The United States Senate has voted unanimously to confirm the appointment of Louisville businessman Matthew Barzun to be ambassador to Sweden.Barzun, an internet entrepreneur, was nominated for the post in June by President Obama, for whom Barzun was a key fundraiser during the presidential campaign.The Senate also Friday unanimously confirmed the nomination of former Congresswoman Anne Northup of Louisville to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.She'll be one of two Republicans on the bi-partisan panel.The Courier-Journal reports that both nominations were in the Senate's Executive Calendar, which includes non-controversial nominations. No opposition was raised to either nomination during confirmation hearings.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.