Saturday, May 16, 2009

Ok, I owe an apology to Cheryl Lasseter.

WLBT broadcast a story on the bond refinancing Thursday night that has been heavily covered here. I got a couple of text messages and emails saying I was ripped off. I let my anger get the best of me and the next day wrote a post about the story that was very sarcastic, took the jackassery too far, and made some less than flattering remarks and insinuations about her abilities as a reporter. Sometimes we let our anger get the best of us and I'm no exception. She was given her assignment by the news editor and worked the story from scratch and she should be commended for doing so as this is not exactly easy to understand nor is it exciting. I took the post down for the simple reason it didn't include any new information and its not fair to Ms. Lasseter for someone using google one day to come across her name and the dreaded P word or something similar. I will post her actual story below and say its nice to see WLBT. It is important to cover this story as it might be boring stuff but its better than covering a story in a few years over how Jackson will have to triple its water/sewer fees because these little swaps blew up in our faces. The story will be much more exciting to report then but I don't think we want to go there. I don't mind making corrections here on JJ and when I'm wrong, I'll say I'm wrong and this is no exception. To Mrs. Lasseter, I humbly apologize.


"JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - On April 7, the Jackson City Council voted to enter into an interest rate swap package on a multi-million dollar bond. Jeff Weill and Margaret Barrett-Simon voted against it. Kenneth Stokes was not present. But it passed with the remaining four voting in favor.
The City's Financial Director, Rick Hill, says it's not the first time the city has chosen a variable and fixed rate mix to pay bond interest. This one is projected to save a million dollars a year until the public works bond matures in 2034, and the savings will go into a reserve.
Hill says FSA Insurance guarantees the bond, so FSA must approve all bond-related transactions. Right now, FSA AND Deutsche Bank are negotiating on the terms of the interest rate swap; in fact the swap may never materialize.
But one deal is sealed: certain financial interests will get paid a contingency just because the City Council voted in favor of the swap. City Attorney Sarah O'Reilly-Evans, Sterne Agee, Rice Financial Group, and others will get paid tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars whether or not a deal is ever inked.
Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill says the terms of the fees payable aren't clear, and the Council should never have passed something it doesn't understand. "This is the first I've heard, when you told me this could fall through. If it fell through, I think that would be wonderful news," he says. "This isn't a simple adjustable rate. This is a derivative transaction which is far above the understanding of anyone in city government."
3 On Your Side found out hundreds of other U.S. cities and towns have gambled and lost on municipal bond derivatives, including areas of nearby Tennessee.
Even so, Hill assures us that the way Jackson's package is designed, the city will pay only a fixed rate on the bond when it's all said and done.
Hill says we should know by next week if the deal will materialize.
"

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a good guy King!

stilettoGOP said...

Ms Lasseter (and any reporters who may take a punch now and then),

Its called thick skin. Does wonders.

Anonymous said...

If you can't take the heat. Stay out of the kitchen.

Cheryl said...

Hey Stiletto, you'd be surprised how thick my skin is. Ask Jimmy about our phone conversaton today.

Cheryl Lasseter
WLBT News

Anonymous said...

All I know is thick skin or not, you are one fine babe.

Anonymous said...

All I know is thick skin or not, you are one fine babe.

Anonymous said...

King it takes a mighty Big man to apologize and a even Bigger Man to admit he is wrong.You are one of the good guys kingfish.Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Fish do a MILF poll on reporters. I am making Lasseter a 2 to 1 ringer.

Anonymous said...

Kingfish- You better Think, think, think before you post, okay???

Get it?

Anonymous said...

She is a 10.

Anonymous said...

Like wine, she gets BETTER each year. She should have been on the cover in the story 10 clicks down.

Anonymous said...

Cover hell. I wish she was in it.

Kingfish said...

I tried to get her to send me a pic I could use in my poll because that publicity shot doesn't do her justice but she wouldn't, said she didn't want to compete against the 21 year olds in the poll. Um yeah. She could more than hold her own against them.

Anonymous said...

You should just see how great she looks every morning when she drives her kid to school in the morning. No make up, sometimes pajamas ... Still Smoking!!!

Anonymous said...

Damn dude, chill. Pajamas? DAMN.[Trying to chill]

No P.J.'s said...

Sorry to see this one off front page. We were getting somewhere.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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