Since the C-J doesn’t comprehend that running old news as an “exclusive” doesn’t sell newspapers, they ran a “print exclusive” on Sunday. Here’s a Monday link to the story about Rand Paul’s faux ophthalmology group. [C-J]

As Talking Points Memo noted in late May, we first focused on the group. And now the paper is running this like it’s breaking news. No wonder so many C-J reporters complain to me about hating their jobs. [TPM Flashback]

Chris Poynter is leaving Jerry Abramson’s mayoral staff to work for Greg Fischer. What was that, dear readers, about Greg’s crew not being a rehash of the last thirty years? You’re about to experience another four years of zero transparency, top-down “leadership” and personal spite and bitterness. (I’m talking about all the folks, not specifically Poynter.) [Joe Arnold]

Of course we hate paying for MSD’s debt. The interesting part of this story, however, is the part where the Courier-Journal continues to promote Steve Henry’s faux non-profit, Future Fund, as legitimate despite the fact that he used the organization to move money around and was recently convicted. [James Bruggers]

Bruce Dunbar, former WLKY anchor, died Friday. [FOX10]

Here’s more information that should lead you to believe the Courier-Journal editorial board is a Larry Clark apologist committee. [C-J]

Why is Rand Paul flip-flopping and trying to revise his own history 24/7? What’s happened to all of his “liberty” and “freedom” and all that? [Barefoot & Progressive]

Can the Professional Firefighters Association defeat Dan Seum in the state senate race? Not likely. [WFPL]

590 entries were received from more then 40 media organizations in the Ohio Valley. The awards will be presented at a gala in Columbus, Ohio on July 31.

Here are the nominees from Louisville:

Newscast – Evening

• WAVE3 @ 11 – Aaron Matthew Ellis, Sarah Miles
• 5pm Newscast – Suspect Chopper Chase, WLKY – Erin Gritton

Breaking News

• Jason Stinson Verdict, WHAS – Renee Murphy
• Waterfront Park Shooting, WLKY – David Masino, William E. DeReamer, Erin Gritton

Spot News

• Fatal test drive, WDRB – Bennett Haeberle, Sarah Grote

Continuing Coverage

• Metro Animal Services, WLKY – Andy Alcock
• Bridge to Nowhere, WAVE3 – Chris McGill, Doug Druschke

Peep the other nominees – there are a bunch – after the jump…

General Assignment Report – Within 24 Hours

• Dog Rescue, WLKY – Andy Alcock

General Assignment Report – No Time Limit

• Wolf Dog, WLKY – David Masino, Ann Bowdan

Feature News Report – Single Story

• Turtle Man, WDRB – Barry Bernson, Ken Bradley
• Last Picture Show, WDRB – Barry Bernson, Reed Nelson
• Drag’s A Life, WHAS – Adrianna Hopkins, Steven Richard
• Hailey & Carter, WHAS – Melanie Kahn, Steven Richard

Investigative Report – Single Story

• The Cost of Care, WDRB – Bennet Haeberle, Sarah Grote
• Water Pollution Probe, WLKY – John Boel

Investigative Report – Series

• Theatair X: Undercover and Above the Law, WAVE3 – Carrie Sharp, Roger Dunaway
• Male Modeling, WHAS – Andy Treinen

Business/Consumer – News

• Consumer Watch, WHAS – Andy Treinen

Crime – News

• A Rose is a Rose, WHAS – Adam Walser
• Dead End Street, WLKY – John Boel

Health/Science/Education – News

• Cross-Kidney Donation, WAVE3 – Elizabeth Donatelli, Michael Williams

Human Interest – News

• The Outsiders, WHAS – Adrianna Hopkins, Steven Richard
• Old Man and a Horse, WLKY – John Boel, Scott Eckhardt
• Notes Left Behind, WDRB – Jennifer Baileys, Kenny Bradley

Military – News

• Toxic Tour of Duty, WHAS – Melissa Swan

Sports – News

• Anyone Can Try, WAVE3 – Drew Cook
• Ride of a lifetime, WAVE3 – Connie Leonard

Sports – One-Time Special

• Triumph and Tragedy, WAVE3 – Reid Olson, Scott Reynolds, Jackie Hays

Documentary – Cultural/Topical

• Country Music Crossroads, WLKY – Ben Jackey, Will Sieg, Greg Burress

Special Event Coverage

• Thunder over Louisville – 2009, WHAS – Deobrah Harbsmeier, Jim Ghrist

News Promo – Single Spot/Campaign

• Meet Gary, WAVE3 – Christian Adelberg

News Promo – Image

• Cut Out For Mornings, WAVE3 – Christian Adelberg

Special Achievement: News Excellence

• WLKY News Excellence, WLKY – Mike Neelly

Special Achievement: Station Excellence

• WHAS11, WHAS – Mark Pimentel

Anchor – News

• Composite, WLKY – John Boel

Reporter – Sports

• Composite, WLKY – John Boel

Photographer – News

• Steve Richard, WHAS

Editor – News

• Composite, WHAS – Steven Richard

Congratulations to all the local nominees!

What’s that sound?

Why, none other than Carrie Weil leaving WAVE3 to take a job as anchor at FOX66 & CBS TV 5 in Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, Michigan.

WEIL WITH MAYOR McCHEESE WITH SOME STUFF

I spoke with Carrie earlier today and she confirmed that she’ll be anchoring the 4:00 and 5:30 newscasts on CBS WNEM TV5 and 10:00 P.M. show on FOX. While excited, she humorously expressed anxiety about discovering this thing non-newsies commonly refer to as eight hours of sleep per night.

Weil’s last day at WAVE3, where she’s been on Sunrise since 2002, will be the 31st and she’ll appear on the airwaves in Michigan on the 7th. Her husband Doug, a chiropractor, is from Bay City so they won’t be strangers to the area. And while she’ll miss Louisville, Carrie says her new teevee world’s got a great product and she’s looking forward to the new challenge of different newscasts.

Carrie’s always been one of my morning favorites and we definitely wish her the best!

Ray D’Alessio on why he’s leaving WAVE3:

As many of my friends and family may or may not know, I have decided to leave WAVE 3 here in Louisville and return to Atlanta to be with my wife and kids. After being apart for over a year now, we have had no luck selling our home or Martha finding a job, not to mention the pain of being away from my kids has become un…bearable. Although it was one of the hardest decision’s I’ve ever made, I know it’s the right decision “especially” since my children will have their Dad around full time. I’m in the process of looking for opportunities throughout Atlanta both in and out of TV. If anyone has some suggestion’s, feel free to message me or send me an email. My last day here at WAVE-TV will be Friday, March 26th. To all the people I’ve met here in Louisville, “Thanks so much” for the hospitality. You wil never be forgotten

And despite what Ray jokingly told me this morning, he is not returning to a warmer part of the country to resume his job as a used car salesman. Ha!

I think we all wish Ray the best.

Shannon White:

“As a past seasonal employee of Kentucky Kingdom, and manager of the Games Department for two years, I know the vital importance of these jobs for our economy. I encourage The Kentucky State Fair Board and Kentucky Kingdom to get to the negotiation table and compromise to avoid losing crucial employment opportunities in Louisville.”

David Tandy & Hal Heiner:

In a bi-partisan effort Councilman David Tandy and Councilman Hal Heiner have joined together today to call on Six Flags and the Fair Board to come back to the table for re-negotiations.  Councilman Heiner and Councilman Tandy are offering to work with their council colleagues to keep one of Louisville’s top tourist attractions here in the Metro.  Councilman Tandy stated, “Six Flags is a valuable employment center for seasonal workers and a national attraction for tourism that Louisville must support.”

The Councilmen plan to meet with the Louisville Jefferson County Legislative Delegation, State Fair Board and Six Flags to stress the importance of coming to an agreement for the good of the Commonwealth, Louisville and Six Flags.  “The stakes are too high for us to sit idly by while Louisville watches yet another employer leave town”, said Councilman Heiner.

Councilmen Tandy and Heiner will hold a joint press conference today at 2:00 PM at the Six Flags main gate.

And some inappropriate commentary from me:

It is hilarious for me to watch Doug Proffitt read news about Kentucky Kingdom on-air:

This situation may be terrible for Louisville, but the only thing going through my head last night as Proffitt spoke was schadenfreude. Cause you just know he is clenched up like woah and about to, you know… pop a vein as the text scrolls on the prompter.

Oh, and P.S.: folks in the governor’s office tell me this does not come as a surprise. And folks at Six Flags say they’ve been making it clear for weeks that this would occur if the fair board wasn’t willing to negotiate.

Check out this Tweet of hers from last night:

Somebody get her some Cake Flour, pronto!

Hope she keeps up with the Tweeting because it’s tons of fun.

MacDonald will anchor on the teevee at 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.

Louisville wins again (in my opinion, of course)!

You should read through them all, it’s exhausting. And show up Thursday night at the Gillespie (Best Downtown Building Named for a a Former UK Coach) for the big LEO Party, where Nappy Roots is likely to show up and yes, a hair-hanger. It’s free, from 6-10.

WAVE is the TV station choice for #1, which doesn’t reflect ratings, which makes us suspect that somebody at WAVE is manipulating contests. How else to explain WAVE’s dominance in Louisville Magazine’s “Best of Louisville” awards. WLKY gets no mention. Ouch.

Dawne Gee as best local news anchor? Puh-lease. The reason may be related to the graph above. Rachel Platt and Jackie Hays get 2nd and 3rd. If we’re picking sides in an anchor vs. anchor contest, I’ll take John Boel.

Hottest Anchor (male or female)? Seriously. Julie Tam? This calls to question the credibility of all the other choices. I know V.V. readers have expressed admiration for choices 2 and 3 (Jennifer Baileys and Carrie Weil) and Janelle MacDonald deserves mention here. And since I just met her, that Lindsay Allen at Fox 41 is pleasant.

TV Morning Show: Can’t argue with Fox in the Morning, can we?

Meteorologist: Belski, Wills, Cardosi. Evidence that LEO Readers don’t watch much TV, since their #2 is no longer on the air. Tenure seems to be the key to winning.

Best Local Writer: Bob Hill, who’s great, but retired. Stephen and Phillip are good choices. No, the C-J has no more interesting writers, or at least none they allow to write columns. If the C-J were to replace Hill, that person could easily win this category.

Lastly, people seem to think the over- and under-reported story is Rick Pitino/Karen Sypher. Not sure how it could be considered to be under-reported. Maybe it’s the only story some voters could think of.

New #2 at the C-J: Jean Porter is promoted to Ben Post’s positing as managing editor at the local paper. She’s been there forever (1983) and grew up reading the paper. Seems like a good choice. Benny Ivory is her boss. [C-J]

Deny, Deny, Deny: Spencer County Judge-Executive David Jenkins should lose his job. Not for visiting a skanky 7th Street strip club and charging it to a KACo credit card, but for lying repeatedly about it. His signature and vital info shows up on the receipts, and he hides from media. Despicable. [Herald-Leader]

More Heads Should Roll: If you missed it, KACo executive director Bob Arnold resigned under pressure last week, but not before being assured he’d get $178K in salary through NEXT June – for doing nothing.  The suits say it’s part of his termination clause in his contract. So let’s go after whoever is writing employment contracts in the state, and quit rewarding incompetence with plush deals. [Herald-Leader]

And Some More Nuts: Listening to Francene’s radio show on the drive to Indy, on the topic of the public high school football coach in Breckenridge County taking players to church, the lunatic fringe was out in force. One guy equated the situation with school buses taking kids to the Ali Center, reasoning that they’re all being indoctrinated into the Muslim religion, since Ali is Muslim. Others said it’s all OK since the coach’s church was Christian. Logic is lost on these people. [Courier]

Friend of Lou-A-Thon: We’re taking total credit for this. More than 1,000 people have signed up for the Friend of Lou buddy campaign since a new campaign was launched Sept. 1. Today they launched some new TV ads, which we may show you tomorrow. [FoL]

A New Feature: We’re shouting out media birthdays, and today is WHAS-TV’s Andy Treinen’s 41st.

Who knew that former Fox41 anchor Don Schroeder, who previously worked with Wills at WAVE,  was capable of such hilarity? Schroeder, who’s grown a full beard, taped his segment in front the White House, though he’s retired to Alabama. First time I’d ever seen him not wearing a tie. On the back of his t-shirt, the sign read “Will Read News for Food.”

Ex-meteorologist Craig Edwards, now in Nashville, chimed in along with country music personality Charlie Chase.

Then there was a live shot, on Skype, with former morning co-host Chris Parente, who appeared in pancake makeup with a towel on his head. Which was bizarro TV. Parente, now in Denver, recently won a vote to guest host the Regis and Kelly show next Wednesday. He asked Wills if he wanted to go on with him.

Wills is taking it all in stride, even the excessive alarm clock jokes.

Let’s hope WAVE has the sense to collect all the tributes and post them — might do some good for their Web traffic.