This Just In...

I blogged this week that the Missouri Legislature may give voters the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would require proof of citzienship in order to register to vote.

The MIssouri legislative session ended Friday.

Here's what happened.

This past week marked the 10^th anniversary of the death of Frank Sinatra.

In my opinion, it’s disheartening that the milestone didn’t get more attention.

However, it is very encouraging that because of his legend and great body of work, there are stars of today and future up and comers that will strive to keep the man and his music alive.

As many of you know, I fill in often for talk show hosts at Newstalk 1130 WISN.

The station is observing Saturday, Armed Forces Day by holding a collection drive at the War Memorial for much-needed items for our troops.

Please consider and be generous if you can.

Thank you!

The Paralyzed Veterans of America says on its website:


“Our country is grateful to our nation’s military service members, both active duty and veterans, for their dedication, courage, accomplishments and sacrifices to protect our everyday freedoms. We salute our nation’s military service members for their service to our country and have designed resources to allow you to honor and support them. Spread the word within your communities.”


The PVA offers you a chance to send a free e-card to a veteran or service member.

Saturday is Armed Forces Day.

What a great idea to sacrifice just a few minutes to send a message to a fine American to say thank you and brighten his/her day.

WATCH THIS PSA:  HIGH

It's our weekly installment of Week-ends.

Is this guy....




A hero of the week?

A villain of the week?


Or something else?


And you're going to have to be pretty smart to be up for wife Jennifer's edition of The Barking Lot, Saturday on This Just In....

The panelists will discuss these topics tonight on InterCHANGE on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10 at 6:30 (the show is repeated Sunday morning at 11:00):

Philanthropist Joe Zilber’s gift of fifty million dollars over the next ten years to a handful of yet to be determined poor Milwaukee neighborhoods, unsolved murders in Madison, and the state budget repair bill.

I will be joined on the panel by regulars Gerard Randall and Joel McNally.

Kathleen Dunn of Wisconsin Public Radio, who like yours truly was one of the original panelists over 11 years ago has decided to take some time off from the program and may return at a later date.

The Franklin Common Council did NOT take any vote during closed session at its March 18, 2008 Common Council meeting pertaining to the 27^th Street Corridor, and that includes the name “Boomgaard District.” (See G-14 on Page 4)

I discovered that information today during a teleconference with Franklin City Attorney Jesse Wesolowski and Franklin Alderman Steve Olson, both of whom were behind closed doors during that closed session.

Wesolowski told me during the teleconference that because he represents the Franklin Common Council, he could not violate attorney/client confidentiality. However, he said that any Common Council member who wished to discuss what happened in closed session could do so.

“I think he (Kevin) wants to know if a vote was taken,” Wesolowski said to Olson.

Olson replied immediately that he had no trouble answering that question.

“No vote was ever taken,” said Olson on "Boomgaard" or anything else.

Olson also told me that he has known Wesolowski since 1991 and he has never known Wesolowski, whom he called a “stickler,” to ever violate the Open Meetings Law.

This is why the nickname could be referred back to the Steering Committee for further study so easily. There was no vote by the Franklin Common Council to officially reconsider.

I believe City Attorney Wesolowski and Alderman Olson.

Erroneous blogs, fueled once again by unsubstantiated rumor and opinion rather than fact on this “vote” of which there is no record of ever taking place have led to other erroneous discussions in reader forums and on talk radio. Stirring up controversy just to prop oneself up and accumulate blog hits is irresponsible.

Believing earlier blogs to be true, I did post in a few of my entries that the Franklin Common Council voted in support of the name, “Boomgaard.” This information is not true. I regret that I wrote it in some of my blogs on this topic and retract those statements and encourage other bloggers to do the same.

I also believe the Franklin Common Council is on solid ground having gone into closed session.

Please direct your attention to Page 18 of the “Wisconsin Open Records Law Compliance Guide” written last year by Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. Look at #4 under the section, “When is it permissible to convene into closed session?”

Let’s review:

The Franklin Common Council, I believe went into closed session legally on March 18, 2008 to discuss the 27^th Street Corridor.

NO, I repeat, NO vote was taken on the name “Boomgaard” or any other matter.

Thus, there was no violation of the Open Meetings Law.

The fact that no vote was taken allowed the "Boomgaard" matter to be referred back to committee.

Once again, someone tried to pass off wild speculation as fact on these blogs. It turned out to be false, leading me to wonder what other opinions that we've been fed are inaccurate. I doubt we’ll get an apology or retraction from that individual.

This doesn’t change my position that has been mischaracterized so I’ll repeat it once more. I don’t like the name “Boomgaard” and the public should have been given an opportunity to be involved in the naming process, an invitation they would have accepted with great enthusiasm.

However, there is no justification to continue to report that the Franklin Common Council voted in closed session to support the name “Boomgaard,” and in doing so, violated the Open Meetings Law.

They did no such thing.

That’s a fact, something I hope to read more of in future blogs on this topic.

The eyes of voter ID supporters and opponents are on the state of Missouri this week. On this issue, legislators in the appropriately nicknamed “Show Me State” reportedly will support a constitutional amendment on voter ID.

This amendment would be even tougher than Indiana’s strict photo ID requirement that was recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. If the Missouri Legislature approves this constitutional amendment, and voters statewide approve it in a referendum in August, Missouri voters will be required to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Arizona is the only state to have such a requirement, but the New York Times reports 19 states are considering the idea, due to the rising concern over illegal immigrants attempting to cast ballots.

The Missouri House has already approved the amendment. The Senate must approve the amendment before the session ends Friday in order for the measure to go to voters in August. If the measure fails this week, there are reports the governor may call a special session of the Legislature to work on the amendment.

Read more in the New York Times.  

So, those of you who fell for this.......how did that gas boycott work out?

Have you ever had foie gras? 

A French delicacy, foie gras is duck liver.

Gourmets love it.

A lot of people my age I’ll bet would love to go back and relive their college experience.

I remember my college days at UWM as not being very provocative or exotic.

They’re not supposed to be after all.

Part of the time, I worked at WUWM where I did a lot of reporting/anchoring on serious, controversial stories. Those days were spent in the spartan station facilities in the basement of the Fine Arts Building on campus, a far cry from the state of the art studios the station enjoys today.

I recall economics classes in Bolton’s large lecture hall, with all 500 seats filled.

And other classes in non-descript typical college classrooms in typical college buildings like Chapman, Cunningham, Enderis, and Curtin Hall’s.

Never did I have an experience like students at Randolph College in Virginia.

Last month, I named the school as one of my VILLAINS OF THE WEEK in one of my Week-ends blogs. Here’s why.

That’s not a course parents should waste their kids’ tuition on.

I would, however, have been in a mad dash to register for a class a friend of mine in Las Vegas told me about.

But, let’s be real. This would never be a course offering at UWM.

Here's the update.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Mark Borkowski, whose district includes part of Franklin, holds a Town Hall meeting Thursday, May 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Greenfield High School Auditorium at 60^th and Layton.

But it’s true.

Ten years ago today, we lost a legend, Francis Albert Sinatra.

Recently, USA Weekend paid tribute.

The Wall Street Journal chimes in, as does the USA TODAY.

The LA Times reports the anniversary is big business.

Enjoy the Chairman of the Board.

It seems despite the rough economy, Wal-Mart is doing just fine thank you, enjoying 1^st quarter profits.

You mean to tell me that when the economy is struggling, that consumers starved for deals and bargains will turn to….GASP!!!!!......Wal-Mart………….. to save some of their hard-earned money?????

Of course they will because more money in their wallets is more important than how many trees or bike stands Wal-Mart has put up.

Now this news drives the Wal-Mart haters (primarily liberals) nutso since they are repulsed by a large corporation that creates jobs and economic development actually making money. Forget the fact that people enjoy shopping at Wal-Mart and benefit from the experience. Wal-Mart is evil!

Apparently not.

The 2008 version of George Petak?

Yes, first he loved the name, "Boomgaard."

Now, a la  Bill Clinton, with finger in the air to gauge the wind, and USA TODAY in hand to read the latest polls, he' s suddenly opposed,

Thanks to Franklin Alderman Steve Olson, every single Franklin blogger, including those who are suddenly tripping over each other to champion open government, were informed about the details of today's 27th Street Corridor Steering Committee meeting at Oak Creek City Hall.

Not good enough, some wrote.

It was set to begin at 4:00 p.m.

How can anybody get to these meetings, for pete's sake!

Well........at least two bloggers did.

Hmmmm......

I've been blessed to meet many wonderful people in my career.

One of the nicest, most decent individuals I've had the extreme pleasure to know and work with is Robb Edwards. He and his lovely wife, Vicki have been dear friends for many years.

I am deeply saddened to learn that my former colleague at WTMJ suffered a heart attack today and will be undergoing bypass surgery.

Robb, who is the public address announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park is a great guy with so many supportive friends in his corner pulling for him.

His pleasant voice and dedication to his trade have pleased millions of listeners in his tremendous career.

God bless you, my good friend and a speedy recovery so you can return where you belong....behind a microphone, bringing smiles to everyone who hears you.