Midday Headlines 7.19.11

FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN ED WHITFIELD HAS CHIMED IN REGARDING THE DEBT CEILING TODAY.  WHITFIELD SAYS HE'S OPTIMISTIC THE PUBLIC'S PRESSURE ON WASHINGTON WILL RESULT IN SOME SORT OF ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE BEFORE THE AUGUST 2ND DEADLINE.  WHITFIELD ALSO SAYS HE SUPPORTS A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT BEING PART OF THE DEAL.

THE CITY OF HOPKINSVILLE SAYS LOCAL CONSTRUCTION VALUES ARE SHOWING NOTICABLE GAINS.  CITY OFFICIALS SAY IN A NEWS RELEASE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT VALUES SHOW CUMULATIVE GAINS OF OVER SEVEN POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.  IT'S AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 69 PERCENT FROM THE SAME TIME ONE YEAR AGO.

A LOGAN COUNTY WOMAN WILL APPEAR FOR ARRAIGNMENT JULY 27TH ON CHARGES OF SCAMMING DONATIONS DURING A PHONY PREGNANCY.  INVESTIGATORS SAY KIM BLACK TOLD PEOPLE SHE WAS HOMELESS AND PREGNANT WITH TWINS.  BLACK IS CHARGED WITH THEFT BY DECEPTION FOR TAKING DONATED ITEMS FROM RUSSELLVILLE RESIDENTS.

AN AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN FIRED.  THE LEAF CHRONICLE REPORTS CAPTAIN CHARLIE STRUCKER WAS FIRED JULY 8TH.  UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY STRUCKEL WAS TERMINATED DUE TO WHAT WAS CALLED DETERIORATING PERFORMANCE ISSUES.  HOWEVER, STRUCKEL'S ATTORNEY HAS FILED COURT RECORDS SAYING THE TERMINATION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JOB PERFORMANCE,  INSTEAD, IT'S THOUGHT THE FIRING WAS DUE TO A LAWSUIT STRUCKEL AND FOUR OTHERS FILED AGAINST AUSTIN PEAY POLICE CHIEF LANTZ BILES LAST YEAR.