone that Air America hasn’t paid any money back?

Robin Hood and Air America - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper
Did Al Franken’s liberal radio network Air America divert city money for the elderly and inner-city children to itself? That’s the question people should be asking this week after the revelation that the New York Department of Investigation is looking into whether hundreds of thousands of dollars were illegally transferred from a Bronx community center to Air America. Only a community paper and a few Internet bloggers seem interested in what could be an egregious case of illegal funneling of tax dollars to a private, partisan organization.

In late June, city officials designated the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, a nonprofit organization that runs mentoring programs for children and day care for Alzheimer’s patients, a “non-responsible city contractor.” Investigators found “significant inappropriate transactions and falsified documents that were submitted to various City agencies.” The city subsequently suspended the club’s contracts, which run well into the millions.

It turns out, according to sources quoted anonymously by the Bronx News, that the mishandled money went to Air America. One source claims that $480,000 was wrongly transferred. The city investigation is concentrating on Charles Rosen, the club’s president for 15 years, and Evan Cohen, the development director, who is a former chairman of Air America. Mr. Cohen resigned from Air America in May after the network’s leasing plans in Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere fell through.

We all know that Air America is a financial mess, but now they have to steal from poor kids and the elderly?

Listen to the Fox News report.

FOXNews.com - Politics - Kenyan Offers 40 Goats for Chelsea Clinton’s Hand
A Kenyan says he offered Bill Clinton 40 goats and 20 cows for his daughter’s hand in marriage five years ago — and is still waiting for an answer.

Godwin Kipkemoi Chepkurgor told the East Africa Standard newspaper last week that he wrote Clinton asking for Chelsea’s hand in 2000 during the then-president’s visit to Kenya.

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Chepkurgor vowed to remain single until he gets an answer to his proposal to marry Chelsea, 25.

I intended to post this a few days ago when I first seen it, but forgot. Thanks for the reminder Andy!

Looks like they have discovered another planet in our Solar System.

SPACE.com — Large New World Discovered Beyond Neptune
A newfound object in our solar system’s outskirts may be larger than any known world after Pluto, scientists said today.

It also has a moon.

Designated as 2003 EL61, the main object in the two-body system is 32 percent as massive as Pluto and is estimated to be about 70 percent of Pluto’s diameter.

Other news reports that the object could be twice as big as Pluto are false, according to two astronomers who found the object in separate studies and another expert who has analyzed the data.

This tidbit was mixed in with the Holloway story (below) and I think it deserves it’s own topic. The county board has finally approved the demolition of the Courthouse Annex, Wale Wall and all. This is a needed thing, that building is falling apart, drive under it and look up, that’s scary!

JS Online: Courthouse Annex
The board also endorsed a $9.3 million plan to remove the courthouse annex that hangs over I-43 and replace it with surface parking for county employees and judges. Barring snags, the vote will allow demolition of the facility during the Marquette Interchange reconstruction, now under way.

Good news from the Common Council, They have approved the funding that will allow the prosecution to continue against Chairman Lee Holloway.

JS Online: Board OKs money for Holloway case
The Milwaukee County Board on Thursday approved funding that will allow prosecution of the ethics case involving Chairman Lee Holloway to proceed.

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The $50,000 fund transfer in the Holloway matter squeaked through by two votes, including Holloway’s. The measure needed a two-thirds majority of 13 votes, and it won 14. The funds are to pay for a special prosecutor and a hearing examiner.

Supervisors Toni Clark, Elizabeth Coggs-Jones, Willie Johnson Jr., Michael Mayo Sr. and James White opposed the funding. None explained why.

Supervisor Richard Nyklewicz Jr., who voted for the funding, said it was necessary to allow an independent, unfettered process and to allow Holloway a chance to clear himself.

Mark Belling teased a major announcement for the 5:00 hour of his show today. At 5, he came on and started talking about his future and the opportunities he has been offered, especially since doing the Rush Limbaugh show. He also talked about the “incident” from last fall that still has some, including the Shepherd Express trying to get him fired. No one has been more polarizing or as influential in the local media, since he was the first to bring this sort of show to Milwaukee (actually, Belling was one of the first in the nation to do this). Belling talked about the decision he had to make, did he want to stay here, move on or do something totally different. He talked for 15 minutes as I felt that sinking feeling… Then he announced that he just signed a 6 year contract extension, I then yelled at the radio, “Damn You Belling!”

I remember that he sounded much the same way when he signed his last contract, but the good news is that this is a long term 6 year contract, so he won’t teas us like this again for a while.

Congratulations Mark and WISN!

So much for Presidential run..

Senate’s Leader Veers From Bush Over Stem Cells - New York Times
In a break with President Bush, the Senate Republican leader, Bill Frist, has decided to support a bill to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, a move that could push it closer to passage and force a confrontation with the White House, which is threatening to veto the measure.

The end of a Milwaukee Icon

JS Online: (Get those) Bottoms up
“Hey, you. Quit smiling over there. You got nothing to smile about.”

This is yelled through the few teeth of a pony-tailed man and flutters for a moment, suspended on the din and dim-lighted chatter of the moment only to be absorbed into what are the last days and hours of the National Liquor Bar.

The joke may as well have been for all Milwaukee.

That’s because the space, at 2601 W. National Ave., which has operated as a tavern since 1939 and expanded to its current warehouse size in the 1940s, will make its last call Saturday at 6 p.m.

No long time Milwaukee resident should have lived their lives without a stop at The National Liquor Bar, it is a Milwaukee landmark and it is closing

Don’t miss Red Meat’s posting on Jim Doyle’s gift to John Gard of 1,400 used hypodermic needles.

Isn’t the improper handling of contaminated medical waste illegal? The police were called because John Gard’s staff and the cleaning staff all refused to touch it.

Governor Doyle, this was a flat out stupid thing to do!

WisPolitics.com Milwaukee Notes is reporting that Rep.Mark Gundrum, (-New Berlin) is still thinking about a run for Attorney General, but he may also take a run at state Sen. Mary Lazich’s, (-New Berlin) seat.

This all came out before County Exec. Dan Finley decided to resign to become the head of the Milwaukee Public Museum, so things are likely to get even more exciting.

Let me say that I have heard NOTHING at all about Gundrum eyeing the County Exec. spot, but it makes ya think, you know there will be a bunch of Waukesha county Republicans thinking hard over the next few days.

Waukesha County Executive Daniel Finley is resigning immediately to take over as the head of the Milwaukee Public Museum. This is a shocker! Finley could have been County Exec. for life if he wanted to, he has never been opposed, it is surprising to see him leave to take over the financial disaster that is the Milwaukee Public Museum, but for the Museum’s sake, I’m glad he is doing this…but I’m still shocked!

JS Online: DayWatch
Waukesha County Executive Daniel Finley will leave office to take the helm of the struggling Milwaukee Public Museum, the institution’s top officials said this evening.

Finley, county executive for 14 years and midway through his latest term, will become president and CEO of the museum within one month.

His hiring was given preliminary approval by the museum’s board of directors this afternoon at a special meeting.

Finley emerged from a field of more than a dozen candidates, museum officials said.

UPDATE: Finley’s wife to run.
I have seen a few other bloggers reporting that Dan Finley’s wife will be running for his seat.

Javon Walker mans up! He has reported to Packer training camp, fulfilling his contract. You are doing the right thing Javon!

JS Online: Walker shows up
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Javon Walker wasn’t ready to discuss his reasons for arriving in town Wednesday evening for the official start of training camp, but he was willing to concede it was time to end his holdout.

And he did, reporting for a mandatory meeting Wednesday night.

“Tell them I’m coming in,” Walker said as he arrived at the Green Bay airport shortly after 5 p.m. “You can tell them that.”

Up until Walker’s arrival at Austin Straubel Airport, the Packers were under the impression he wasn’t going to be present for the start of training camp. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the Journal Sentinel a week ago that Walker would not be there when camp started because he was unhappy with his contract.

Ouch!

JS Online: ‘05 season to be Alvarez’s last as coach
Barry Alvarez, head football coach and athletic director at the University of Wisconsin, has finalized plans to turn over the coaching reins to his hand-picked successor after the upcoming 2005 season.

According to sources, Alvarez, 58, will coach through this season, his 16th at the school.

He then will step down to focus solely on his role as athletic director, a job he added before last season.

As a Badger fan, this hurts.

Sad news for Milwaukee news viewers, WTMJ and most importantly, her family.

OnWisconsin.com: July 28, 2005; 11 a.m. newscast
consumer affairs reporter Lynise Weeks died this morning after suffering kidney failure that required multiple transplant operations.

Thoughts and prayers to her, her family and many many frineds.