In the wake of a deadly nighttime tornado that stuck Harrisburg, Illinois last February, officials are working to make the public more aware of the increased dangers of these nocturnal storms. We’ll speak with National Weather Service Meteorologist Rick Shanklin about these dangers, and how to prepare for them, today on Front Page Sunday from WKMS News.
(1.) BLANKENSHIP 2-WAY –- The so called “stand your ground” law cited in the media recently as justification for the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin is under scrutiny now. Kentucky has a similar law. Where essentially someone could use deadly force against a person who is threatening their life. To help shed more light on this law in Kentucky I’m joined by Commonwealths Attorney Mark Blankenship. He serve Calloway and Marshall Counties. Mr. Blankenship. Thanks for being here.
(2.) ABA PRESIDENT -- American Bar Association President Bill Robinson was in Murray Monday as part of Murray State’s Harry Lee Waterfield Lecture series. Robinson touched on an issue facing many states in today’s tough economic climate: finding the money to fund state courts when the money just isn’t in the budget. Shelly Baskin spoke with Robinson about court funding and what the ABA is trying to do about it.
(3.) RICK SHANKLIN 2-WAY -- When you think of a tornado, you probably picture a towering, twisting cloud formation scouring the landscape and bringing destruction, and sometimes, death. The reason you can picture it, is likely because you’ve seen one during the day. But what if it’s night, and you can’t see it? What if you’re asleep, and unaware it’s even there? Officials cite that as one of the reasons seven people died when an EF 4 tornado struck Harrisburg, Illinois February 29th. But how susceptible is our region to nighttime tornadoes in the first place, and how can we prepare for them? For some answers, we have Rick Shanklin on the line. He’s the Warning Coordinator Meteorologist at Paducah’s National Weather Service forecast office.
(4.) KENNY COLSTON –Kentucky’s General Assembly session continues in Frankfort, where lawmakers continued talks on regulating Pseudoephedrine, raising the high school dropout age and Medicare’s Managed Care Organizations. Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Kenny Colston speaks with Rick Howlett about latest developments in Kentucky’s State Capitol this week.
(5.) GENE GRAHAM DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS -- The Distinguished Alumni Award is Murray State University’s highest accolade for graduates. 50 years ago, the university issued the 1st of these awards to Gene Graham. That same year, Graham was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and was a Harvard Nieman Fellow. Gary Pitts looked into the life and work of Murray State’s first Distinguished Alumnus.
(6.) AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE -- Approximately 28,000 young people age out of foster care each year in the United States. And many are expected to transition into adulthood instantly – unlike their counterparts raised by parents who are often allowed to ease into adulthood. Many more formerly fostered youth find themselves homeless, incarcerated or saddled with children at an early age. But, Youth Villages is a non-profit that works with young people who’ve aged out. They operate in 20 states, including work in Paris, Dyersburg, and Clarksville, Tennessee. And, as Candice Ludlow reports, Youth Villages is trying to close the gaps through their Transitional Living Program.
(7.) MSU RIFLE FUNDRAISING -– While Murray state’s men’s basketball receives national attention, large budgets and large donations, others sports like the Murray State Rifle team spend more time under the media radar, but not necessarily but as. Drew Adams reports it hasn’t stopped two former riflemen from raising a staggering amount of money in just two months.
(7.) MAESTRO CELSO MACHADO -- The Murray State University Classical Guitar Ensemble is fairly new to campus. Last year, the ensemble played in its first full concert with the string ensemble, and they will be doing so again this Tuesday evening. Much of the music from the first concert came from the Brazilian composer, Maestro Celso Machado. And this year, the ensemble will present the United States premier of Maestro Machado’s most recent composition for quartet, Suite Amazonas. Gary Pitts is a member of the ensemble. He spoke with the composer to find out more about his life and inspiration in music.
