Scrap yards in Kentucky would be barred from paying cash for copper and other recyclable metals under legislation that cleared the state Senate Wednesday. The measure requires people selling scrap metal be paid by a check sent by mail. That move could give police names and addresses if the metals are later found to be stolen. The Senate voted unanimously for the bill, which now returns to the House for final passage. Bill sponsor Democratic state Representative Tanya Pullin says thieves have taken guardrails, manhole covers, catalytic converters, utility lines, and even rooftop air conditioning units. Nationwide, copper thefts are estimated to cost businesses $1 billion a year.
Todd Hatton hails from Paducah, Kentucky, where he got into radio under the auspices of the late, great John Stewart of WKYX while a student at Paducah Community College. He also worked at WKMS in the reel-to-reel tape days of the early 1990s before running off first to San Francisco, then Orlando in search of something to do when he grew up. He received his MFA in Creative Writing at Murray State University. He vigorously resists adulthood and watches his wife, Angela Hatton, save the world one plastic bottle at a time.
