Today's Political Headlines

Gov. Bevin heads to Europe for industrial trade fair in Germany, other business meetings

04/26/2016 09:29 AM

Gov. Matt Bevin has flown to Europe to promote Kentucky as a business destination, his office announced Tuesday in a news release. Bevin will attend the Hannover Messe Fair in Hannover, Germany, on Tuesday, when he will meet with current businesses with locations in the state as well as others that may be looking to expand in Kentucky, according to the release. The governor is scheduled to continue traveling and meeting with executives in Germany, France and Belgium throughout the week. Bevin... Read more 

Clinton campaign opens headquarters in Louisville

04/25/2016 04:39 PM

LOUISVILLE — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will open her Kentucky campaign headquarters on Monday night in Louisville. The headquarters, located at 1357 Bardstown Road, will be used to launch phone banks and neighborhood canvasses as organizers and volunteers contact Kentuckians in Jefferson County leading up to the May 17 primary. The office is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. with a gala kickoff featuring Congressman John Yarmuth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, state Sen. Morgan McGarvey and state Reps. Joni Jenkins,... Read more 

Rep. Leslie Combs leaving Kentucky legislature but has eye on potential return to politics

04/25/2016 01:06 PM

FRANKFORT — After a decade in the General Assembly, state Rep. Leslie Combs is heading back home to Pikeville, but she’s not counting out the possibility of a future run for office. The Democratic lawmaker said she was looking back on her last day of the legislative session with “moments of sadness,” but also “excitement” for the journey ahead. “There is a potential political office I may be looking at,” Combs said on the last day of the legislative session.... Read more  

Bevin Traveling To Germany, France, Belgium This Week

Gov. Matt Bevin is traveling to Germany, France and Belgium this week as part of his first overseas trip as governor. Bevin is scheduled to arrive in Hannover, Germany, on Tuesday to attend the Hannover Messe Fair, a trade show of industrial technology. A news release from the governor’s office says Bevin will meet with prospective businesses and companies that already have Kentucky facilities. He will spend the rest of the week meeting with executives in Germany, France and Belgium. Bevin says the trip is an “incredible opportunity” to sell the benefits of Kentucky to manufacturers. Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said the governor’s trip will [...]

Tue, Apr 26, 2016 2:14:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Charter’s Merger With Time Warner Cable Nears Regulatory Approval

Charter Communications has bid more than $88 billion to buy its larger rival, Time Warner Cable, and a smaller competitor called Bright House Networks — and it’s closing in on the required regulatory approval from federal authorities. The deal would be yet another major shakeup in the telecom industry: It would form the second-largest Internet provider, behind Comcast, and the third-largest video provider, behind Comcast and the newly merged AT&T/DirecTV. According to telecom analytics from MoffettNathanson, the so-called “New Charter” would have about 21 million broadband subscribers and 17.4 million video subscribers. Telecom mergers require approval of the antitrust regulators at the Justice [...]

Tue, Apr 26, 2016 12:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Louisville’s Parking Lots Could Be First Up In Heat Island Effort

Louisville legislators may soon get their first chance to craft policy around the findings of an acclaimed study on the city’s urban heat island. A Metro Council committee is in the midst of a multi-year effort to rework the city’s 800-page land development code, and one soon-to-be-discussed item deals with regulations guiding parking lot developments. Parking lots are cited in the recently released study as an element contributing to the city’s urban heat island effect. The term “urban heat island” refers to the difference in temperature between urban and rural areas. Brian Stone of Georgia Tech — one of the foremost UHI researchers in the country — conducted the study for [...]

Tue, Apr 26, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Today's Political Headlines

Diabetes advocates bristle at loss of line-item appropriation for prevention in budget, but officials say money exists in base funding

04/24/2016 03:03 PM

Two former chairmen of the American Diabetes Association say Gov. Matt Bevin and legislative leaders erred in keeping a $5.2 million line-item appropriation out of the budget, but an official in Bevin’s administration says funds are included in the base appropriation to public health for diabetes prevention. The dust-up emerged Friday after Stewart Perry and Larry Smith, both of whom also serve on the National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council, penned an editorial criticizing the budget’s apparent lack of funding for... Read more 

McConnell, Bevin among 25 picked as delegates for Republican National Convention in July

04/23/2016 10:45 PM

LEXINGTON — Kentucky Republicans elected the final 50 delegates and alternates to this year’s Republican National Convention, choosing U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Matt Bevin, Congressman Hal Rogers and others during Saturday’s state convention. Despite some slight bumps, the slate of 25 delegates and 25 alternates cleared the convention on the first ballot, a feat the Republican presidential nominee may not match when delegates converge on Cleveland July 18. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump holds 845... Read more 

Chelsea Clinton headlining fundraiser in Frankfort at Crit Luallen's home

04/23/2016 04:39 PM

Chelsea Clinton is headlining a fundraiser to support her mother’s campaign at the home of former Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen next week. On April 29 at a time to be determined, Clinton will meet with guests at an event hosted by Luallen and Jennifer Moore, the former chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic Party and board chair of Emerge Kentucky. At the fundraiser, co-hosts who contribute $1,000 can take part in a host reception with Clinton. Host-level contributors who give $2,700 are... Read more 

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gray drops first campaign ad

04/22/2016 12:37 PM

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gray is launching his first television buy of the 2016 campaign with an ad highlighting his business sense. The Lexington mayor’s first ad is entitled “American Dream” and promotes the growth of Gray Construction after the candidate’s involvement with the family enterprise. “We grew Gray Construction from a million dollar business to over a billion dollar in sales a year,” Gray says in the ad, which is running on cable and broadcast across Kentucky. The... Read more 

Cruz And Kasich Announce Joint Strategy To Block Trump

The Ted Cruz and John Kasich campaigns announced apparent coordinated strategies to combat Donald Trump in select upcoming primaries — an effort to force an open convention when the Republican National Committee gathers in Cleveland in July. In a statement sent out Sunday evening, the Cruz campaign said it will focus resources on Indiana, “and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico.” Kasich’s camp offered an inverse statement within minutes, saying it will “give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana” while focusing on New Mexico and Oregon. Both campaigns called on their allies [...]

Mon, Apr 25, 2016 2:43:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Long-Awaited Study Lays Out Ways Louisville Can Beat Urban Heat Island

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer will release a draft of a long-awaited study on the city’s urban heat island today. The study by Brian Stone of Georgia Tech — one of the foremost UHI researchers in the country — lays out quantitative ways Louisville can reduce the disparities between temperatures in urban and outlying rural areas. The term “urban heat island” refers to the difference in temperature between the two areas; Stone’s research has previously found that Louisville has one of the fastest-growing heat islands in the country. The heat island is a nuisance for some, but for others, it’s a dangerous situation. Stone estimated [...]

Mon, Apr 25, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Art Project Aims To Help Families Cope With Incarceration

More than one out of every 10 Kentucky children have a parent who is incarcerated, the highest percentage in the nation, according to a study released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Parental incarceration has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the “adverse childhood experiences” that contributes to health problems later in life. One group in Louisville is working to mitigate that damage, and they’re using art to do it. On a recent Sunday evening in the basement of the Hall of Justice, at Sixth and Liberty streets in downtown Louisville, artist Mari Mujica worked with a 6-year-old boy who [...]

Mon, Apr 25, 2016 9:30:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Today's Political headlines

Former Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer pleads guilty to federal bribery charge

04/19/2016 06:09 PM

UPDATED LEXINGTON — Former Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal bribery charge stemming from his time as head of the agency, less than a month after accusations against him surfaced. Longmeyer, who resigned his position as deputy attorney general days before the charge against him was revealed March 25, admitted to accepting $197,500 in cash and $6,000 in conduit campaign contributions from an unidentified consulting firm in exchange for helping secure work for the... Read more 

Gov. Matt Bevin requests investigation of former Gov. Steve Beshear's administration

04/19/2016 02:24 PM

FRANKFORT – Gov. Matt Bevin has accused the previous administration of former Gov. Steve Beshear of numerous improprieties that he says has been uncovered by his administration. Bevin, who took no questions at a press conference on Tuesday, said that his staff had uncovered evidence that the prior administration had failed to meet the high standards that the law and the people of Kentucky demand from state government officials. Bevin said beshear’s administration coerced state employees to contribute to the campaign... Read more 

Republican Party of Kentucky hires communications director, political director ahead of fall elections

04/19/2016 11:29 AM

With control of the state House of Representatives up for grabs the Republican Party of Kentucky has added a political and communications director. Tres Watson, who last ran Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles campaign, has been named as the Republican Party’s communications director. The RPK has also named Josh Thomas as political director. “Republicans stand to make historic gains in Kentucky this November and I am committed to assembling the type of team we need to get us there,” said RPK Chairman... Read more 

Complaint against former deputy attorney general, Personnel Cabinet secretary dropped as prosecutors plan path forward

04/18/2016 03:04 PM

The criminal complaint accusing Tim Longmeyer, a former Personnel Cabinet secretary and deputy attorney general, of bribery has been dropped as prosecutors plan to pursue the case through an information rather than an indictment, which may signal that a plea deal has been reached. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Wier granted a motion from Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Boone on Monday to dismiss the criminal complaint against Longmeyer, who allegedly accepted more than $200,000 in kickbacks from a Lexington firm identified... Read more 

Study: E-Cigs, Hookah Popular Among Middle and High School Students

E-cigarettes and smoking hookah have gained popularity among middle and high school students in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes tripled from 2013 to 2014. Among high school students, 13.4 percent were found to be using e-cigarettes in 2014 compared with 4.5 percent in 2013. The number of middle school students using e-cigarettes also tripled from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014. Vince Willmore, vice president for communication at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said marketing of e-cigarettes has played a big role in [...]

Wed, Apr 20, 2016 1:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Here Is The New Louisville Orchestra Season

The Louisville Orchestra has announced its 2016-17 season, which features luminaries like conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and cellist Yo-Yo Ma alongside a Shakespeare-themed concert and a new work from conductor/composer Teddy Abrams. Abrams is a protege of Thomas, who leads the San Francisco Symphony. Reflecting the Louisville Orchestra’s renewed commitment to American music, Thomas will conduct a program entitled “Mavericks,” which focuses on American composers. British composers will also get the spotlight this season. Ma’s appearance with the orchestra will include a performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto, which was composed in 1919 and has become an important part of cello repertoire. This [...]

Wed, Apr 20, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Layoffs Coming To Kentucky’s Community College Campuses, Including Louisville

Layoffs and program eliminations are coming within the Kentucky Community and Technical College system. The cutbacks come from a “perfect storm” of sustained budget cuts and dwindling enrollment figures at the 16 community college campuses across the state, said Terri Giltner, spokeswoman for KCTCS. The state’s most recent budget agreement, which calls for a 4.5 percent slash in funding for state higher education entities over the next two years, doesn’t make it easier for the college system to retain current levels of employees and programming, Giltner added. “We’ve really tightened our belt and, quite frankly, we don’t think there’s many notches left,” Giltner said. It’s unclear just how many positions [...]

Wed, Apr 20, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Today's Political Headlines

Retiring Rep. Mike Denham says political partisanship can get in the way of progress 

04/17/2016 09:15 AM

MAYSVILLE — Rep. Mike Denham, D-Maysville, who has served since 2001, decided not to seek re-election back in December because of health concerns. Denham says that current political partisanship has, in some cases, stifled progress in the House. During his 15 years in the legislature Denham says partisanship has grown in the General Assembly, especially as Republican members have grown in the chamber, resulting in a battle of which direction to go. “You know, you’ve got one side trying to keep the... Read more 

Gov. Bevin, legislative leaders say they're pleased with session's results

04/16/2016 06:00 PM

FRANKFORT — After a blitz of legislative activity by the General Assembly before lawmakers adjourned sine die on Friday, Gov. Matt Bevin offered one tidbit that he learned in his first-ever session. “It takes a long time to make the sausage,” he said as state representatives filed out of the House of Representatives before midnight. The first-year Republican governor had visited the chamber and shook hands and chatted with a number of lawmakers, including House Speaker Greg Stumbo, as their work... Read more 

Biennial budget, road plan on path to governor's desk after passing House, Senate

• by Kevin Wheatley 
• • 10 Comments

FRANKFORT — Gov. Matt Bevin will soon consider a $21.5 billion biennial budget and a two-year road plan that maps out $3.6 billion in state and federal highway projects after both bills overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly on Friday, the final day of the legislative session. The House of Representatives passed the two-year spending plan, House Bill 303, on a 98-1 vote, with Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, the lone dissenter. That followed a unanimous vote in the Senate. HB 303 blends... Read more 

Constitutional amendment granting victims' rights will not move forward in House

04/15/2016 10:23 PM

FRANKFORT — Senate Judiciary Chair Whitney Westerfield says the move to amend Kentucky’s Constitution to afford victims of crimes the same rights afforded to the accused has failed to garner support of legislative leaders in the House. Westerfield, who sponsored Senate Bill 175, met with House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, and other leaders in a private meeting on Friday evening — where he said leaders offered several reasons the amendment would not move forward. “Their response was, we like the... Read more 

Sine die update: Senate passes state road funding plans

04/15/2016 09:19 PM

FRANKFORT — With a 38 – 0 vote the state Senate passed legislation funding road projects across Kentucky for the next two-years. The Legislation “over programs” federal projects by about 10 percent, but Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Prospect, said the state projects are also over programmed but they don’t know by how much. Harris said that state funding was a “matter for conjecture.” Three months ago, Harris said the state thought they were over programmed 300 percent. At that time the... Read more 

Sine die update: Budget bill clears state Senate 

04/15/2016 05:34 PM

UPDATED: FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate has passed the $21 billion state budget, revenue bill and the work ready scholarship program in a flurry of afternoon activity on Friday, the final day of the 2016 legislative session. The legislation represents the culmination of weeks of negotiations between House and Senate leadership. With an unanimous vote, the Senate passed the full budget through the upper chamber and sends the bill to the House for its consideration. Despite requests from Pure Politics, that... Read more 

Senate honors the late former Sen. Georgia Davis Powers with bronze plaque 

04/15/2016 03:22 PM

FRANKFORT – The Kentucky state Senate honored the late Georgia Davis Powers with a bronze plaque which was affixed to her former desk in the chamber on Friday, the last day of the 2016 legislative session. Powers, the first African-American and the first woman to be elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 1967, died on January 30 at the age of 92. As a state lawmaker and activist, Powers worked for fair housing, equal rights and became a close ally 

Here’s What Passed The 2016 General Assembly…And What Didn’t

The 2016 General Assembly achieved its main goal—passing a two year state budget—at the last minute of the session, but the legislature also passed well over 100 laws that have been signed by Gov. Matt Bevin so far. Bevin has ten days to veto bills once they’ve reached his desk. He also has the power to strike out portions of bills through his line-item veto power. Unless they’ve been designated “an emergency,” new laws will take effect 90 days after Bevin signs them–mid-July for most. Here’s a rundown of some of the major bills that passed this session, and some that didn’t make it. Passed [...]

Mon, Apr 18, 2016 2:43:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Heine Brothers Is Moving Its Headquarters To Portland

In another indication of growing economic momentum in Portland’s emerging warehouse district, Heine Brothers’ Coffee announced on Monday it is renovating a 100-year-old building on 13th and West Main Street to house its headquarters. The coffee company, which has 13 locations, will house its corporate offices, roastery and training operations in the facility at 1301 W. Main St. It said 15 employees would work there. Heine Brothers’, which sells organic and fair trade coffee, will also lease space in the 40,000-square-foot warehouse. Its target opening is late this summer. The company is looking to piggyback on the planned expansion of Waterfront Park westward, [...]

Mon, Apr 18, 2016 1:30:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

TARC Boosting Bus Service For Thunder Over Louisville

With thousands of people expected to attend Thunder Over Louisville this weekend, TARC is ramping up its service to meet the demand. About 10,000 passengers are expected to take the bus during the annual fireworks extravaganza, according to the transit agency. Signs will be posted on all TARC buses and certain bus stops in the coming days to alert passengers of the changes, which are listed below. Some trips that normally cross the Ohio River to Indiana will be rerouted or cut before, during and shortly after the event, per the agency. Routes heading into downtown will be bolstered with extra buses beginning at 3:30 p.m. [...]

Mon, Apr 18, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Today's Political Headlines

Deal struck on $21B budget early Thursday; lawmakers say agreement blends Senate, House priorities

04/14/2016 05:22 AM

FRANKFORT — Lawmakers have reached an agreement on a $21 billion biennial spending plan after spending several hours negotiating behind closed doors on Wednesday and into Thursday. The General Assembly will vote on the final legislative version of the budget Friday, the last day of the 60-day session. Legislative Research Commission staff has said they need 36 hours to print copies of the budget, which would put the agreement in play around 3 p.m. Details were scant initially as Senate President Robert... Read more 

Retiring Rep. David Floyd says military background helped him as a legislator

04/13/2016 06:21 PM

FRANKFORT – 50th District State Rep. David Floyd, R-Bardstown, is ending his 12-year career in the House of Representatives this year as he has chosen not to seek re-election. The Bardstown Republican, who spent a career in the United States Air Force, brought a unique perspective to the General Assembly because of his military background, which he says, helped him to become an effective legislator. “In the Air Force, you met people from all walks of life, from all parts of the... Read more 

Trio of Democratic lawmakers join suit against Gov. Bevin's higher education cuts

04/13/2016 12:05 PM

FRANKFORT — Three Democratic lawmakers are asking to join on to a lawsuit challenging Gov. Matt Bevin’s power to cut university funding for the rest of the fiscal year by amending the previous budget passed by the General Assembly. Reps. Jim Wayne, Mary Lou Marzian and Darryl Owens all joined party to file a motion on Tuesday challenging against Gov. Bevin, and backing up a suit brought by Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear. The three Louisville lawmakers say they... Read more 

Has Frankfort adopted the dysfunction of Washington, D.C.?

04/13/2016 09:02 AM

Politicians in Kentucky’s Capitol have always been somewhat dysfunctional, but insiders and observers are taking note of a shift in rhetoric that has become reminiscent of partisan speak in another political town located on a river 550 miles away. Political rhetoric, posturing and the stop-and-start negotiations over a two-year budget now has first-year Republican Gov. Matt Bevin saying he won’t call a special session and bringing up terms often bandied about in Washington, D.C. — partial government shutdown. Observers from... Read more 

Felony expungement supporters herald bill signed into law as a second chance for many Kentuckians

04/12/2016 09:59 PM

FRANKFORT — Thousands of Kentuckians will be able to have low-level felony convictions wiped from their records in an expungement bill ceremonially signed into law Tuesday. House Bill 40 covers a number of Class D felonies that can be vacated under the new law, such as third-degree burglary, drug possession and prescription forgery, five years after the completion of their sentences, including parole and probation. Gov. Matt Bevin signed HB 40 into law on Tuesday, saying the legislation is another chance for... Read more 

Gov. Bevin: No special session if General Assembly adjourns without budget

04/12/2016 07:04 PM

UPDATED FRANKFORT — If the General Assembly adjourns sine die without a budget in his first session as governor, Gov. Matt Bevin said Tuesday that he will not call lawmakers back to the Capitol. Bevin said it’ll be up to House Speaker Greg Stumbo and other Democratic leaders to compromise on a $21 billion biennial budget. Without a spending plan in place, state government will face a partial shutdown July 1, and the first-year governor said House Democrats would be to... Read more 

New Online Portal Helps Energy Obsessives Drill Down On Electricity Usage

A few months ago, when they became available, I signed up to get an advanced meter installed on my house. It was one of the energy-efficiency programs Louisville Gas and Electric was offering, and I was intrigued by its promise of letting me more closely track my energy usage through an online dashboard. As I’ve previously reported, my house isn’t the most energy-efficient. The meter was installed last week, and now I’ve got a week’s worth of energy usage to study. LG&E spokeswoman Liz Pratt walked me through the online portal, which lets you drill down — to the 15-minute interval — [...]

Thu, Apr 14, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

Inside The Kentucky Firm At The Center Of The FBI’s Corruption Probe

LEXINGTON — Three weeks after the federal government accused Kentucky’s former No. 2 law enforcement official of accepting bribes, the company believed to have made the alleged payoffs is nowhere to be found. On March 25, FBI agents raided MC Squared Consulting’s office in the colonial-style Richmond Square complex off Man o’ War Boulevard, according to spectators and two company employees. Today, visitors to unit 23 are greeted by a locked door and a paper sign saying “Out of town today.” Neighboring office workers remain flabbergasted. Two, who asked not be identified, said nearly a dozen FBI agents spent most of that [...]

Thu, Apr 14, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Kentucky Lawmakers Reach Budget Deal; Over $1 Billion For Pensions

State lawmakers have come to an agreement on a budget that makes nearly across-the-board spending cuts, enacts performance funding for higher education and puts more money into the ailing state pension systems. House Speaker Greg Stumbo called it “an adequate and effective blend” of the House, Senate and Gov. Matt Bevin’s budget priorities. Senate President Robert Stivers said the bill was ready for a vote. “I believe we have an agreement on all issues related to the budget,” Stivers said. The final document is expected to be approved by both legislative chambers on Friday, the last day of the General Assembly. Lawmakers did not have [...]

Thu, Apr 14, 2016 9:58:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Today's Political Headlines

Has Frankfort adopted the dysfunction of Washington D.C.?

04/13/2016 09:02 AM

Politicians in Kentucky’s Capitol have always been somewhat dysfunctional, but insiders and observers are taking note of a shift in rhetoric that has become reminiscent of political speak in another political town located on a river 550 miles away. Political rhetoric, posturing and the stop-and-start negotiations over a two-year budget now has first year Republican Gov. Matt Bevin saying he won’t call a special session and bringing up terms often bandied about in Washington D.C. — partial government shutdown. Observers... Read more 

Felony expungement supporters herald bill signed into law as a second chance for many Kentuckians

04/12/2016 09:59 PM

FRANKFORT — Thousands of Kentuckians will be able to have low-level felony convictions wiped from their records in an expungement bill ceremonially signed into law Tuesday. House Bill 40 covers a number of Class D felonies that can be vacated under the new law, such as third-degree burglary, drug possession and prescription forgery, five years after the completion of their sentences, including parole and probation. Gov. Matt Bevin signed HB 40 into law on Tuesday, saying the legislation is another chance for... Read more 

Gov. Bevin: No special session if General Assembly adjourns without budget

04/12/2016 07:04 PM

UPDATED FRANKFORT — If the General Assembly adjourns sine die without a budget in his first session as governor, Gov. Matt Bevin said Tuesday that he will not call lawmakers back to the Capitol. Bevin said it’ll be up to House Speaker Greg Stumbo and other Democratic leaders to compromise on a $21 billion biennial budget. Without a spending plan in place, state government will face a partial shutdown July 1, and the first-year governor said House Democrats would be to... Read more 

Firefighter cancer bill to benefit family survivors formally filed by Secretary Grimes

04/12/2016 01:46 PM

FRANKFORT – Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes formally received and filed Senate Bill 195 on Tuesday, which makes families of qualified firefighters who die of certain types of cancer eligible for a lump sum death benefit. The legislation creates an assumption that qualified firefighters who die from certain types of cancer did so in the line of duty. To be eligible for the benefit, firefighters need to be employed for at least 5 years and must have been tobacco free... Read more 

Author Joe Nocera On The NCAA And The Case For Paying Student Athletes

The NCAA makes billions of dollars, but the college athletes who help generate that money don’t see a penny. That’s the focus of “Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA,” a new book by Joe Nocera and Ben Strauss. Nocera will speak in Louisville next week at the Kentucky Author Forum. He spoke with WFPL News about the history and culture of the NCAA. Listen to the interview in the audio player above. Kentucky Author Forum Joe Nocera The NCAA was founded by President Theodore Roosevelt to protect college athletes from injuries and deaths. But Nocera says by the mid-20th century, the focus of the NCAA [...]

Wed, Apr 13, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

A New Film Series At The Speed Defends Guilty Pleasures — And Those Who Love Them

A new film program at the Speed Museum is focusing on “guilty pleasures,” those less-than-highbrow selections that we love anyway. “It would be something that you wouldn’t typically own up to when asked what your favorite films are, especially when somebody is talking about screening something in a museum setting,” says Dean Otto, curator of film at the Speed. “The Defenders” will happen quarterly as part of “Social Speed,” a monthly evening event that includes lectures, gallery tours, games, drinks and other performances. Here’s the setup: For each event, a local celebrity will choose a “guilty pleasure” film that will only be revealed to [...]

Wed, Apr 13, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Donald Trump Is Coming Back To Louisville

The frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination and controversy magnet Donald Trump is due back in Louisville next month. He’s scheduled to join Kentucky Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, Gov. Matt Bevin and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association. The meeting is set for May 19 through May 22 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Trump is scheduled to speak on Friday, May 20, according to a tweet from the NRA. Trump’s previous visit to Louisville earlier this year for a campaign rally sparked protests and led to several alleged assaults. Three people who attended the rally have since [...]

Wed, Apr 13, 2016 12:30:00 AM, Continue reading at the source