The woman found guilty of trying to extort University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is expected to learn her punishment later this week.Karen Sypher has been free since her conviction in August.Her formal sentencing in U.S. District Court has been delayed amid a series of legal maneuvers. Last week, Judge Charles Simpson denied her request for another postponement and a new trial. Her sentencing remains scheduled for Friday.A jury convicted Sypher of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliating against a witness.She was accused of threatening to go public about a sexual tryst she had with Pitino in 2003 unless he met her financial demands.The convictions carry a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison, but Sypher is expected to receive a lighter punishment under federal sentencing guidelines.
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.