Wichita City Council members wanted answers today about why the United States Bowling Congress suddenly canceled its planned 2011 Open Championships in Wichita. They heard from city attorney Gary Rebenstorf about the legal sticking points on a couple of items about Century II maintenance and contract arbitration that he didn’t think were "deal breakers." They heard some good ideas from City Manager George Kolb about how to avoid such situations in the future — and they passed a resolution giving the Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau the lead in future negotiations.
But why did it take so long for the bureau and city staff to wrap up a convention contract worth $100 million in economic benefits to the city? They received the contract last June and were still working on it this spring. And when, last November, the bureau heard of complaints about the delay from the bowlers, and then an impasse developed on a couple of legalese items, why didn’t someone inform the City Council sooner about the problems? Why didn’t someone pull out all the stops to finalize the contract as quickly as possible?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Focus on the Family’s James Dobson may have some free time on Nov. 4, 2008. Having said earlier that he could not vote for John McCain "under any circumstances," Dobson now saysRudy Giuliani wouldn’t get his vote either. The problem? Giuliani’s abortion-rights record and messy personal history. So if either man gets the GOP nomination, Dobson wrote, "I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran — or if worse comes to worst — not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Jimmy Carter’s criticisms of President Bush, misinterpreted or not, apparently are mild compared with what’s in Al Gore’s new book, “The Assault On Reason.” ABC News described the book as “an assault on President Bush, 308 pages of professorially rendered, liberal red meat that shuns the cautious language employed by any politician standing to the right of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and the left of Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The name of Eric Melgren, U.S. attorney for Kansas, had not cropped up in the stories about the U.S. attorney firings — until Friday. That’s when the Washington Post reported that Melgren also was considered for replacement, included “on a Jan. 1 list that grouped a dozen prosecutors into three tiers.” The Post said that Melgren’s name and three others did not reappear on the firing lists compiled by D. Kyle Sampson, then Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ chief of staff. Jim Cross, public affairs officer for Melgren’s office, told The Eagle editorial board Monday that the office had no comment on the report. Melgren, who is based in Wichita but is U.S. attorney for all of Kansas, has held the position since March 2002.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
With New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson having formally announced his presidential candidacy Monday, perhaps his jam-packed resume will draw more notice — congressman, United Nations ambassador and energy secretary, as well as two-term governor. MSNBC’s First Read blog asked: “Has anyone realized that outside of (John) McCain, none of the Big Six actually has that much experience as they run for president in this post-Sept. 11 world?” Hillary Clinton has just begun her second Senate term. Barack Obama is still in his first. John Edwards was a one-term senator. Rudy Giuliani’s elective experience consists of two terms as a mayor. And Mitt Romney was a governor for only one term. Al Gore or Newt Gingrich, anyone?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The Greensburg tornado will give a special purpose to the Kansas Legislature’s formal adjournment, the mostly ceremonial occasion known as sine die. House and Senate leaders have called lawmakers back to Topeka Tuesday morning to pass legislation giving the State Finance Council authority to spend as needed on cleanup in Greensburg and Kiowa County between now and January, when the 2008 Legislature convenes. This is money that nobody wanted to have to spend, but essential to help these Kansans. One of the many to lose homes, of course, was House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
