CRANE MAN DIES IN SPRINGFIELD WRECK

Jess J. Folk, 49, died Sunday night in a crash in the 2700 block of South Luster Avenue. Springfield police Lt. Scott Leven said:

Folk was traveling northbound on Luster Ave. in a White 1998 GMC Safari Van when the vehicle accelerated and veered to the left striking a large tree in the yard of 2763 S. Luster Ave. According to family members, Folk had a history of seizures and he may have suffered a seizure causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

Folk was dead at the scene.

BLOGGERFILES

Our friend The Snarling Marmot has started a keen project focused on local bloggers; she sends questionnaires, gets 'em back and publishes the answers. It's a relaxed way to learn more about the geeks you read.

Marmot's Q&A with CHATTER includes our belief that blogging is the next phase of modern journalism. Really. Hit the Marmot joint to read the piece, and pardon our error in saying it's been nearly 60 years since Edward R. Murrow, Eric Severeid and William L. Shirer invented modern electronic journalism. It's closer to 70 years.

One more thing: Our apologies for the light weekend posting, and for any e-mailers whose words seemed to fall into a black hole. They didn't. Just a lot going on upstairs. Back with much more on Monday.

SCANDAL-PLAGUED POLITICIAN DIES

His name was James E. West, and for much of his adult life he was considered a player in Washington state politics -- that is, until a sex scandal forced his recall as mayor of Spokane last December.

West was caught online trying to seduce a teenage boy who wanted to work in the mayor's office. He tried to minimize the scandal but failed. All the while he was sick with cancer.

He died Saturday in Seattle. He was 55. The Post-Intelligencer reports:

The former Republican state senate majority leader died of complications from recent cancer surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center. The longtime legislator was diagnosed with colon cancer in early 2003 that later spread to his liver.

A statement released by the hospital Saturday morning said his family and pastor were at his side. "As a family we wish to thank the caregivers at University of Washington Medical Center, and the many friends of Jim for their support and prayers," the family said in their statement.

West became the first Spokane city official to be recalled from office on Dec. 6, 2005, ending a 27-year career in city and state politics.

West was known as an anti-gay politician.

SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Cal Thomas, the conservative writer, has this to say about the new Oliver Stone movie:

I have a long list of favorite patriotic movies, including "Victory at Sea," "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Sands of Iwo Jima," but Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" is right up there with the best of them. It is one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-faith, pro-male, flag-waving, God Bless America films you will ever see.

Stone's movie opens Aug. 9. Adds Thomas: "It deserves an Oscar in so many categories. It also deserves the thanks of a grateful nation." You deserve a drink for having your mind boggled.

IT BETTER RAIN

The heat wave is over. Just ask the National Weather Service. Friday's high temp should not make it to 100 -- only 92, with a heat index of only 100.

Friday night it will rain. Saturday will be 84 degrees. Finally.

VIRGINIA KILLER MEETS ELECTRIC CHAIR

Brandon Hedrick chose his method of death, as allowed by law in Virginia. He was electrocuted Thursday night for raping and murdering Lisa Alexander Crider in Lynchburg, Va.

Two jolts from the executioner and the 27-year-old man was dead, the first killer to be put to death by electrocution since 2004.

A Washington Post account notes:

He requested a last meal of pizza with cheese, bacon and hamburger, French fries with ketchup, apple pie, bacon, and chocolate cake.

He used his last words to talk about Jesus and said, "I'm ready to go and be free."

CHARLIE DENISON: 'FORMABLE' FOR HIS 'CONSITUENTS'

The current state representative for the 135th District needed a copy editor before printing and mailing a full-color glossy postcard to his peeps.

The card from Denison arrived on Thursday with this keeper of a snafu:

Charlie's energy and skills afford the voter of the 135th a formable representative. He goes the extra mile for his consituents.

Yes, he did. "Formable" and "consituents." A regular laff riot, that Charlie.

I SEE BAD DRIVERS

"The Sixth Sense" actor Haley Joel Osment is in the hospital after a Thursday morning crash in Los Angeles. The Associated Press reports:

Osment was driving a 1995 Saturn about 1 a.m. when the car collided with a brick pillar and flipped, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Greg Sisneros.

The 18-year-old actor was awake and talking following the crash, Sisneros said. He had been alone in the car and was taken to Huntington Hospital in nearby Pasadena.

Sisneros had no information on his condition, and an emergency-room receptionist said no one under that name was at the hospital.

Nice driving, Cole Sear.

DANIEL BALDWIN INJURED IN CRASH

The actor, a brother of better-known Alec Baldwin, suffered back and neck injuries. He faces possible driving under the influence charges following the Wednesday crash in Los Angeles. Reuters reports:

Baldwin, 45, smashed his silver Ford Thunderbird into two parked cars after an officer saw him driving at more than 80 mph and weaving through traffic on bustling Bundy Drive on the city's west side, Los Angeles police spokesman Jason Lee said.

"The officer tried to catch up to the Thunderbird, lost sight of it momentarily and came up to a traffic collision where the T-bird had crashed into two parked vehicles," Lee said. "The Thunderbird pushed one of the vehicles about 20 feet , and that was a Hummer," Lee said.

Baldwin was taken to UCLA Medical Center after complaining of back and neck injuries, Lee said, and would be detained on suspicion of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

Lee said Baldwin could also face charges of driving under the influence if he were found to be intoxicated. There were no other injuries reported and Baldwin's female passenger, who was not identified by police, was not charged.

Baldwin, who has appeared in a number of television series including "Homicide: Life on the Street," is a member of an acting clan that also includes brothers Alec, Stephen and William Baldwin.

Nearsighted God mistakes Daniel for Alec?

BATHING IN SWEAT

At 10 p.m. Tuesday, the temperature at the airport was 90 degrees. The heat index was 99.

No relief in sight. Another peak energy use day at City Utilities, according to spokesman Ern DeCamp:

CU electric customers used 789 megawatts during the hour ending at 5 p.m., exceeding the mark set just 24 hours earlier.

There have not been any special operational events during the current hot spell.

CU urges customers with central air conditioning to keep the thermostat at 78 degrees or at their own comfort level. While there is adequate power, the electric system is heavily loaded.

Last year, CU customers used 760 megawatts on July 22. A record then, easily broken in this heatwave. Be safe.

MUGGED

Local bloggers meet Tuesday night at Patton Alley Pub. Tony Messenger, editorial-page editor of the News-Leader, shows up with mugs. Big-ass mugs, matter of fact. Delightful.

From this day to the ending of the world, we in it shall be remembered -- we few, we happy few, we band of bloggers.

Armed with mugs, so beware.

APPLE TO OFFER MOVIE RENTALS?

The company known for its iPod and digital music (and TV) downloads may announce next month a way to download rented movies. Or so says Think Secret, a Mac rumor site:

Apple is said to have ironed out agreements with Walt Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros., and is currently in talks with other major movie studios as well. It's unknown to what extent content will be available come the August 7 announcement, or whether Apple will announce all of its studio deals at that time.

Because the movies will be rented to consumers and not sold, people familiar with the situation report downloads will be coded with a date stamp that will restrict playback. It is not known exactly how the coding system will work, but industry experts tell Think Secret that the software would likely either limit the number of playbacks or provide unlimited viewing for a period of time, after which the movie will be "turned off" and no longer available.

Watching movies on an iPod screen? Seems a little ... little to us.

KY3, MEET THE FREEPERS

KYTV's political blog has been flagged by the Freepers, that fun-lovin' group of conservatives. A message posted on the Missouri section of Free Republic has this comment from BoBToMatoE:

Hey guys.

Normally I dont rattle the sabers or make a special call for action. KY3, though, has created a political blog recently.

So what?

KY3 is usually balanced in its coverage. However, since hiring a new political reporter things took a sharp left turn. They are openly schilling for Democrats which could make a difference in the election.

I would ask for people to check the blog out and if you feel like it, drop an apporpriate note in the right threads.

You will need to log in using a blogger account in order to respond. The address is ky3.blogspot.com

Hmm ... could BoBToMatoE also be bobicus tomatocus, an especially persistent reader who enjoys posting right-wing comments?

MICKEY SPILLANE, 88

Brother Richard and JJ bring out your dead news and get the point. The Associated Press reports:

Mickey Spillane, the macho mystery writer who wowed millions of readers with the shoot-‘em-up sex and violence of gumshoe Mike Hammer, died Monday. He was 88.

Spillane’s death was confirmed by Brad Stephens of Goldfinch Funeral Home in his hometown of Murrells Inlet, S.C. Details about his death were not immediately available.

After starting out in comic books Spillane wrote his first Mike Hammer novel, "I, the Jury," in 1946. Twelve more followed, with sales topping 100 million. Notable titles included "The Killing Man," "The Girl Hunters" and "One Lonely Night."

"I have no fans," Spillane once said. "You know what I got? Customers."

TIME WARP NEWS

Haven't we already lived these events?

A big earthquake sends a tsunami crashing into a resort. This one's on Java island in Indonesia:

People fled to a local hill to escape the wave on Pangandaran beach in west Java, a woman who identified herself only as Teti told el-Shinta radio station.

"All the houses are destroyed along the beach," she said, adding that she saw at least three corpses laying amid the debris. "Small hotels are completely destroyed and at least one restaurant was washed away."

The tsunami followed a 7.2-magnitude quake that struck deep beneath the Indian Ocean 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Java's western coast at 3:24 p.m. (0824 GMT), causing tall buildings to sway as far off as the capital Jakarta.

It was followed by a 6.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later.

In Afghanistan, democracy has taken root and created familiar mutant fruit. According to the Telegraph in Belfast:

The Afghan government has alarmed human rights groups by approving a plan to reintroduce a Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the body which the Taliban used to enforce its extreme religious doctrine.

The proposal, which came from the country’s Ulema council of clerics, has been passed by the cabinet of President Hamid Karzai and will now go before the Afghan parliament.

Well, that military adventure was certainly worth it, no?

President Bush had no comment on Afghanistan. He did, however, have something to say about Israel's battles with Hamas and Hezbollah:

Bush expressed his frustration with the United Nations and his disgust with the militant Islamic group and its backers in Syria as he talked to British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the closing lunch at the Group of Eight summit.

"See the irony is that what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this s--- and it's over," Bush told Blair as he chewed on a buttered roll.

What they need to do. The identity of "they" remained unclear on Monday. At least that's what they said.

DON'T FORGET TO WAX

We got the "always wear clean underwear" mantra from Mom. Police in Suffolk, England, have taken it another step with a new public service campaign aimed at making sure pub-crawling women "wear nice pants" so they won't show their privates if they're falling-down drunk.

Reuters explains:

A Suffolk police safety campaign magazine shows pictures of young women slumped on the ground next to messages urging them: "If you've got it, don't flaunt it".

"If you fall over or pass out, remember your skirt or dress may ride up," the magazine says. "You could show off more than you intended -- for all our sakes, please make sure you're wearing nice pants and that you've recently had a wax."

Readers are also told to stick with friends, book a taxi home and watch the amount they drink.

Police said the Safe! magazine's gossipy, tongue-in-cheek style was designed to alert young women to the dangers they could face if they get drunk during a night out.

The cops in Suffolk must not read Hair To Stay magazine. Hey, do your own Googling to find the NSFW site.

MONEY BEHIND THE CANDIDATES

Political watchers are spending the weekend poring over campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, trying to suss out trends that may mean something this fall.

The report that will get the least amount of media attention is also the report that delivers the most juice. The 7th District Congressional Republican Committee is quietly raising a mammoth amount of money -- precisely $100,000 in the last quarter, giving the committee total receipts of $544,521 this election cycle.

The committee has $374,270 cash on hand.

The report is worth your time because it shows how much special interests want to play a role in deciding who represents us. Examples:

•BellSouth Corporation in Shawnee Mission, Kan., contributed $25,000.

•AT&T in Washington, D.C., kicked in another $25k.

•Peabody Investments in St. Louis and Union Pacific Corp. in D.C. are also listed as $25,000 contributors.

Remember this committee as political races go full-bore in October. Republican candidates will be flush with money. Now you know where it'll come from.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Springfield City Manager Bob Cumley wants the News-Leader to publish a lengthy criticism of the paper's Monday editorial, entitled "City's secrecy patterns troubling."

Cumley's response to the editorial was sent to city employees on Friday. The city manager said he sent it out "so everyone knows that I disagree with the assertions contained in the editorial."

Here 'tis, in its entirety:

The City of Springfield prides itself on providing open and honest communication with citizens. We routinely fulfill thousands of requests for information annually from both media and citizens. In 2005, 89 of those requests were filed under the Missouri Sunshine Law. Just three of those requests were denied as closed records.

Monday’s editorial ("City Secrecy Patterns Troubling") takes issue with three isolated and unrelated circumstances in which the News-Leader did not immediately receive information it requested. To then extrapolate that as a "pattern of secrecy" is a patently unfair characterization of the way we operate.

Our citizens deserve to know the facts of each situation.

One situation involved a request for police reports in connection with the death of a 13-year-old boy. Juvenile records are closed under state law, not city ordinance. This matter involves an ongoing investigation regarding the circumstances of the death. The News-Leader was provided some "incident report" information about the immediate facts and circumstances of the incident, but was not provided other details related to the investigation, consistent with the juvenile and Sunshine Law statutes. The News-Leader then filed a Sunshine Law request with an unverified "authorization" to release records. The City Attorney’s office recommended that the News-Leader file a "friendly" lawsuit and ask a judge to determine whether the record can be released. It has done so, and the City will promptly respond to the judge’s decision. We don’t believe it serves the taxpayers’ interests to invite lawsuits by knowingly releasing a juvenile record we believe to be closed.

The second situation involved release of a Health Department report regarding an alleged attack on a dog by a dog owned by a member of City Council. In this case, when the request was made the next day, the animal control officer had not yet filed the report. The officers had responded to about 60 calls on that particular day and had to transcribe hand-written notes into incident reports. These very busy officers are routinely allowed several days to complete reports. A supervisor transcribed this report in order to comply with this request for information. In addition, the older records related to this animal were reviewed for release, which is standard practice for records subject to court proceedings. The Sunshine Law grants three days to respond to requests and the City provided the records within that period.

The third situation is the most upsetting to us for a number of reasons. The News-Leader is requesting the name of the employee who was terminated in connection with the investigation into missing funds in the Municipal Court. This employee was terminated under an administrative action. The City Merit Rules include a number of reasons for which employees may be terminated through a progressive disciplinary process. Many of those causes involve no violations of the law. In this situation, the termination was not part of the separate criminal investigation and was not based on a violation of law.

City employees are well aware upon hiring that working for government involves sacrificing their privacy – anyone can learn our salaries, for instance. However, we strongly believe that even public employees are entitled to due process, including this person. We also believe that discipline should be applied in a fair and consistent manner. We do not routinely release records of administrative disciplinary procedures, even terminations. We believe we struck a reasonable balance in this case by releasing the fact that an employee was terminated and is no longer on the City payroll, while still respecting the rights of this individual, who, so far, remains innocent until proven otherwise. (As far as the editorial’s assertion that not naming the terminated employee puts all of the court employees under suspicion, if they are still working there, then they haven’t been the one terminated.)

As City employees, we are sickened by the fact that funds are missing and this investigation is even necessary, but the Sunshine Law makes a clear exception for protecting individual personnel records and the City makes no apologies for its refusal to divulge the name of the employee. If and when the criminal investigation warrants any charges in this case, the name of the individual will become public.

As City Manager, I have apologized to City Council and certainly apologize to the public. This is a violation of the public trust and we have pledged to prosecute any charges aggressively and seek all available restitution. The last thing we want is to hamper this investigation by releasing information sure to be challenged by attorneys.

In a democracy governed by laws, there are bound to be multiple interpretations of complex statutes like the Sunshine Law. On occasion, reasonable people may agree to disagree. These events represent a coincidence of timing, not a breakdown of the public trust. To use these three situations to discredit City employees and our overwhelmingly positive track record of openness and responsiveness is simply irresponsible and unjustified.

Cumley told city employees that his response will either run on Sunday or Wednesday, "when more space is available" in the newspaper.

MAKING A KILLING OFF GARY GILMORE

Gary Gilmore has been dead for 29 years, but he's still got the money mojo going. The murderer whose 1977 execution restarted the use of the death penalty in the United States is back in the news, this time because of the gun he used to kill two people. The Associated Press says a bail bondsman, Dennis Stilson, is selling the gun on a "murder collectibles auction site." Minimum bid is $1 million.

You can looksee the gun here, at GilmoreGun. We'll choose to remember Gilmore with the very special Christmas song from a 1976 episode of "Saturday Night Live."

In the meadow, we can build a snowman
One with Gary Gilmore packed inside
We'll say "Are you dead yet?" He'll say "No, man"
But we'll wait out the frostbite till he dies ...

PETE COORS BUSTED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING

How many Coors do you have to drink to get drunk?

The Denver Post has this belated write-up:

A Colorado State Patrol trooper pulled Coors over after he saw him run a stop sign around the corner from his home in Golden about 11:25 p.m. on May 28.

Coors stopped in his driveway and consented to take a Breathalyzer test. He registered a .088, which is slightly above the .08 legal blood-alcohol limit in Colorado.

He was driving a 2004 green Jaguar, court records show.

Coors spokeswoman Kabira Hatland said the 59-year-old was coming home from a friend's wedding in Denver.

"I made a mistake by driving myself home after a friend's wedding celebration," Coors said in a written statement, shortly after news of his arrest was first reported on DenverPost.com. "I should have planned ahead for a ride. For years I've advocated the responsible use of our Company's products. That's still my message, and our Company's message, and it's the right message. I am sorry that I didn't follow it myself."

Coors was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and registering a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit. He was also cited for running the stop sign.

Coors, a former candidate for U.S. Senate, is due in court next week.

RED BUTTONS, 87

Just in from CNN. No more hanging from the church steeple in "The Longest Day." JJ gets the point with a 2:20 p.m. grab.

Added at 4:35 p.m. In the Truth Stranger Than Fiction Department: Buttons was the question to an answer on "Jeopardy" on Thursday. The answer -- "His film credits include 'Hatari' and 'The Poseidon Adventure'" -- was in the ironic category, Better Red.

MOM BECOMES BABY FACTORY

Angela Magdaleno had triplets via in vitro fertilization. That was three years ago.

This month she gave birth to quadruplets. No in vitro, no fertility drugs. All natural.

Naturally, she is a bit shocked and stunned. The Associated Press reports:

The latest additions -- two girls and two boys -- were doing well Wednesday, while their mother, resting at home, said: "I'm happy because they're healthy and so am I."

Still, Magdaleno, 40, worried she might be overwhelmed with the work and sometimes struggles with mixed emotions about the future.

"I don't know if I'm sad or happy," she said. "I'm happy but, I don't know. I don't know how to explain it."

Her husband, Afredo Anzaldo, perhaps put it best. When Magdaleno found out she was pregnant was quadruplets, Anzaldo said, "she wanted to run."

Angela Magdaleno now has nine children in all.

GOVERNOR'S CHIEF MAY LEAVE FOR MSU

The chief of staff for Gov. Matt Blunt is a finalist for a vice president's job at Missouri State University. Fired Up Missouri had a brief post on Wednesday; Steve Koehler of the News-Leader has this fleshed-out account:

Ken McClure, chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt and former City Utilities executive, is a finalist for an administrative position at Missouri State University.

President Mike Nietzel confirmed that McClure is one of four remaining candidates for associate vice president for administration. Nietzel said a decision on who gets the job will be made within 10 days.

The university is searching for a replacement for Fred Marty, who retired from the post in March.

McClure was not available for comment or to ask if he applied for the job, why he applied or if he was asked to apply.

Jessica Robinson, speaking for McClure, said McClure "was not looking to leave (Blunt’s administration). It is not about leaving. there’s no guarantee he’ll get the job."

The Missouri Blue Book lists Marty’s salary at $98,838. McClure’s salary is listed at $112,356.

McClure joined the Blunt staff in 2004 after leading the governor’s transition staff.

He is former chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission, a past deputy director in the Department of Economic Development and former staff member for the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Interesting.

BEST NEWS-LEADER STORY

Dunno how long the link will last, but here's the story, in its entirety:

This is thebody text in paragraph one here.

This is the body textin paragraph two here.

This is the body text in paragraph three here.

Best of Gannett, or potential Pulitzer? You decide.

BLUNT SIGNS FREE-FOR-ALL CAMPAIGN BILL

Gov. Matt Blunt on Wednesday signed House Bill 1900, an especially odious piece of legislation that eliminates all limits on campaign contributions.

Blunt's office issued a news release touting the signing, despite the fact that limits on campaign contributions were approved by Missouri voters in 1994 by an overwhelming margin.

Blunt's office called it a "strong ethics reform bill." How rich:

"This legislation came to my desk with strong bipartisan support from both chambers because state lawmakers, like me and many Missourians knew that the old system simply was not working," Blunt said. "The changes I am enacting today will shed light on the true sources of campaign contributions and the actions of lobbyists who work to shape public policy. This is a strong step in the right direction that empowers the people with greater information about the men and women who seek to serve them in public office."

House Bill 1900 includes a provision added by Sen. Tim Green (D-St. Louis) that eliminates campaign contribution limits. This measure will provide the openness many Missourians have called for to determine the source of campaign contributions and eliminates financial contributions from political parties and local committees. The United States Supreme Court declared campaign finance limits to be unconstitutional.

Randy Turner @ The Turner Report has a good write-up on the bill's specifics.