Chad’s Morning Brief: Early Voting Starts Today, Gingrich to Drop Out Wednesday, & More

Here is your Morning Brief for the morning of April 30, 2012. Give us your feedback below and tune in to Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty for these and many more topics from 6-9 am.

1. Early Voting Starts Today

Early voting begins today for City and School Board elections and runs through May 8. You have heard from most of the candidates involved in the local elections on LFN and we encourage you to get out and vote this week or wait to vote on May 12. This week on LFN you will hear from a few of the candidates for LISD School Board.

This is a very important election for the Lubbock City Council. A tight budget, shaky economy, and interest in building projects are all on the horizon. The local newspaper made endorsements over the weekend, which will be discussed on the show today. Later today, I will have a piece on KFYO.com about endorsements and my thoughts. What I can tell you right now is that it's important that you look at all the facts of the candidates and vote for the person who you believe will help this city. That doesn't mean to pick the person who talks the best game, but someone who you would trust with the city's finances.

Informed voters are the best voters. Many who go to the polls over the next few days will vote without knowing what is happening in our city. It's up to you to do your homework on these and all candidates.

2. Gingrich to Drop Out... Maybe (link)

I say maybe only because it's Newt Gingrich and who really knows.

Newt Gingrich plans to formally drop out of the Republican presidential race on Wednesday, senior sources told Fox News.

The campaign earlier had been expected to make the exit official on Tuesday, but has pushed the announcement back by a day.

The former House speaker may endorse presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, something Rick Santorum has not yet done.

Gingrich is leaving the race after struggling to follow up his comeback victory in the January South Carolina primary. Gingrich went on to win his home state of Georgia, but watched as Santorum won far more states and emerged as the Republicans' most viable alternative to Romney.

Both candidates' campaigns confirmed their exit from the race this month.

Finally! Again, if it's true than it's great news for the GOP. Time to get behind Romney and move on to defeating Obama. Now, let's really begin to fight over who Romney should select for his VP.

3. Mixed Reviews Over Dewhurst (link)

Interesting piece on Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today and the criticism he takes from both sides of the aisle.

The position, held by such legends as Bob Bullock and Bill Hobby, is often described as the most powerful seat in Texas government. Dewhurst’s tenure has drawn a mixed appraisal: he has presided over the passage of dozens of major bills, but critics said that, when push came to shove, his political aspirations weakened his resolve.

Personally, I think the criticism is warranted. What about you?

4. Titanic II (link)

It won't be the largest ship in the world, but people will go on it just because.

One of Australia's richest men Monday unveiled plans for a 21st century version of the Titanic -- with its first voyage, from England to New York, four years away.

Self-made mining billionaire Clive Palmer announced he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese state-owned company CSC Jinling Shipyard to build Titanic II.

Construction would begin in China at the end of next year, with the luxurious ship -- which will share the exact dimensions as its legendary predecessor -- ready for her maiden voyage in 2016, The Australian reported.

"Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016," Palmer said in a statement cited by AFP.

Titanic was commissioned by White Star Line and was the largest liner in the world at the time. Palmer said he has established his own shipping company, Blue Star Line, with the new ship having the same dimensions as its predecessor, with 840 rooms and nine decks.

Asked if the ship could sink, The Australian reported, Palmer said, "Of course it will sink if you put a hole in it."

He added, "It is going to be designed so it won't sink."

5. Dumb story of the morning (link)

Chin-plants for Prom?

As if prom night in America wasn't expensive enough, chin implants are fast being added to teens’ party shopping list, along with pricey dresses.

There has been a 71 per cent increase in the procedure being carried out in the U.S in the past year, with many of them being performed on high school girls desperate to look more glamorous than their peers.

It doesn’t come cheap, though. An implant costs between $3,500 (£2,150) and $7,500, with some girls also splashing out over $10,000 on a dress.

Silly.

6. Good Brews Good News of the Day (link)

Another smart kid.

Six-year-old Nevaeh Llantada wasn’t counting on meeting her baby brother for another two months but when he arrived early Wednesday morning she was there to help her mother deliver him safely at their Colton home.

Destiny Padilla, 22, woke up feeling pain early in the morning but she thought it was part of the normal pregnancy discomfort. Her son wasn’t due until June. Around 6 a.m. she said the pain got “really bad.”

Padilla couldn’t call 911 because her phone battery was dead.

Padilla’s boyfriend and father of the newborn, Gerardo Talavera, 23, had already left for work earlier in the morning. She was home alone with Nevaeh and her other daughter, two-year-old Melanie Llantada.

Her water broke around 7:20 a.m. and Padilla began going into labor in her living room. The baby came quickly.

She caught the newborn as he came out while Nevaeh stayed by her side.

“I was scared at that point,” Padilla said. “(Nevaeh) was telling me to calm down and relax.”

At one point, Nevaeh told her mother she might pass out or throw up and Padilla told her it was OK if she went to her room. But Nevaeh said she was able to stay and help “because I took a deep breath.”

“My heart was like thump, thump, thump fast,” she said, motioning with her hand to her chest.

“I was like ‘Mom, just breathe,’” Nevaeh said of the help she offered to her mother, which included watching over her younger sister.

After charging her phone, Padilla called 911 after the baby was delivered and received instructions on how to tie his umbilical cord with a shoelace Nevaeh took from her sister’s shoe.

If they hadn’t done that, “he would have kept bleeding out,” Padilla said.

The San Bernardino City Fire Department paramedics transferred Padilla and her son to Community Hospital of San Bernardino. Both were doing well, according to the family. The newborn was in the intensive care unit and is expected to remain in the hospital for three to six weeks because of his size and because he was born premature.

Everyday, Good Brews Coffee & Tea Lounge brings you the Good News of the Day! Join Chad and Rex TUESDAY from Good Brews! Details below!

Other Top Stories:

Contempt for Holder?

New Law Would Ban Texting While Biking

Dog Eating Jokes at Press Dinner

Rally for Women's Rights

Abbott and the Gov. Mansion

Students at Two-Year Schools Face Transfer Challenge

LIVE APPEARANCES!

Tuesday 5.1.12- LFN LIVE broadcast from Good Brews Coffee and Tea Lounge. State Rep. John Frullo to appear. Details

These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard online in our podcast section after the show at kfyo.com.