Uncategorized

Toothless in Kentucky

By: Proxy Author for Import - May 5, 2007 12:00 am

The TV show, “American Idol,” was taken to task by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) for its depiction of poor Kentuckians in a fund-raising show for a national literacy program, according to the Columbus Dispatch . Fletcher said the show reminded him of a 2004 remark by late-night TV talk-show host Jay Leno, who joked the state should adopt the slogan: “Kentucky: Got Teeth?”

Colorado has a top secret disaster plan – so secret the governor and other top state officials don’t know the details, according to the Denver bureau of The Associated Press . Developed by former Gov. Bill Owens (R) with federal homeland security money, the plan describes how the state government will function during a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Problem is no one told newly elected Gov. Bill Ritter (D) where the document was hidden.

Psychics in Philadelphia may be seeking unemployment checks. The city invoked a decades-old Pennsylvania statute outlawing fortunetelling and shut down more than a dozen astrologers, tarot-card readers and palm readers, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Floridians now can go to their graves with their pets. A new law allows the “internment or entombment” of human remains with the urn of a cremated animal, The Miami Herald explains. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Jim King (R), who wanted to be buried with his best friend – a Labrador retriever named Valentine that died 10 years ago.

If anyone needs to know more about former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey’s (D) private affairs, his estranged wife just published her own account of their married life. The New York Daily News quotes her as calling the governor “great in the sack and a great liar.” She said she had no idea he was “a gay American” – until she read a draft of his speech a few hours before he announced on August 12, 2004 that he was stepping down. Meanwhile, McGreevey switched from his Catholic traditions to become an Episcopalian last Sunday and now wants to become a priest, according to The Star-Ledger .

Those upset over Gov. Jon Corzine’s failure to wear a seat belt the night of his car accident can relax. After leaving the hospital, the New Jersey Democrat met with the state police chief and asked for a summons. Col. Joseph R. Fuentes immediately wrote a ticket, and Corzine, a multimillionaire, paid the $46 fine with a check, according to The New York Times .

If riding in a high-speed sports utility vehicle without a seat belt isn’t scary enough, consider Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ (R) experience of flying in an aircraft when the pilot’s door flew open. Headed to Terre Haute, Ind., the pilot made a U-turn and flew back to Gary, Ind. with the co-pilot holding his door shut. Downplaying the incident, the governor said he chalked it up to his “open-door policy,” the Indianapolis Star reports.

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.