News Briefly
Execution delayed
A federal appeals court in Cincinnati last week delayed the execution of Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman, whose impending doom has captured the attention of the state. Abdur’Rahman’s original trial was so marred by an inadequate defense that many have been pushing the governor to grant him clemency. The governor himself is no doubt relieved by the court’s decision, which has the effect of delaying the inmate’s execution indefinitely and taking the governor off the hot seat.
Oh, but it had power door locks
Former Metro Police Chief Emmett Turner announced Tuesday that he would return the Jeep Cherokee he recently received from friends at his retirement party. As the Scene reported last week, the extravagant gift was bankrolled by, among others, several people who have business before the state fire marshall’s office, which Turner is now heading. As such, the gift violates Gov. Phil Bredesen’s ethics policy.
Also from the morning newspaper...
The prospects for a uranium enrichment plant in Trousdale County have taken a tumble because the expert the county hired has come out against the project. Several county commissioners had said they would vote whichever way the expert, Bill Rickman, recommended. Rickman said he had problems with the amount of time the nuclear waste would be stored at the site.
Call the rewrite department
A plan to change the name of the city’s country music festival from “Fan Fair” to the “CMA Music Festival” has left creative types scratching their heads. Where is the poetry? Meanwhile, Fan Fair organizers say attendance at the festival, which ended this weekend, was slightly off, though it saw stronger-than-expected turnout from locals. In addition to the name change, the Country Music Association (CMA) is also considering adding rock acts to the festival. Is nothing sacred?
