The Commonwealth

Work to repair damage done by a massive landslide to Interstate 75 in northern Tennessee will continue through the weekend.  It’s blocked the southbound lanes of that major artery and has changed the casual conversation at Kentucky’s welcome center.  The man who supervises the Welcome Center operated by the Commonwealth just north of the state line takes a lot of questions.  But since March 8th, when a landslide partially blocked I-75, David Cox says the nature of those questions has changed.  Cox says the first question asked by many northbound motorists is ‘what’s wrong.’

A new report by Kentucky Youth Advocates is shining light on the state’s high number of incarcerated youth with low priority crimes. The report released this week, Ending the Use of Incarceration for Status Offenders in Kentucky, shows nearly one in every six incarcerated minorities is jailed for low priority offenses. The data comes from the Department of Juvenile Justice.

A replacement span for Eggners Ferry Bridge was lifted into place Tuesday after being transported 30 miles Monday through Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The 322-foot span was assembled at the Eddyville Riverport and began its journey to the bridge site around 12:30 p.m. Monday. It was transported using a three-barge flotilla, which also carried two cranes needed to move the span once it arrived.

Gov. Steve Beshear will address the families, friends and comrades of Kentucky’s fallen officers during the Department of Criminal Justice Training’s annual law enforcement memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22. The ceremony will honor two officers whose watch ended in 2011 – Alexandria Police Officer James P. Sticklen and Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent Timothy Briggs.

Kentucky Labor Cabinet officials have recognized more than 40 companies that have taken the extra steps necessary to guarantee the health and safety of employees.The companies were honored during the Governor’s Safety and Health Conference and Exposition at Louisville’s Galt House East. The annual conference brings together nearly 600 professionals across the state to participate in safety training courses.