January 6, 2019

Warren tests anti-corruption theme to cheers in Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa – Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is introducing herself to influential Iowa Democrats by telling her personal story of economic opportunity, trying to lay claim in the emerging 2020 presidential field as a champion for a middle class she says is withering under President Donald Trump.

On her first full day as a Democratic presidential prospect in the kickoff caucus state, Warren repeatedly argued that opportunities like hers have vanished because wealthy interests have bent policy makers in Washington to their will.

“They work for the rich and the powerful and not the rest of us. It’s throughout the system,” Warren said, igniting cheers from more than 500 in a downtown event hall Saturday evening. “This is corruption, pure and simple. It is corruption and it is eating away at our democracy and every fiber of our lives.”

A leading Democrat in the Senate, Warren has made a name for herself as an advocate for consumer protection and become a regular target of Trump.

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/05/warren-tests-anti-corruption-theme-cheers-iowa/38850771/

January 6, 2019

Kid Rock's Nashville bar sign shaped like woman's butt reluctantly OK'd by Metro Council

One month after Kid Rock was forced out as grand marshal of the Nashville Christmas parade, the music star is the subject of more controversy in Metro city hall.

This time it's over a large sign planned for his recently opened Lower Broadway bar, Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse.

Why the hubbub?

The soaring 20-foot tall neon sign — not yet installed — will feature a giant guitar with some controversial attributes: The base of the instrument is intentionally shaped like a woman's buttocks.

The Metro Council late Thursday voted 27-3, with three council members abstaining, to approve the necessary aerial encroachment to allow for the construction and installation of the sign, which was produced by Nashville-based Joslin and Son Signs. Mayor David Briley signed into law the council resolution authorizing the sign on Friday.

Read more: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/01/04/kid-rock-big-ass-honky-tonk-nashville-broadway/2481791002/

January 6, 2019

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lays down ethical rules for her administration

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed six rules outlining ethical standards for public officials in her new administration Wednesday, two days after taking the oath of office.

The directives include banning employees from using private email for public business (and vice versa) and from receiving political contributions inside government buildings. They also require employees to report “irregularities” involving public money and more.

“State government must be open, transparent and accountable to Michigan taxpayers,” Whitmer said in a statement. “To continue to earn public confidence, we must set good examples and act ethically at all times.”

Executive directives are rules created by the governor that apply to state departments and agencies in the executive branch. Among other things, Whitmer’s directives (2019-2 through 2019-7):

• Prohibit non-classified state employees from accepting gifts or doing outside work that would conflict with their government duties; from engaging in “business transactions” that would benefit anyone other than the state; and from using confidential state information for personal gain.

• Requires employees to report “any irregularity or discrepancy involving public money” and directs agencies to investigate reports. It does not specify what happens if employees fail to report discrepancies.

• Directs employees to abide by campaign finance and civil service laws and bars them from receiving political contributions on state property.

• Prohibits using private email for state business or state email for private business.

• Outlines how department and agency heads should handle proposed budgetary changes and legislative proposals.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/public-sector/michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-lays-down-ethical-rules-her-administration

January 5, 2019

Gov. John Bel Edwards makes staff changes as campaign for re-election starts to gear up

Gov. John Bel Edwards has named veteran communications specialist Christina Stephens to be his new deputy chief of staff, replacing Richard Carbo, who has been with the Edwards administration since the governor took office in January 2016.

Carbo, who is expected to join Edwards' re-election campaign team, announced the move in an email on Friday.

Stephens, who has been a contributor to The Advocate's features section, starts Monday in the new role running Edwards' communications team. She previously led communications for the Louisiana Recovery Authority and Office of Community Development during the state's recovery from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.

The move is the first major shake-up in the governor's office as Edwards heads into the campaign. Edwards, a Democrat, is expected to face a tough battle, with the race listed among a top priority for Republicans nationally.

Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_f4262aec-104b-11e9-b12d-0b62561a46c4.html

January 5, 2019

'Dukes of Hazzard' star's Livingston Parish property up for sale following default, seizure

John Schneider Studios — the Livingston Parish filmmaking hub of “Dukes of Hazzard” star and country singer John Schneider — will be up for sale this month after he defaulted on his mortgage to the tune of more than $240,000.

Court records show the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office seized the 57-acre tract of land at 16050 Florida Boulevard in Holden in November as the result of a civil lawsuit between the actor and First Guaranty Bank.

The bank filed the lawsuit in October claiming that Schneider had not made his monthly payments on the property since July 28, leaving an outstanding balance at the time of filing of $242,803 in principal, interest and late fees.

Court documents do not reflect that Schneider filed a response in the case, and in November a judge ordered the sheriff to seize the land. Schneider's public relations manager, Brian Mayes, said Thursday Schneider declined to comment on the sale.

Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/livingston_tangipahoa/article_ff200b04-0f9a-11e9-9174-47573e519268.html

January 5, 2019

Toni Preckwinkle's administration hired Ald. Edward Burke's son to nearly $100K-a-year county job

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s administration hired powerful Ald. Edward Burke’s son to a nearly $100,000-a-year county job in 2014, newly released records show.

Personnel records released by the county in response to a Tribune public records request show Preckwinkle’s administration hired Edward Burke Jr. as training and exercise manager for the county’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

Preckwinkle’s ties to Burke have come under scrutiny amid the powerful alderman’s federal legal troubles and her candidacy for Chicago mayor. In the weeks since the FBI raided Burke’s City Hall and ward offices, Preckwinkle has sought to distance herself from the alderman, returning thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and saying she has had “little contact and no relationship with the alderman” despite him having hosted a fundraiser for her last January at his home.

In a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday, federal authorities alleged that Burke illegally solicited a campaign donation from an executive with a fast-food restaurant company for an unnamed politician that sources revealed was Preckwinkle. Preckwinkle’s campaign said she personally didn’t know about the donation or the alleged extortion efforts. She has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-preckwinkle-administration-hired-ed-burke-son-20190104-story.html

January 5, 2019

Indianapolis paid $30 million to solve one problem. Now, it has created another.

Would Dow AgroSciences pack up and move 1,400 jobs out of town?

Only DowDupont Inc. knows for sure, and Indianapolis is paying the company $30 million to avoid finding out.

The City-County Council in November choked down a rare retention incentive for DowDuPont, approving it by an 18-7 vote, despite a sense of bewilderment among some who supported it. The deal, as well as the urgency surrounding it, came as a surprise to many council members — even though Mayor Joe Hogsett's administration negotiated it nearly three years ago.

"It was a s--- deal," said Democrat Jared Evans, who voted for it. "It was one of those situations that I hope never comes up again. On the line was the possibility that 1,400 people were likely to lose their jobs in the coming years if we had not approved that incentive package."

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/money/2019/01/04/dowduponts-30-million-incentive-raises-new-worry-indianapolis/2151375002/

January 5, 2019

AG Nessel Asks Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy To Take Over Flint Cases

During her campaign, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel criticized the way an attorney appointed by her Republican predecessor handled the crimininal investigation into the Flint water crisis.

Now, just three days into her new role, Nessel is hoping to shake things up in a big way. This afternoon, she announced that she's asked Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to replace special counsel Todd Flood.

WDIV reports:

“I have total confidence in Prosecutor Worthy and her office,” said Nessel, “and there is no one whose opinion I value more when it comes to the complexity and importance of these cases. We are hoping to have a response from Prosecutor Worthy regarding acceptance of these cases soon.”

In a statement, the AG's office said Nessel has provided Worthy with the relevant materials related to the cases and has requested that her office take over the prosecution of the criminal cases on behalf of the Attorney General’s office, which is currently represented by private attorney Todd Flood.

Flood had been appointed to prosecute the cases by former AG Schuette due to conflicts created by the Department of Attorney General defending the state in civil cases brought by Flint residents.

Fifteen government officials have been criminally charged in connection with the Flint water crisis. Six have reached plea deals and the rest are waiting to learn whether they'll stand trial.

Read more: http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/21364/ag_nessel_asks_wayne_county_prosecutor_kym_worthy_to_take_over_flint_cases

January 5, 2019

Faulkner County won't return $350,000 to public defender's office

CONWAY, Ark.—A county in central Arkansas won't reimburse its public defender's office for more than $350,000 of funding that officials diverted to other entities over almost two decades.

Faulkner County attorney David Hogue told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the county's Quorum Court has agreed to end the practice of transferring money from the defender's office to other programs. But the court declined to reimburse any of the remaining money.

Without the funding, the 20th Judicial Circuit public defender's office doesn't have enough money to hire an investigator or a legal secretary, chief public defender Lynn Plemmons said.

The prosecuting attorney's office will return $23,500 of the defender's funding, but it's not enough to cover hiring costs.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2019/jan/04/faulkner-county-wont-return-350000-public-defenders-office/759415/

January 5, 2019

Texas state senator gives up his chairmanship after sexting probe

AUSTIN—A Texas state senator accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a University of Texas graduate student is giving up control of the chamber's powerful Health and Human Services Committee.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that Republican Charles Schwertner wrote to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, on Friday and asked to relinquish his chairmanship. Schwertner was re-elected in November.

He wrote: "I have asked not to serve in that capacity this session" to focus on district policy issues and "spend more time with my family." The legislative session begins Tuesday.

The move comes after the university closed an investigation into the matter last month, saying that Schwertner blamed the messages on someone else and wouldn't cooperate.

The messages included a nude photo with the face cropped out.

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texas/story/2019/jan/04/texas-state-senator-gives-his-chairmanship-after-sexting-probe/759584/
(no more at link)