This Just In ...

Week-ends (06/20/09)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 20, 2009

Week-ends

A  look back at the people and events that made news the past week.
Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...


HEROES OF THE WEEK


Pixar


David Rohde


Jennifer and Nathan Williams


Franklin's own Frank Ruebl


My good friend, Jim Hughes




On Monday, June 15, the Franklin Sabers won their 700th baseball game under the guidance of Coach Jim Hughes. The Franklin School District would like to congratulate Coach Hughes for his long running success as the Franklin Sabers Baseball coach and thank him for his years of dedication. Photo: Tanya Ruder, Franklin Public Schools


Emma Dausman and Judy Conner


Gertrude Frishman Brog


Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK


State Senate Democrats who voted for a bloated, tax and spend state budget jammed with pork and policy.


The NEA


Thomas Parkin



QUOTES OF THE WEEK


"I'll be honest, there are countries where a single-payer system works pretty well."
President Obama in a speech to the American Medical Association.


"I have done my wife and family a great wrong, and I profoundly regret the hurt I have inflicted on them and others affected by my conduct. I accept the personal and public consequences of my private behavior. I have damaged my public reputation and violated the trust and love of my family. The people in my personal and professional life who needed to know the painful truth, know it and I have apologized to them. This is a personal matter that occurred in my private, off-duty time. I will continue to devote myself to making Milwaukee a better place. I hope that the people of this city who so warmly welcomed me can eventually forgive me."
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn about his affair with local journalist/professor Jessica McBride.


“It is because the relationship with Police Chief Flynn has unfortunately become public that this statement is released. This was a deeply personal matter between two adults who have addressed the relationship with those who need to know the details. I am grateful to my family, friends and the many other people who have expressed kindness and support. It is truly humbling. The romantic relationship did not occur until long after the reporting and editing of the magazine article on Chief Flynn. I completed and turned in the Milwaukee Magazine story on Chief Flynn on Jan. 5, 2009 and a final edit was turned in Feb. 16. The story was in mailboxes in mid-April. At that point, my professional relationship with him had ended.

The romantic relationship with Chief Flynn began in May at Brocach’s Irish pub – four months after I completed and turned in the Milwaukee Magazine article. Contrary to a media report, I never interviewed Chief Flynn at Brocach’s. Prior to my May social meeting with him at Brocach’s, I only met with and interviewed Chief Flynn once in December 2008 at the police department with other officers and the public information spokeswoman for MPD present. At the time of the Brocach’s meeting in May, I was an academic who no longer covered Flynn and would not ever do so again.

I ask that the media now respect the privacy of all of the parties involved.”
Jessica McBride, in a statement about her affair with Flynn.


"Police Chief Flynn is a very effective chief who has done an excellent job working to make Milwaukee a safer city."
A spokeswoman for Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett.


“It's nuts. This is silly. It's a complete, huge mistake. People will invest, they just won't do it here.
State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) during state Senate debate on the state budget. Kanavas spoke against the provision that makes capital gains 100% taxable. The budget was approved by the Senate, 17-16.


“We think we put together a pretty good progressive budget for the state of Wisconsin and working families.”
State Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston).


“You know there's no pass to be asked for and there's no pass to be given. We all are individual senators representing individual communities. This was not right for my district, and I communicated that to my colleagues.”
State Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) denying that his caucus had given him a pass to vote “no” on the state budget. Sullivan is the subject of a recall and faces a tough re-election in 2010.


“I’ve got $500,000 coming to my district. I could say, ‘OK’ and take it, but we’re in unprecedented times.”
State Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), blasting pork projects in the state budget.


“It might be more appropriate to compare the budget process to Rush Week in the movie ‘Animal House.’ Assembly Republicans were black-balled from the fraternity party, and Wisconsin taxpayers were subjected to hazing in the form of tax and fee increases.”
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker on the state budget process.


"No one realized how bad the economy was. The projections, in fact, turned out to be worse. But we took the mainstream model as to what we thought -- and everyone else thought -- the unemployment rate would be. Everyone guessed wrong at the time the estimate was made about what the state of the economy was at the moment this was passed."
Vice President Joe Biden on NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday.



OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK


Public safety officers in Indiana injured in the line of duty are missing out on tens of thousands of dollars because of mistakes made on their pension checks. Makes one wonder how widespread this problem really is.



MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK


The media loves lists. One would think a listing of some of the most wasteful stimulus projects would get more attention.



MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK


Flynn-McBride.



STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK


The cow fart tax.


This item from today's Barking Lot.


Men-only train cars used by Tokyo women to get away from gropers.


The uncaped crusader.


MURDER IN THE WHITE HOUSE!


REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.