News

State police again promise have patrols on Kentucky’s highways this holiday weekend, and, as always, they’ll be watchful for drunk drivers.  And, there’s a move afoot that tightens restrictions on drivers who also drink.

Exiled Tibetan leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner the Dalai Lama came to Louisville on Sunday for the first time since 1994, bringing his distinctive message of compassion not just for all humans but for other species. He blessed a Buddhist community center and then spoke to about 15,000 people at the Yum Center. The Dalai Lama was introduced by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who praised his moral clarity and trademark raucous laugh, which were in evidence often during the speech and question-and-answer session that followed. Read more...

Closing the Big Sandy Power plant in Lawrence County would be devastating for area. That's what speaker after speaker said during a Kentucky Public Service Commission public meeting last week at the Lawrence County Community Center. Lawrence Countian Gary Allen asked some provoking questions but did not get answers. But the main question seems to be would you rather pay more for your electricity in order to keep the Big Sandy plant burning coal, or would you rather have cheaper electricity that meets environmental code?  Read more..

Martha Raddatz told one on herself Sunday during her commencement address to Centre College’s Class of 2013. The highly decorated and respected ABC foreign correspondent who has reported from war zones around the world, the White House and the Pentagon, the woman who held Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan in check during their feisty debate at Centre last fall, never made it through college. Centre helped Raddatz fill that void in her life, bestowing on her an honorary degree.  Read more...

A flight carrying 71 Tristate veterans and their escorts departs at 8 am. Tuesday from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Washington to see visit national memorials. Honor Flight Tri-State is a nonprofit organization that flies World War II and Korean War veterans to their memorials in Washington at no cost. The flight returns at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday.  Read more...

Kentucky Tea Party groups are planning rallies Tuesday to protest the IRS targeting of Tea Party and conservative groups for extra review. Two of Kentucky's largest Tea Party groups will protests outside IRS offices in their respective areas: the Northern Kentucky Tea Party will protest in Cincinnati and Louisville's group will join southern Indiana groups to protest in Louisville.

The numbers tell part of the story.  71-hundred children need foster homes but there are only four-thousand such residences in Kentucky.  And, State Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Teresa James says some of those foster parents hope to adopt a child...and then leave the system.  “We have some of our homes are actually considered foster to adopt.  These are individuals who want to be foster parents, but are saying to us when they come in ‘we might also be interested in adoption, if children have had their, if their parental rights have been terminated and children are free for adoption,” said James.

Beginning today and continuing through June 2, Kentucky State Police will be participating in the “Click It or Ticket” national, seatbelt enforcement campaign. The federal highway safety initiative focuses on seatbelt and child restraint enforcement as well as driver education.

Fan Outfitters, a Lexington-based chain of sports clothing stores started by two members of the Dawahare family, has been sold to the Lids Sports Group, based in Indianapolis. The company, which operates Lids hat stores, including one in Fayette Mall, and other sports retail operations, announced the acquisition in a news release last week. The deal includes Fan Outfitters' seven stores and its online retail operation. The price was not disclosed. Read more...

Let's see, Ed from Lexington called station manager Roger Duvall.  Karen emailed from London, Kentucky.   Another Karen posted on Facebook, as did Terry.  Meanwhile Chad tweeted about it.  And this all happened Saturday evening.

Tea party activist David Adams is again suing Gov. Steve Beshear. This time it's over the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare. The lawsuit aims at stopping Beshear from expanding Medicaid in Kentucky.

Most agree a $11.7 million public health clinic that could help thousands of poor people get medical and dental treatment would be positive for Lexington. But opinions vary dramatically about benefits of the land deal between developer Ted J. Mims and HealthFirst Bluegrass to locate the clinic at 496 Southland Drive. The project is the focus of an audit announced Tuesday by Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and state Auditor Adam Edelen. They cited concern over $250,000 in fees and rent that have been paid by HealthFirst for the clinic with few tangible results. Read more...

BALTIMORE — The worst part wasn't so much that Shug McGaughey was disappointed for himself that Orb didn't win the Preakness. The worst part was the disappointment he felt for all those who wanted Orb to win the Preakness. "I felt the pressure because of that," said the trainer, standing on the Pimlico dirt track where just moments before his Kentucky Derby winner had finished a surprising fourth in the second leg of the Triple Crown. "I'm disappointed for them." Read more...

Here we go again, apologizing for a technical issue, but seriously the problem with A Prairie Home companion on Saturday evening was a computer playlist error that went unnoticed when prepping for the weekend. For those who are really interested in what goes on behind the scenes, feel free to read on. Otherwise, we won't be offended.

Kentucky's Tourism Secretary, Marcheta Sparrow will retire at the end of this month. Sparrow was one of Governor Steve Beshear's first cabinet appointments, taking office in 2007. Beshear did not return a request for comment, but in a statement, he praised Sparrow for the state's recent uptick in tourism, including a 4.4 percent jump last year. Beshear says he will name a new secretary soon. The secretary oversees many departments, in addition to tourism, including parks, fish and wildlife and other humanities-related offices. 

Earlier this month, the final Chautauqua Lecture of the year at Eastern Kentucky University featured The Poetry of Thomas Merton.   Until his accidental death in 1968, the Roman Catholic monk lived at the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery near Bardstown. 

For 21 years, Ben Chandler served Kentuckians in the U.S. House of Representatives.  This summer, he’ll find find himself in a new role, as he says, "telling Kentucky’s story" as Executive Director of the Kentucky Humanities Council.  We spoke this week with Mr.Chandler about the position he assumes on July 1st.

The dismantling of the old Clark Regional Medical Center has begun, and should take about six months, according to Jen Algire, CEO of the Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health. “The building’s basically going to be dismantled piece by piece,” Algire said.  Read more...

Frank X Walker visited The Academy Wednesday morning to brainwash a class of about 20 students. But what Kentucky’s poet laureate described as brainwashing was really a creative exercise to show the students that poetry is connected to the brain. Walker drew a rectangle with a circle in the middle of it on the whiteboard and asked the students to tell him what they saw.

A coalition of western Kentucky businesses and residents has formed in hopes of minimizing the fallout of an electricity rates deal between Big Rivers Electric Co-Op and western Kentucky aluminum smelters.  The coalition is worried the deal will lead to higher utility bills for residents and businesses. 

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, transportation agencies and highway patrols across the area are gearing up for a busy time on the roads. With that, comes an emphasis on seat belt safety. AAA announced their commitment to joining the “Click It or Ticket” effort Thursday, holding an event at their Florence location.  Read more...

“Good news” for the Eastern Kentucky coal industry was announced Wednesday, with officials saying several new mines are opening in Pike County, bringing more than 250 jobs. According to a statement from the Pike County Judge Executives Wayne T. Rutherford’s office, High Ridge Mining, a Kentucky corporation owned by Bill Smith, of Raccoon, announced the opening of seven deep mines in Pike County.

Fifteen nominations to the National Register of Historic Places were approved today during a meeting of the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board at Metro Development Center in Louisville.

The trial date for former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has been rescheduled to 10 a.m. Oct. 22, a federal judge ordered Wednesday. Farmer’s attorney, Guthrie True, had asked U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to delay the proceeding to February from its original July 2 trial date.

Their favorite key boardist is honored this weekend by the Lexington Singers.   Jay Flippin, who’s also well known in academic circles, often accompanies the region’s choral groups.  So, Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, says Flippin’s work is the focus of a Saturday afternoon concert.  Read more...

More than 61,000 students are estimated to receive a degree or credential from one of Kentucky’s public and independent colleges and universities in 2013—slightly fewer than the year before, according to Kentucky's Council on Postsecondary Education. The CPE released its preliminary degrees report Thursday, you can find it here. Overall, public colleges and universities are expected to award fewer degrees this year than last, while the independent system will increase its awards. When averaged, this represents a less than one percent decrease in total degrees for all of Kentucky’s public and independent colleges and universities.  Read more...

A Politico video featuring the chief of staff for Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been removed by the Washington publication after ethical questions were raised. In a story first reported by Roll Call, an idea was pitched to McConnell chief of staff Josh Holmes to appear in a video endorsing Politico's coverage. It shows Holmes explaining his vision for America, love of public service and why he reads Politico all while sitting in the senator's office.  Read more...

It’s on to Lexington’s City Council for a food truck pilot project.  The compromise today got an initial go-ahead from the Parking Authority Board.  The six month trial run allows food trucks in designated downtown zones during daytime hours.  Since they’d occupy metered spaces, the compromise required the Parking Authority’s approval.  It came with a number of requested modifications.  The revisions continue the ban on food trucks along Mill Street but allow them on an extended portion of Vine.  Council member Shevawn Akers, who’s work group constructed the compromise, predicts the council will also approve.

Louisville Zoo officials say the zoo's oldest polar bear passed away today from unknown causes. Arki was 28 years old, and came to Louisville in 2011 from the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. According to Polar Bears International, the bears live an average to 15 to 18 years in the wild, but in captivity can live into their mid- to late 30s. The oldest known polar bear in captivity--Debby, who lived in a Canadian zoo--was 42 years old. Read more...

Posting photos on Facebook has led to a Frankfort man being indicted Wednesday for trafficking in marijuana. Donald Newton, 39, of 974 Wilkinson Blvd., allegedly posted photos on his Facebook page of marijuana shaped as a birthday cake with a candle on top and of him holding a wad of cash.