I had a cover story on Tuesday’s edition of the Patriot-News about a Muslim airline pilot who says he was unfairly placed on a federal watch list, costing him his job.
Yesterday, CNN.com picked up on the story – even featured it on the front of its Web site, as seen above – without any love for your boy Chris Wink, or even the Patriot-News. What gives?
Front-page story for the Patriot-News:
This isn’t about lowering the drinking age. That’s what Dickinson College President William Durden will tell you.
This is about watching parents follow their freshman sons and daughters into dormitories with beer in tow.
“We have a societal problem towards the attitude of alcohol that we have to fix,” Durden said. “It’s not just have a drink. It’s drink until you’re unconscious.”
More than 100 other college presidents agree. They’ve formed a group, numbering 123 at last count and growing, that has come together to encourage a public dialogue about altering the country’s drinking laws.
The Amethyst Initiative is a petition of sorts. These college chief executives say the current drinking age isn’t working and is creating a dangerous culture of intoxication on college campuses… More.
See the rest on PennLive.com. See the front-page placement at Newseum.
*Addition amended (9/5/08, 7 P.M.)
PEOPLE ON TV ARE OFTEN VILIFIED, criticized and laughed at by others. I have been known on occasion to do the same, considering most less than those in the print news tradition I so admire. As penance, after the jump, in no particular order, are the 10 people on TV I like most.
This on Page One of today’s Patriot-News:
Erich Scherfen developed a love for flying early. Growing up in New Jersey, he would play outside and watch airplanes fly toward John F. Kennedy Airport.
After military service, he became a commercial airline pilot. Today, the Gulf War veteran is fighting to keep his professional life in the clouds.
He was suspended without pay in April after being placed on a federal watch list.
“My livelihood depends on getting off this list,” Sherfen said.
On behalf of Scherfen and his wife, Rubina Tareen, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and attorney Saul Ewing filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday claiming the federal government unfairly placed the Schuylkill County couple on a government list that limits their commercial flight access.
The suit hopes to answer two questions, lawyers said: Why would a couple with no criminal background or ties to terrorism be put on such a list, and how do they get removed? More…
See the rest on PennLive.com. See today’s front page on Newseum.com. See the breaking Web brief I wrote right after a press conference yesterday.
This Web brief for the Patriot-News, officially filed one minute after Associated Press Harrisburg correspondent, PLCA president, and Pennsylvania Capitol legend Peter Jackson filed his own to the wire:
A Gulf War veteran and his wife say they’ve been unfairly placed on a federal list that limits their commercial flight access. To fight back, the Muslim couple filed a lawsuit against a host of U.S. government agencies on Tuesday.
“We don’t know why they’re on the list. They don’t know why they’re on the list. The government won’t tell us why they’re on the list,” said Amy Foerster, an attorney with Saul Ewing who is providing pro bono counsel and working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the Schuylkill County couple on the case, which was filed in U.S. district court. More…
See the rest on PennLive.com. Full story tomorrow.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Boydston.
A Q&A session for the Allentown Morning Call, posted last week on Capitol Ideas, the state government blog by John L. Micek.
Name: Rob Green
Position: Reading Clerk, 1994; Assistant Director of Pages, 2006
Education: Alvernia College, Communications, 1990
Q: What are your favorite parts of the job?
A: My favorite part is when they’re going at it and they’re really getting into the debate. I don’t mind staying late mostly because that’s when the action is. You get to see things first hand. You pay attention more. I didn’t have a lot of government classes in college – they were all early [laughs]. But in this job, you see things happen so closely and get to know the personalities.
Q: What is your least favorite part?
A: Well, [laughs] I guess … No. No least favorite. … Oh, I know… I don’t like when I have to read the long resolutions, like when someone retires. You usually get them cold, and they’re always long, so it gives you more of a chance to screw up.
On July 3, I finally succumbed and joined the movement that is Facebook. Six weeks later, I have 400 “friends” – yeah I am that popular.
But, from when I first started thinking of giving into the social networking movement back in March, I took the decision way too seriously – wanting it to benefit me professionally, rather than become a waste of time. I wanted to improve my name searchability online – so employers, friends and stalkers can find the right Christopher Wink.
Continue reading I have 400 Facebook friends: What I've learned
A recent post on Capitol Ideas, the popular state government blog by Morning Call reporter John L. Micek.
Behold The Power Of Wind.
The wind turbine near the Exposition Center on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex has been blowing for nearly two years, but with interest in energy conservation growing, its popularity may have never been higher.
“It serves as an example of this emerging technology,” said Patrick Kerwin, the executive director of the Farm Show Complex. “It’s a demonstration project to show that wind does produce real electricity and work well.” More…
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Read the rest on Capitol Ideas.
A brief in Friday’s Patriot-News:
A group of local state Republican lawmakers accused the Rendell administration of attempting to spin the Commonwealth Court ruling on furloughing state workers during a budget impasse.
Wednesday’s ruling by Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt said when a budget impasse extends past the July 1 deadline, the governor can choose between furloughing state workers or requiring them to work without pay until a spending plan is passed.
The statement issued Thursday by Reps. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, Jerry Nailor, R-Cumberland, Mark Keller, R-Franklin, and Glen Grell, R-Cumberland, said the ruling is not a vindication of Gov. Ed Rendell’s decision to furlough state workers if the budget is delayed… More.
Brief in tomorrow’s Patriot-News. Photo courtesy of PennLive.com
This for the Harrisburg Patriot-News, in today’s edition.
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spelled out the Keystone State’s importance for Barack Obama during a stop in Harrisburg on Friday.
“We must win Pennsylvania,” Dean said at SciTech High. “Pennsylvania is very important to us. … Only you can win it.”
Dean spoke before about 200 supporters, who broke out in chants for Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Dean’s comments about Pennsylvania’s importance for Obama aren’t an exaggeration, said Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College.
“As much as party chairs are noted for their hyperbole, this time Howard Dean is absolutely accurate,” Borick said.
“Obama is successfully opening doors in states like Colorado, Nevada and, to a lesser extent, New Mexico,” Borick said. “But all that would be washed away if he is not able to win Pennsylvania.” More.
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This clip featured in today’s Patriot-News. I filed a Web brief right after the event. Photo from Wikimedia.
