Fresh Loaf

Lots of goodies out there today.

• Jim Galloway sends word that Ralph Reed, the posterchild for suburban Bible beaters, is back with some new sort of coalition. It’s supposedly not “your daddy’s Christian Coalition.” In 2006, former Loafer Doug Monroe and artist Josh Latta produced an eye-openin’, form-bustin’ graphic comic about the David Cassidy doppelganger. It’s always good for a guffaw.
• Sarawara explains why a Gwinnett County mall made the right choice not to allow a July 4 Tea Party protest.
• Griftdrift explains how bloggers and traditional media need one another.
• Decaturite posts the list of authors and events scheduled for this year’s Decatur Book Festival.
• Jason at Peach Pundit hypes the latest Rasmussen poll, which says state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine enjoys a “commanding” lead.
• Jim Walls at Atlanta Unfiltered reports on the bizarre turn of events in the drama surrounding state Rep. Pam Stephenson, D-Decatur, and former Grady Hospital CEO Otis Story.

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Jim Galloway, proving yet again that he knows the true secrets of Georgia politics, reveals the identities of the mysterious “8 to 10 industry and government officials” who handpicked a Gold Dome transportation bill’s laundry list of people-moving projects. Damn road elves.

Decatur Metro reports on community gardens in his hamlet and annexation concerns. Also, is Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd thinking about a run for governor?

If you’re a card-carrying Young Republican, Shep at Peach Pundit recommends you not vote for Rachel Hoff to lead your organization. Also, Erick the Editor is jousting via email with one of his fellow Macon City Councilmembers.

Griftdrift gives us the rundown on the most recent episode of GPB’s “Lawmakers.” He reports that Sen. John Wiles, R-Marietta, wants to crack down on novelty ID suppliers who alter the completely innocent and never-used-for-illicit-purposes cards. (Those guys can alter the ID? I had to use nail polish remover.)

Veteran journalist Jim Walls, a 28-year veteran of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — and the editor behind some of the paper’s finest investigative work — rolls out his new investigative journalism website. Today he’s got more details about a sealed court case involving unfortunately named Gwinnett County businessman Richard Tucker. There’s also some questions about campaign contributions to state Rep. Pam Stephenson, D-Decatur.

There’s much more on the Internetz, buckos. If you came across something local that’s worth scoping out, post it below in the comments.

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It was reported last week that outgoing Grady CEO Pamela Stephenson does not have all of the university degrees she apparently claims.

“Ms. Stephenson earned her PH.D at the University of Michigan … and a Law degree, also at the University of Michigan.”

-From a July 9 hospital press release titled “Pamela Stephenson is Good for Grady.”

“In a statement Friday, she apologized and blamed a “word processing error” for a hospital news release last week that claimed she had a doctor of philosophy and a law degree from the University of Michigan. She does not.”

-From a July 19 AJC story about Stephenson’s resumé.

“Memo To Grady Board: When Rep Stephenson shows up to claim her 2 year, $1.2 Million paycheck, laugh and tell her, “Oh yeah, that. Well, that was just a word processing error.”

-Blogger Icarus at Peach Pundit on July 18. Stephenson will exit Grady’s top spot on September 1 with a $325,000 severance deal.

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