7.31: Red Flags - Hour 4

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, we are up and running here in the
eight o'clock hour. It is Kentucky and it's Morning News
with Coffee and company here on News Radio eight forty
whas Nick coffee with you. If you are just now
joining us, Welcome aboard. Been a busy morning thus far.
There was a explosion last night in Jeffersonville at a
home that led to five people being injured, and as

(00:21):
of right now, what we know is that of those
five people, two were taken to an nearby hospital via helicopter,
while three of them were taken via ambulance. At this point,
there's no sign as to what caused that just yet.
Obviously they're going to do an investigation. But a neighbor
talked to the reporters on site after the explosion and
said that they did see at least two of those

(00:43):
individuals that were leaving had some serious burns on their bodies.
So scary situation, of course, and obviously we'll find that
eventually what they discover led to this explosion. But it
has impacted some traffic out there in Jeffersonville as Greater
Clark Ketty schools or back to school today. So at
eight o'clock I feel like you're probably already there, but

(01:05):
I don't know. Maybe the school schedule is different for
in fact, it is different for a lot of different schools.
But regardless, it has caused some delays in getting to
jeffersonvill High School. And I think it also may have
actually led to some people needing to be rerouted, so
just to just be advised of that. Also something else
we talked about earlier. We have another big corporation here

(01:26):
in Louisville that employees many people that is offering an
early retirement. And this news can be met in a
variety of ways based on the employer's situation. So I
don't want to act like this is the worst thing ever,
but Humana is now is now offering it looks like

(01:46):
I don't know how many are qualified, meaning how many
fit this criteria, but the qualifications are you must be
fifty years and older and have worked at human If
for at least three years. They say this is part
of their broader transformation agenda. They're trying and reduce costs
and modernize operations. And again I can see this being

(02:07):
a real worry for those who maybe realize that they
have a job that they are comfortable in and being
able to obtain a very similar job with a similar
setup as far as salary, insurance and all that. It
might be difficult, or there could be some that have
maybe they're nearing retirement and this gives them an early
exit and they can maybe find something to do to
help to help sustain the same type of salary they

(02:30):
were making with, you know, a job that doesn't pay
quite as much, but they can get by with whatever
the offering is within with this early retirement. But over
the years in Louisville, there have been many employers that
have that have offered this. In fact, recently there were
voluntary buyouts for ups drivers full time drivers nationally. But
the first time ever were offered an early buyout, you

(02:50):
had also, this wasn't much, This wasn't really This was
a little bit of a different situation. But Brown Foreman
they had a big reduction in their in their workforce
and that was layoffs with severance included. It's a little
bit different there because sometimes you'll see you'll see employers
like Humana, ups Ford, Brown form and they'll roll out
early retirement packages or voluntary buyouts, and it's not just

(03:12):
to cut cost it's really strategic. I mean, these companies
aren't always collapsing. When that happens, it's I think, at
times more of a recalibration. So when you look at
the early retirement incentives, it will quietly give you the
ability to trim the head count without bad optics of
a mass layoff. And they target clearly people who make

(03:36):
a lot of money and people that have been there
a long time, because again you're getting rid of a
big salary potentially, and if you're a long tenured worker,
you may be itching to get that offer to retire early.
So again, these things can help reduce expenses and it
can help you, I guess, avoid any kind of legal
pitfall or maybe even like a union pushback if we're
talking about an employer like Ford. So it's not always

(03:58):
just a complete blum and doom situation, but you know,
sometimes it is, and it can be a scary thing
for many. I'm sure. I go back to when Ford
offered their Way Forward restructuring plan back in two thousand
and six. I have a lot of friends who had
parents that worked at Ford, which some of them even

(04:20):
moved to this area because of the opportunities you had
at a place like Ford working at the plants, and
I just remember it being a talking thing. It was
just talked about in our community where I grew up,
just because it was a scary sign for the future
of Ford at that time. And also there were some
that just took it because they were giving you I
think it was up to one hundred thousand dollars and

(04:41):
a seven spuyout for workers that were going to relinquish
their future benefits and I think they could keep their pension.
So they've also done another one not that long ago
at Ford where in twenty twenty four, in the beginning
of the year, they offered I think it was a
fifty thousand dollar lump summer retirement buy out, and it

(05:01):
was a program that was for those that were you know,
that were eligible. You had to be at least thirty
years of service, which again that's a long stretch and
you could you know, or you could be yeah, here
it is thirty years of service at any age, or
you could be fifty five years old with ten plus
years of service, sixty five with one plus year of service.
So again, some of these things are more so strategic

(05:24):
and you're recalibrating than it is about, you know, an
epic downfall. But again, I'm sure if you get that
email that Humana employees got yesterday, those that are eligible,
I'm sure it puts some fear into you, and I
totally get it. A lot of uncertainty right now with
the economy for a variety of reasons, and certainly the
tariffs play a role in that as well, which by
the way, we'll talk about that coming up here at

(05:44):
eight thirty with Roy O'Neil of NBC News. All right,
let's get an update on traffic and weather, not Royalis.
That's I just combined two humans. I combined Royalis, Rory.
I combined Rory O'Neill and Bobby. They are two different
people and we appreciate both of them. And it'll be
Bobby that gives us the update on traffic right here,

(06:06):
right now, And there's Radio eight forty whas are you
calling me out? John Alden? This is one you did
not I know, And I feel bad because I love
I love Montgomery Gentry. I mean this was so early
two thousands. Country music is now like old to classic
country music. Yeah, there's a new format that is growing

(06:30):
in markets, meaning they're just it's now becoming a bigger thing.
And it is nineties in two thousands country, which again,
this to me doesn't seem old old, but it is.
This song is probably twenty every bit of twenty years old,
and uh, it takes me back to I mean, I
know they're not from I know the Lexington Eddie Montgomery's

(06:51):
from Danville, Bowl County. Oh yeah, it's actually Boyle County. Change.
It gets your old change in Bowl County. But uh,
and then I believe his partner, who of course tragically
passed away in a helicopter crash. I believe he was
from Nicholasville, which is which is right around Lexington. So yeah,
they're Kentucky boys and they I mean, I love Montgomery gentry,
and they I feel like had their peak. And maybe

(07:15):
that's insulting to say, because I don't know this for certain,
but I feel like when they were having consistent radio
hits in rotation, it was around the time like when
I got my license and I was driving for the
first time. And I mean, was that song. I mean,
it's phenomenal And the reason I asked if John called
me out. We played a clip earlier of Luke Comb's

(07:35):
on a podcast with Barstool Sports where they asked him
which state produces the best country music, and sure enough,
he said Kentucky, which I thought that he would go
with Carolina because that's where he's from, and clearly there's
a lot of talent from there as well, Luke Colmb's
of certainly Eric Church and others, but he said Kentucky
and just talked about how indeniable the talent is with

(07:56):
Keith Whitley, Tyler Childers, Sergel Simpson, and obviously Chris staple To,
and then there's many more. We talked about many of those,
and I did leave out Montgomery Gentry and I feel
bad now because I I mean, I could literally there's
probably I don't even I'm sure they have the greatest
hits album that was released. It they don't. There's probably
a playlist created on Spotify and whatnot, and I could

(08:17):
go start to finish and and it'll take me back
to a to a you know, a time that was
a lot of fun. And they when I think of them,
I do think Kentucky. Like when I hear them and
I'm enjoying one of the many hits they've had, It's
pretty common for me to just at some point in
the song, you know, have the realization, Yeah, these guys
are from Kentucky and that's and that's pretty awesome. You you

(08:38):
guy could pull off one of those hats, Toady Montgomery wears,
Oh yeah, you got to do it. I like how
he would like twist the mic stand too. Whatever. Oh yeah,
he was a performer, man, he's a showman. Yeah. And
he's also got a he's got it. He's got a
sound that's just you know, I don't know what I
would compare it to, but maybe maybe it's rare because
there's not real anybody to compare it to him. It
sounds good. He's a great singer, but I feel like

(09:00):
he is. His image and the sound it is very
relatable to the common working man, if that makes sense.
Like he's got just enough of the modern country that
was big at that time, but a little blue collar
in him as well. They were kind of the transition
almost between the two and man, they're great. So thank
you for thank you for playing to Montgomery gentry, and

(09:20):
I deserve to be called out even if you weren't
intending to do that. I'll do it to myself. All right.
We got another update of tracking the weather coming your way.
And also we will have another sports update with Scott Fitzgerald.
Rory O'Neil set to join us at eight thirty. We'll
talk about the latest onn What we're looking at with
the interest rates is the light at the end of
the tunnel. Rory can tell us that. And also what

(09:41):
else are we going to chat about with Rory? I
forget you know what to expect with Roory O'Neal, and
it's nothing but the best, and he'll be with us
here before too long right here on news RADI waate
forty whas look with the cat drug in it's mister
Tony Venetti, what up joining me here in studio news
radioaight forty wa h as we were wrapping things up
here before too long and then we'll hand it off

(10:03):
to Tony and Dwight so Brooks, how of course, is
awaiting sentencing, likely going to get life in prison. And
the woman that he is has been found guilty of
murdering is Crystal Rogers and they have a child together
and the custody battle for this child is one as
a parent myself and you also are a parent. I

(10:25):
just I this is tricky although I think it would
be a no. I don't think there'd be any discussion.
But the sister of Brooks how let me get her
name here, she's She's to be clear, she's not. She
was not accused of conspiring to to to kill Crystal
Rodgers or cover it up. But what she was brought

(10:45):
up in the in the in the case for during
the during the trial, I should say, is because she
was she brought a digital recorder into the grand jury
because she claims she felt paranoid and there was no
conspiracy to have everybody consistently have the same story. But
that's why she got brought up that she was. I
guess apparently part of you know, helping everybody maintain consistency
in their story. But nonetheless, she's the sister of Brooks Howck,

(11:08):
and she has filed for permanent custody of this child.
And I think the scenario where a family member of
Brooks Howck has full time custody of this kid is
not insane, but I do think it is. It would
really depend upon their how close they are to the family.
That again, there's only been one family member that's going

(11:29):
to prison as a child. It's a miner. I'm gonna
imagine it's probably ten ten years old, So John Shannon's
with us in here. So again, like the thought of
the custody of this child, if I look put it
this way, if I am Crystal Roger's mother who has
had has been in previous custody battles with Rosemary hawk
for this child, that's what that was Brooks as well. Yes,

(11:49):
so the custody battle in recent years has been between
Sherry Ballard, Crystal's mother, and Rosemary Hawk, Brook's mother, and
then in twenty twenty three his sister, Rhonda micklvoy. She
ended up getting temporary custody and now she wants full
time custody, claiming that this is because of some permanency

(12:10):
and stability is why she claims this child should be
with her permanently. But if you are Crystal Rogers's mother,
Sherry Ballad or the Rogers family, I just I feel
a level of just discussed knowing that this child currently
and could potentially full time be in the custody of
someone who most people would have a hard time believing
that they were not aware that they put together a

(12:30):
plan to murder the mom.

Speaker 2 (12:32):
From what I've read the howks did a lot of
worked really hard to try to keep Sherry a Ballad
from even having like visitation with this child.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
Time out, time out of it. Right, Look, this child
is the piece that has been lost in every conversation
about this case.

Speaker 1 (12:49):
Yes, most people probably didn't know they had of kid together.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
Bartstown needs to wrap their arms around this child.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
His name is Eli.

Speaker 3 (12:58):
I'm not even mentioning names. It is going to need
all the help he can get because his mother's dead
and his dad killed her. Yeah, so let's all take
a step back. And I know it's a cliche, but
this will take a village and Bargetown, I think, is
a place that will step up to wrap their arms

(13:20):
around this child. Yes, because he's going to need all
of us to help him. And we know these Look
and this happens more. This is a Salacia's crazy story
that made national news, but it happens all the time
in Louisville. Dad killed mom. I grew up that way,
and it happens. It happens all the time. I mean

(13:40):
players at U of L. How many times does a
player come in from Florida that were raised by an
aunt or uncle or foster Holmes that my mom killed
my dad or my dad killed my mom, and this
is how I grew up. And now they're running back
at Louisville. So again, refocus. I don't know who should
get the child, but I'm with you. I know that
my sister should, yeah, probably get I don't know how

(14:03):
this system works, but that doesn't sound right just from
the onset, well, because it doesn't sound right because it just.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
The scenario where this sister clearly considering that the Hawks,
they're a strong and powerful family, that that clearly had
they took out. I mean, I guess at this point
it's only Brooks that has been convicted of this, but
obviously the unindicted co conspirators are his brother and his mother,
and again his sister's not accused of anything other than
just recording their conversations leading up to the grand jury.

(14:33):
But I get I just think if you're in Bargetown
and you are of the belief that this this woman
had no clue and did not know any way that
the family was involved in her murder and disappearance, or
maybe even the plan to take it out, I just
think you're probably in the minority.

Speaker 3 (14:47):
I think, yeah, you would think that the how family again,
in a perfect world, would just say, we just want
what's best for the child. If it's just financial means,
that's fine with us. We want to have a uh,
we want to have an experience. It's with him in
his life some way, And it really I wish in
the perfect world there was a mediator that they both
trusted that would sit down and go, let's not do

(15:09):
this in the court, Let's look each other in the eye.
Let's move past this. For Eli's sake. Sure this again,
I'm lollipops and rainbow in this, which is.

Speaker 2 (15:21):
That's unusual.

Speaker 3 (15:22):
But I wish for him because I'm sitting here thinking
it's going to be so tough for him because he's
always going to be that story will always be attached
to him in Kentucky. And you know, in a perfect world,
I'd love for if he had a relative that lives
somewhere else, he's going to start over and not be
that kid.

Speaker 2 (15:42):
When he was. To your point, when he becomes a
teenager and goes back and reads about all of this
and finds out what is in his face.

Speaker 3 (15:49):
He's ten, he knows he knows some.

Speaker 2 (15:51):
Of them, but he'll get older and read the details.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
You know, I'm pretty sure he probably knows a lot,
but he I wish he could start over somewhere else.
But that's a perfect world. But I wish someone would
that they both trusted, could sit down with the mediator
that they both trusted and said, all right, let's move
pat this, we get it now, let's let's let's figure
out what's saying.

Speaker 1 (16:09):
Take away, just the huge part of this whole story
is that the mother was murdered and the dad is
now in waiting life sentence. There are people who have
a real nastiness about child custody in general. You throw
this element to where the child could end up with
the family, where again two undicted co conspirators and the
actual convicted murderer they still have. I mean that just

(16:30):
I could see that being just a crazy thing.

Speaker 3 (16:32):
Yeah, there are family judges that live in our neighborhood.
Maybe we get one of them on the air because
they deal with this stuff every single day, and they
could tell you stories are maybe not similar, because this
is crazy, but but yeah, it might be a good thing.
It's a great question to ask. The aftermath and collateral
damage of Eli and his last name's Hawk.

Speaker 1 (16:51):
That sounds like a book. Huh, that sounds like a book.
It does. Well, let's get let's get to it. Well.
I think when it comes to those questions that you
would ask somebody who does this every day and deals
with those kinds of things, you just know you're making
one of two decisions, and both are potentially dangerous and.

Speaker 3 (17:08):
Book you're right, Eli Howe collateral A yeah, there we go,
There we go.

Speaker 1 (17:12):
We're out of town. Tony Dwaiter coming next right here
on news radio waight forty whas