The TV show, “American Idol,” was taken to task by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, 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≠”
Disaster plan hidden for safe keeping
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, a Republican, 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, a Democrat, where the document was hidden.
An open door policy — even in flight
If riding in a high-speed sports utility vehicle without a seat belt isn’t scary enough, consider Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ 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
Republican governor said he chalked it up to his “open-door policy,” the Indianapolis Star reports.
Well, they should have known this would happen…
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.
Urning for a pet burial bill
Floridians now can go to their graves with their pets. A new law allows the “interment or entombment” of human remains with the urn of a cremated animal, The Miami Herald reports. The bill was sponsored by state Republican Sen. Jim King, who wanted to be buried with his best friend — a Labrador retriever named Valentine that died 10
years ago.
That’s the ticket
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.
Stateline.org is an independent element of the Pew Research Center and is based in Washington, DC