Expect the Kevin Coughlin-led "New Summit Republicans" to go with plan-A Tuesday and name local attorney Don Varian as their nominee for County GOP Chairman. The announcement will be made Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the John S. Knight Center in what the NSRs are pushing as a major political announcement.
Through a soap opera of "Dallas" proportions, Varian already scored current GOP Boss Alex Arshinkoff's seat on the Board of Elections .. so why not his seat with the party as well?
The odd thing here is that both the Coughlin and the Arshinkoff camps believe -- make that are certain -- they have the votes to put their candidate in charge of the party.
This kind of feels like a tribal council in "Survivor" when tribe members sit around the fire confident that everyone close to them has been telling the truth about how they'll vote, but when it comes to actually writing down a name, a big surprise is coming.
Think we could get Jeff Probst to come to town and snuff out the torch of the loser? Now THAT would be political TV worth watching.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Opening Day contingencies ..
We're making plans in the newsroom for our Opening Day coverage, and I've got to admit it's a whole lot of praying for good weather.
Since the game airs on 3 p.m. on WKYC, we're planning a fairly lengthy pre-game special based on the game starting on time. We learned our lesson last year when the home opener was delayed by snow and eventually canceled. My role is to put together a feature story on a 21-year-old U of Akron student who is now living the dream as one of the tribe's stadium broadcasters.
The problem we fear is that if Mother Nature decides to delay the first pitch again, we broadcast folks have to think of some way to kill time. If it's 10 minutes, no biggie. If it's a two-hour delay, then ohhhhhhhhhhh boy.
There's only so many times we can interview fans in the stands or toss to Jim Donovan to tap dance about the team.
I still have to finish editing my contribution to the pre-game show ... along with continued reporting on other stories ... so the pressure will mount each day as the week goes on. Still, I realize it's a good gig to have .. so I'm not complaining. I'd just feel better about our plan if I knew it would be 50 degrees outside and partly sunny instead of watching the skies and hoping we're not making snowmen outside the Tribe's dugouts again.
Since the game airs on 3 p.m. on WKYC, we're planning a fairly lengthy pre-game special based on the game starting on time. We learned our lesson last year when the home opener was delayed by snow and eventually canceled. My role is to put together a feature story on a 21-year-old U of Akron student who is now living the dream as one of the tribe's stadium broadcasters.
The problem we fear is that if Mother Nature decides to delay the first pitch again, we broadcast folks have to think of some way to kill time. If it's 10 minutes, no biggie. If it's a two-hour delay, then ohhhhhhhhhhh boy.
There's only so many times we can interview fans in the stands or toss to Jim Donovan to tap dance about the team.
I still have to finish editing my contribution to the pre-game show ... along with continued reporting on other stories ... so the pressure will mount each day as the week goes on. Still, I realize it's a good gig to have .. so I'm not complaining. I'd just feel better about our plan if I knew it would be 50 degrees outside and partly sunny instead of watching the skies and hoping we're not making snowmen outside the Tribe's dugouts again.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Busy Thursday
Hi all ... I've had a week so busy I can't keep my head on straight ... so here's a sample of what I'm seeing, hearing, and feeling tonight.
Nice to see police have finally charged the adults and older teens who were having sex with a group of 12-year-old girls in Massillon. We've been following this investigation for months and I was wondering why it took this long to bring charges. For months I've heard from frustrated Massillon residents who say the investigation was delayed and stalled because Massillon's star running back, DeVoe Torrence, was involved. That's a tough allegation, but considering Torrence was indeed charged today, those who've screamed "conspiracy to delay" will have more fuel for their beliefs.. I'd like to see the dates of the incidents versus the dates the cases were reported. I'd also like to see how many other teens and/or adults were interviewed as potential suspects. This story is completely disturbing and I hope the girls get counseling.
I'm finding that the health and housing issues related to our "Forgotten Families" (see my posts below) aren't unique to Akron. A report this weekend in the Republican American paints a grim picture of a similar group of immigrants placed in Connecticut. The Waterbury International Institute is coming under fire for not taking care of 64 Karen refugees; Akron's International Institute has brought five times that many to Akron.
I can tell you that after visiting Findley Academy yesterday, there are certainly some strong people who are stepping up to help these families. The principal and several teachers are reaching out to dozens of kids in the Karen families through tangible support. Findley has 32 Karen kids and more than 80 immigrant students from 10 different countries. That in itself is a success story, but considering the refugees will be expected to take the same state-mandated tests (in English no less) as the local kids, the school's overall scores are bound to drop, even though they're challenged like no other school in the area. Doesn't seem fair.
I spent part of today in Cleveland working on a story for Opening Day -- just 11 days away! A former student of mine at the UA is now one of the stadium voices of the Tribe. His name is Ryan Pritt and he's but 21 years old! How nice to barely be an adult and be living the dream that so many adults practice in their homes while watching the games on TV! After Cutts, the primary elections, and the Forgotten Families, I was thrilled to sink my teeth into something like a positive tribe story.
After reading through the Brunner deposition and then watching some on videotape, I just keep shaking my head. If this is what we know of the way local politics works, how much is still going on behind the scenes? More snip-its when I can digest them ...
Nice to see police have finally charged the adults and older teens who were having sex with a group of 12-year-old girls in Massillon. We've been following this investigation for months and I was wondering why it took this long to bring charges. For months I've heard from frustrated Massillon residents who say the investigation was delayed and stalled because Massillon's star running back, DeVoe Torrence, was involved. That's a tough allegation, but considering Torrence was indeed charged today, those who've screamed "conspiracy to delay" will have more fuel for their beliefs.. I'd like to see the dates of the incidents versus the dates the cases were reported. I'd also like to see how many other teens and/or adults were interviewed as potential suspects. This story is completely disturbing and I hope the girls get counseling.
I'm finding that the health and housing issues related to our "Forgotten Families" (see my posts below) aren't unique to Akron. A report this weekend in the Republican American paints a grim picture of a similar group of immigrants placed in Connecticut. The Waterbury International Institute is coming under fire for not taking care of 64 Karen refugees; Akron's International Institute has brought five times that many to Akron.
I can tell you that after visiting Findley Academy yesterday, there are certainly some strong people who are stepping up to help these families. The principal and several teachers are reaching out to dozens of kids in the Karen families through tangible support. Findley has 32 Karen kids and more than 80 immigrant students from 10 different countries. That in itself is a success story, but considering the refugees will be expected to take the same state-mandated tests (in English no less) as the local kids, the school's overall scores are bound to drop, even though they're challenged like no other school in the area. Doesn't seem fair.
I spent part of today in Cleveland working on a story for Opening Day -- just 11 days away! A former student of mine at the UA is now one of the stadium voices of the Tribe. His name is Ryan Pritt and he's but 21 years old! How nice to barely be an adult and be living the dream that so many adults practice in their homes while watching the games on TV! After Cutts, the primary elections, and the Forgotten Families, I was thrilled to sink my teeth into something like a positive tribe story.
After reading through the Brunner deposition and then watching some on videotape, I just keep shaking my head. If this is what we know of the way local politics works, how much is still going on behind the scenes? More snip-its when I can digest them ...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
No Webchat tonight ..
I spoke too soon ... I'm getting deployed on several nightside stories so I won't be able to do normal Wednesday Webchat ..
I was looking forward to hearing from everyone on the anniversary of the war .. but I'll try to write some thoughts late night tonight ..
Stay warm everyone .. Eric
I was looking forward to hearing from everyone on the anniversary of the war .. but I'll try to write some thoughts late night tonight ..
Stay warm everyone .. Eric
Webchat tonight ... 8:30ish
Hope to have you along tonight for webchat .. I should be ready at 8:30 p.m. or a few minutes after.
I've been out of the office and away from the computer the last few days .. working on several stories on totally different topics. I'll catch up with a few posts later tonight and tomorrow ..
Eric
I've been out of the office and away from the computer the last few days .. working on several stories on totally different topics. I'll catch up with a few posts later tonight and tomorrow ..
Eric
Monday, March 17, 2008
Odds & Ends on a Monday
Our newsroom is kinda quiet today .. which doesn't happen often ... so I'm playing catch-up with a lot of unfinished business today. A few notes to pass along:
I'm waiting on a videotape copy of Jennifer Brunner's deposition in the Arshinkoff case. I'll have it in the next hour and use it in a story on tonight's late newscasts. If it sounds anything like it reads, I'll expect a lot of bickering.
There's more to come on Akron's "Forgotten Families." I've acquired the housing department citations issued to the building's landlord. In addition to cleaning up the roaches, rats, poor lighting, and overcrowding that our story documented, the landlord was also ordered to fix issues with mold, wiring, ventilation and a half-dozen more issues. He's also being fined $100 for failing to accurately fix a previous lead paint problem in which a child received medical treatment.
What's most troubling to me is that a third grader from this same group of immigrants was bitten by a rat while she was sleeping. I'm told this happened in a nearby house on Blaine Avenue. The girl was treated by a school nurse and other medical professionals and will be O.K. I'm still trying to pinpoint a few specific details -- to include whether the same landlord owns that property -- but I do have confirmation that the girl was bitten by the rat at home.
The trial of two Tallmadge athletes for rape and hazing began today, and I can't help but roll my eyes that something like this is in front of a judge. The two teens reportedly used a straw on a 15-year-old boy for their dumb prank, but their attorneys argued today that there was no rape because there was no penetration. Considering we're dealing with immature teens here, I can't help but wonder how this whole thing got out of control and what impact this experience will have long-term on the alleged victim.
I'm waiting on a videotape copy of Jennifer Brunner's deposition in the Arshinkoff case. I'll have it in the next hour and use it in a story on tonight's late newscasts. If it sounds anything like it reads, I'll expect a lot of bickering.
There's more to come on Akron's "Forgotten Families." I've acquired the housing department citations issued to the building's landlord. In addition to cleaning up the roaches, rats, poor lighting, and overcrowding that our story documented, the landlord was also ordered to fix issues with mold, wiring, ventilation and a half-dozen more issues. He's also being fined $100 for failing to accurately fix a previous lead paint problem in which a child received medical treatment.
What's most troubling to me is that a third grader from this same group of immigrants was bitten by a rat while she was sleeping. I'm told this happened in a nearby house on Blaine Avenue. The girl was treated by a school nurse and other medical professionals and will be O.K. I'm still trying to pinpoint a few specific details -- to include whether the same landlord owns that property -- but I do have confirmation that the girl was bitten by the rat at home.
The trial of two Tallmadge athletes for rape and hazing began today, and I can't help but roll my eyes that something like this is in front of a judge. The two teens reportedly used a straw on a 15-year-old boy for their dumb prank, but their attorneys argued today that there was no rape because there was no penetration. Considering we're dealing with immature teens here, I can't help but wonder how this whole thing got out of control and what impact this experience will have long-term on the alleged victim.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Rock-em, Sock-em politics
I've made it to page 149 .. through the cross examination and direct.
Oddly enough, my 2006 news series on WKYC-TV about Alex Arshinkoff's threatening phone call to a Hudson city leader was labeled as "exhibit 17" and was part of the packet of information that Jennifer Brunner used in her decision not to reappoint AA to the board of elections. I didn't know that.
Another WKYC-TV story is labeled "exhibit 20"; it's from 2004 and was our newsroom's account of AA's threat to revoke the Federal Exempt status of the local United Way office.
Brunner also reviewed a series of articles from the Akron Beacon Journal and Scene Magazine in developing her reasons for saying AA wasn't competent.
During re-cross, Brunner was challenged about reading other news articles that supported her denial of Brian Dailey, AA's ally, who was the last-minute selection to replace AA on the board.
Here's an interesting exchange between Brunner and Grendell, who is also a State Senator:
The subsequent pages seem to support the challenge that Brunner already had her mind made up about Dailey before she knew very much about him. If so, she'd be pre-judging someone and that's a serious no-no.
More to come ..
Oddly enough, my 2006 news series on WKYC-TV about Alex Arshinkoff's threatening phone call to a Hudson city leader was labeled as "exhibit 17" and was part of the packet of information that Jennifer Brunner used in her decision not to reappoint AA to the board of elections. I didn't know that.
Another WKYC-TV story is labeled "exhibit 20"; it's from 2004 and was our newsroom's account of AA's threat to revoke the Federal Exempt status of the local United Way office.
Brunner also reviewed a series of articles from the Akron Beacon Journal and Scene Magazine in developing her reasons for saying AA wasn't competent.
During re-cross, Brunner was challenged about reading other news articles that supported her denial of Brian Dailey, AA's ally, who was the last-minute selection to replace AA on the board.
Here's an interesting exchange between Brunner and Grendell, who is also a State Senator:
BRUNNER: "I was only required to state reasons why I believed that Mr. Daley would not be a competent member of the board."Can you sense how frustrated both sides are at this point in the deposition?
GRENDELL: "So you're only required to get negative information; you have no requirement to get positive information about a recommended appointee to the board of elections; is that Correct?"
BRUNNER: "Well, that is correct. And since you're in the Senate, maybe you can remedy that."
GRENDELL: "I'll take it in the spirit that it was offered."
The subsequent pages seem to support the challenge that Brunner already had her mind made up about Dailey before she knew very much about him. If so, she'd be pre-judging someone and that's a serious no-no.
More to come ..
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