Next week, I will have a report talking to him about his career, his favorite New Edition song and if there is a special someone in his life. 

Checkout The411 with Sherlene Shanklin each week on Good Morning Kentuckiana Saturday mornings.  If you have a story idea send it to me at The411@whas11.com.  You can also follow me on twitter @Sherlenemediapr. 

Snow loves will have a hard time making a tiny snowman, and no luck with the snow cave. 

Sorry kids...and playful grown-ups.

Spearheaded by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Alliance for Jobs is a newly formed coalition of about thirty business, organized labor, and education associations. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray are also members.

"Often times, we're engaged in various battles in Frankfort and we don't always see eye to eye… However, we stand here united today," said Chamber President & CEO David Adkisson of the variety of special interest groups that form the alliance.

"I think the Chamber of Commerce leadership ought to be ashamed of their damned selves to be honest with you," countered former Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Larry Forgy, "…backing an $800 million a year gambling loss for a population that can't afford a ham sandwich at lunch."

"We're labor unions, business leaders, teachers and private citizens," said Larry Roberts, state director of the Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council, a member if the pro-gambling alliance.

Five education related organizations are endorsing expanded gambling, including the Kentucky Education Association and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

"We are facing too many uncertainties on how to fund schools in the state," said Stu Silberman of Kentucky Education Action Team (KEAT).

It is a broad based coalition but they will not decide.  Once a gambling amendment is introduced, it will need 23 Kentucky Senators to agree and vote for it to move forward.

Gambling opponents say the support is simply not there.

"We think if the governor had the votes that he claims he has, number one you would see them here today which we're not seeing yet," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the Family Foundation of Kentucky.  "And he would have already have introduced this legislation which he hasn't done."

The legal squabbling over redistricting has paralyzed the legislature. Yet, Beshear said there is still time this session for the amendment to pass, and, despite the delay in introducing the legislation, he believes it still has enough votes.

"Obviously, we continue to stay in contact with those who have indicated their support." Beshear said.  "But I can tell you that at this point I've detected no wavering of that support. People that feel this ought to go on the ballot seem to be convinced of that."

"We're not in a panic," Adkisson said.

Though Beshear has yet to reveal the language in the amendment, or whether it guarantees that racetracks get casinos, the horse industry is a key player.

"I feel sure that the legislation we will introduce, they'll be supportive of it," Beshear said.

"What's at stake is a contraction of the signature industry for Kentucky," said Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs President.

Other racing states use alternative gambling revenue to boost purses and breeding incentives.

"We're losing tax dollars. We're losing horses and most important, we're losing jobs to these other states as a result," Adkisson said.

"The reality is we've had to eliminate racing days because other states have seen what Kentucky has, and they have gone on a tact to steal it away from us," Flanery said.

"This is a terrible thing for the regular people of this state," Forgy countered, "…and it's all designed to help a few wealthy racetrack directors."

"It's really a swelling up from the grass roots," argued Flanery, "from people all around the state who see gambling in surrounding communities and don't understand why we don’t have that economic impact here in Kentucky."

The map above and below showing the mix of wintry weather moving in tomorrow afternoon and hanging around through Friday evening.  I think the timing of this is correct, however, I believe this model (and others) is overdoing the quickness of the switch-over to snow, and the snow amount.  I think we start off with chilly light rain, mixing with snow late day-evening.  It could stay all light rain south of E-town.  

The total snowfall accumulation map is below, showing around 1" possible for the northeastern 2/3rds of the viewing area.  I think this is overdone as well.  I don't think the model is accounting for all the melting that will occur, thanks to above freezing pavement and air temperatures.  With that said, I think many areas could see 1/2" or less of snowfall accumulation on elevated surfaces, like the grass, deck, parked cars.  But, road conditions should fair pretty well.  You just have to watch out for those heavier snow bursts, which drop visibility quickly, and could create slick road conditions for a short time.  We'll keep an eye on it!

So, from around 2pm to Midnight Friday, watch for this wintry mix.

Dr. McMillan passed away in August 2010 but he left a strong foundation with the conference.  He led the conference for 34 years.  He was a vital leader in the community when it came to the Civil Rights Movement. 

For additional information and to register for the 39th Dr. Joseph H. McMillan National Conference on the Black Family in America go to louisville.edu.culturalcenter/bfc/registration-information.html.
If you have an event send it to The411@whas11.com.  You can also follow me on twitter @Sherlenemediapr.  

 

Average winter temperatures so far: 41.60 degrees.

Temperatures averaging +5.2 degrees. 

With that math, we sit at the 8th warmest winter on record so far.  We'll likely drop in the ranking a little bit with colder weather on the way this weekend. 

Warmest Winters:

1) 47.6  1890

2) 45.3  1880

3) 44.8  1932

4) 44.2  1882

5) 43.1  1876

6) 42.8  1878

7) 41.7  1950

8) 41.6  2012

9) 41.0 1949

10) 40.7 1992

11) 40.4 1919

You may be surprised to see the warmest winters mostly occurred in the late 1800s, and before 1950.  Except 1992.

3am-9am:  Light snow showers, light rain southern Kentucky

Accumulations:  Dusting on elevated surfaces (deck, grass, car) for a short time Wednesday morning.

Below is a map of the snowfall happening around 6:00am Wednesday morning.  Then, light rain/mix over south-central Kentucky.

We dry out late Wednesday morning through the afternoon and we could get some peeks of sunshine.  Mostly dry for the rest of this workweek and weekend, however a few flurries possible with a shot of cold air late Friday.  Feeling like February this weekend with highs in the 30s!

A Franklin County judge will hear arguments Monday morning from attorneys for House Republicans and Democratic Senator Kathy Stein.  Judge Philip Shepherd suspended the filing deadline for elected office as he considers the challenge.

The expanding gambling amendment and pseudoephedrine prescription requirement are among the issues on hold.

Lawmakers apparently want to know what their district's boundaries will be and any election challengers before tackling the tougher stuff.

The Courier-Journal's Joe Gerth laments the inaction in Monday's newspaper:

They should vote for what is right, and not for what is politically expedient.

That’s leadership.

In a companion article, Gerth reports on how redistricting affects the make-up of the statehouse, including the impending departure of Louisville Senator Perry Clark (D) and Lancaster Representative Lonnie Napier (R):

As things stand now, at least 15 members of the state House won’t be back next year and seven members of the state Senate are calling it quits at the end of their terms — some because of redistricting plans that punish members of the minority parties.

<edit>

In all, 46 people have filed to run in 19 Senate races and 198 candidates have filed for 100 House seats.

Supporters say it is a great economic opportunity but opponents say they are afraid hemp farms could be used to hide marijuana plants.

There has been a federal ban on hemp crops for 70 years.

Comer says Kentucky needs to show the federal government that we are willing to take a chance on hemp because it has a proven track record in the state.

“That's my goal as AG Commissioner to continue to build new markets for new agricultural crops and that industrial hemp is a viable option for Kentucky. We know it will grow well in this climate. Used to be the leading crop in Kentucky,” said James Comer.

Comer says the Department of Agriculture can regulate hemp crops without hiring even one more person.

Past attempts to legalize hemp farming here have failed.

If the bill passed here in Kentucky, it would still need federal approval.

1) Clear night sky (allow temperatures to drop more rapidly to dew point temperature)

2) Calm or light winds (winds mix out fog)

3) Moisture (need water molecules to make any cloud)

4) Dropping temperatures (air temperature drops close to dew point temperature)

We had all of those ingredients and one more to produce some freezing fog. 

Freezing fog is fog that freezes on contact with a frozen surface, creating a thin film of ice.  This creates slick spots on elevated roads, bridges, and overpasses.  It's never a good thing.

Below is a view of the fog covering Spaghetti Junction, looking northeast from the our PNC Plaza Camera. 

More on radiation fog here.

Yvette Gentry

Within police circles, Gentry has been considered a favorite for the job.  A Louisville officer since 1994, Gentry is the only female finalist and only African-American on the list.  Gentry is a Metro Police Deputy Chief and Patrol Bureau Commander, where she commands more than 900 officers and staff.
 
Gentry has been on a fast track within the department.  Just six years ago, she was a sergeant.

Vince Robison

As LMPD Chief of Staff, Vincent Robison is the other Deputy Chief.  An officer since 1988, Robison is responsible for the Support Bureau - which includes the Major Crimes Division, Special Operations and Narcotics.  Robison also oversees LMPD's Administrative Bureau, Special Investigations Division and the Media and Public Relations office.
 
Steve Conrad

Steve Conrad is a former Assistant Chief of LMPD who left in 2005 to become the police chief in Glendale Arizona - where he leads 600 employees.
In Louisville, Conrad became a city officer in 1980.  23 years later, he was responsible for the day to day administration of LMPD.

Rick Sanders

Five year Jeffersontown Police Chief Richard Sanders is the only finalist with roots in the former Jefferson County Police force.
Sanders was a county officer from 1971 to 1983 when he left to begin a 24 year career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  In Washington D.C., Sanders managed the largest division of the DEA, 1600 workers.

Glenn Skeens

Owensboro, Kentucky Police Chief Glenn Skeens is the only candidate never to have worked in Louisville or Jefferson County.  Skeens has risen through the ranks in Owensboro from 1989 until being named chief five years ago.
The Owensboro police force employs 164 people.

In a statement, Skeens said he was "humbled to be considered a finalist."

"While this is an honor, I would like to assure the members of the Owensboro Police Department and this community that my commitment to them remains strong," Skeens said, reserving further comment until the process is complete.

Reaction

Former LMPD Chief of Staff Troy Riggs, who knows the other four candidates, said the search committee had chosen wisely.  WHAS11 reached out to Riggs for insight into the selection process.

"Do they have the minimal qualifications and where do you think they're going and have they been successful?  And all these individuals have been very successful.  The city can't go wrong with any one of them."

Riggs, who left LMPD in 2009 to accept the Chief of Police position in Corpus Christi, Texas, did not apply for the LMPD job.  Riggs was recently named an assistant city manager for Corpus Christi.

"There's a lot of individuals that I've had conversations with who really like Col. Gentry," said Christopher 2x, a community activist whose organization Fight Crimes Against Children has been fostered by his role as an ad hoc community liaison with police.  "With that said though, she's a realist too.  She knows the mayor's final pick will be the final pick."

Fischer expressed no concerns that Gentry is the only woman and the only African American finalist.

"What I want is the best police chief for Louisville regardless of gender, regardless of race," Fischer said.

2x said because the search has been professional and led and consulted by African-Americans, the community should accept a white chief to replace Robert White, the city's first black chief.

"If the process shows there is fairness all along the way, people have to live with the fairness process," 2x said, "We can't predict what the next chief is totally going to be about."

White was the first chief of the merged city and county police force and is seen as a pivotal figure in a tumultuous time for local police.  His tenure followed a series of controversies in the police department of the former City of Louisville.  Riggs said that while White was a change agent, the city is in a different position, today.

"I think the change part has passed for Louisville Metro," Riggs said.  "Now, with the new leadership and with this opportunity, I believe they're going to try to build on this foundation that's already been set and move the department in a good direction."

"The key is a good communicator, right?" Fischer said.  "I mean, this is important when you're talking to people in boardrooms and people on the streets.  You've got to be able to maneuver in all types of environments."

The selection of a police chief is probably the most critical hiring decision a mayor will make, Riggs said.

"The chief is the most visible department head and has the most authority of any department head and is seen and second guessed, quite frankly, everyday," Riggs said.  "It's a difficult job that needs someone with a lot of experience and someone who can work closely and share the mayor's vision."

"Regardless of who that pick is, it is going to be the mayor's choice," echoed 2x, "We're going to have to live with it. And then we try to create a working relationship based on fairness and access."

If you've captures some sights from this year's ealry thaw, upload them to WHAS11.com here or email them to us from your phone or computer at yourphotos@whas11.com! We may even use your photos on TV.

Be sure to check out some of the weather photos we have received in the gallery to the right, or click here to go to the viewer weather photo gallery.

Check out more photo slideshows from events, our reporters and anchors, and more here.