Blog bits: Ted Turner in Ashvegas?

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Turner turning heads

Got a reliable report over the weekend that Ted Turner was spotted at UNC Ashvegas graduation on Saturday. One fan asked for a picture with the cable news mogul and was sternly told “No.”

I don’t know his family connections, so I have no idea if he was there to see someone walk the stage or just visiting. I’d like to ask him what he thinks about Jane’s new book and movie.

Newsweek in trouble
You’ve probably seen the story by now – a small, poorly sourced blurb in Newsweek that led to some violent reaction was reported in error.

Newsweek is now falling all over itself to apologize for running the short story, which said that it had confirmed that interrogaters at Guatanamo Bay had flushed a Qur’an down the toilet to try and get someone to talk. The story caused a violent backlash in the Mideast. Here’s the magazine’s long explanation.

Note to Newsweek: Relying on one source for a story does not a story make. (I do it all the time on this blog, which is not real journalism, just in case you’re wondering).

Atlanta Child Murders back in the news
It’s been 25 years since we were shocked and frightened by the apparent serial killings of children in Atlanta. No small amount of fear remains buried in my psyche, even though I never lived in Atlanta at the time (although Ashvegas ain’t all that far away).

Now the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that a police chief is reopening investigations into five cases. As you’ll recall, the case tapped into some serious racial undercurrents in Hotlanta, and the country. The victims were black. Wayne Williams, although he was never convicted of killing a child (instead, two men), was tagged with responsibility and remains in prison.

But many in the black community have always wondered if the police didn’t close the books on the case a little too soon. Questions have remained about Williams’ culpability in it all, and he has always maintained his innocence.

This is one to watch.

Morris the Cat

Morris Hatalsky, who plays golf on the PGA Senior Tour and lives in Western North Carolina, will compete in a playoff Monday. Check him out if you get the chance.