The Commonwealth

Two Kentucky Baptist couples have accepted long-term volunteer positions in New York to assist residents who are still recovering from last year’s Superstorm Sandy. Bill and Donna Johnson of Grayson have agreed to serve for two years as rebuild coordinators for the New York post-Sandy response. Ron and Greta Wilson of Bardstown have volunteered to serve one year as warehouse coordinators for the New York rebuilding effort.

Louisville gay rights leaders are praising veteran NBA player Jason Collins publicly announcing that he is gay, but area sports commentators say the revelation will do little to change the game. The 34-year-old Collins is a free agent who reveals his sexual orientation in the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated, which makes him the first active professional male athlete to disclose his homosexuality.

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking a $4 million penalty from UPS for not complying with federal safety rules. The FAA says UPS did not follow federally-approved procedures for maintaining four planes, which allegedly went on more than 400 flights in 2008 and 2009. The agency further says UPS has not entirely complied with an agreement that required the company to check aircraft repairs against maintenance records. The FAA says had UPS followed the agreement, the penalty would not be necessary.

It's becoming a common refrain. As with Thunder Over Louisville, Louisville Metro Police are urging attendees to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks to report suspicious activity, in a bid to heighten security after last week's bombing at the Boston Marathon. "If you see something, say something," said Maj. Kelly Jones of Louisville Metro Police. "Find the nearest police officer, tell him or her, 'Hey it doesn't look right,' or, 'This is suspicious,' or, 'It bothers me.' We'll be happy to address it. That's why we're here—to serve the public and make sure everybody is safe."

Environmental groups cheered a ruling by the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Monday that invalidates a streamlined permitting process for surface coal mines. The decision reverses a lower court's ruling in Eastern Kentucky that upheld the nationwide permitting process adopted by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2007. The appeals court called the permitting process "arbitrary and capricious" in a 16-page ruling.

When you think Kentucky, what do you think of? Horses? Bourbon? Rolling hills and limestone cliffs? Bluegrass music? Country Music Television hopes to change your way of thinking to also include unlimited guns and blowing up big things. The network launched a new series, Guntucky, on Sunday. Guntucky follows the family that runs Knob Creek Gun Range in Bullitt County.

Two Illinois workers injured in a fire during the October clean-up of a derailed Paducah & Louisville Railway train in southwestern Louisville have filed suit against the railroad and its contractors. Leonardo Anthony Carrillo and Gregory Powers claim that P&L, CSX and a contractor failed to properly monitor dangerous contaminants while the men—employed by clean-up contractor RJ Corman—worked at the site near West Point, Ky.

Churchill Downs is revising the items people can bring into the racetrack during the Kentucky Derby and Oaks because of security concerns raised from Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon. Add to the list of banned items are coolers, fireworks, noisemakers, laser lights/pointers, mace/pepper spray and purses larger than a foot in any dimension. You'll be able to buy a Styrofoam cooler and ice at the track at "comparable" prices to retailers, Churchill Downs says.

Grant Cline’s first Boston Marathon on Monday became unforgettable and tragic when three people were killed and more than 170 were injured in explosions at the 117-year-old event. “There is evil in this world,” said Cline, 56, of Bowling Green, who qualified for Monday’s 26.2-mile run a year ago. “If I’m 25 minutes later, I’d been in the middle of that,” he said of the blasts.

Dr. Ronald Dubin was about five miles from finishing the Boston Marathon on Monday when police began telling runners to get off the course and onto the sidewalks. Dubin, an orthopedic surgeon with offices in Middlesboro and Corbin, said he saw police cars driving fast down the road and then buses carrying military people. Soon after, he learned about the explosions at the finish line through calls from family members and friends wanting to check on him. His first reaction was disbelief.

The Kentucky Foundation for Women has awarded $100,000 in grants to Kentucky artists. The grants are awarded to feminist artists and organizations to develop their artistic skills, explore new techniques or create new works.  Small grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 will support projects ranging from a Lexington music series focused on African American female composers to a nonfiction book and website about life as an active-duty military wife. Of the 36 artist enrichment grants awarded this month, 12 totaling $34,000 will fund Louisville-based artists and their projects.

It’s tax day and a busy one at the Kentucky Revenue Department.

“I noticed, I’ve been watching our phone board and evidently we’re getting a lot of questions today. So, a lot of phone calls coming in already.”

State Division of Individual Income Director Bruce Nix says some one- point-three million state tax returns have already been filed, but another 400-thousand could arrive today.  For taxpayers who need more time, Nix says filing for an extension with the I-R-S is all that’s required in Kentucky.

Organizers of the Tough Mudder obstacle course event have decided to return to Mason County after a successful event in 2012. Scheduled for Oct. 19 and 20, the event drew 8,400 participants and 3,000 spectators to the Big Rock Off-Road Park in 2012. Maysville officials said the event had a significant economic impact, with hotels booked for the weekend, as well as restaurants and local retailers also benefiting from competitors and visitors to the area.

CORBIN – Nine young people from across the country are spending several weeks this spring working on trails in Eastern Kentucky to help communities and state parks. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team has worked in Letcher County and at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin and is scheduled to do more work at Stearns and Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade during April and May, according to a state park system news release.

Dozens of protesters gathered in downtown Lexington Wednesday, waving flags and calling for immigration reform.   It was unseasonably warm as one corner of Triangle Park filled with hundreds of immigration reform supporters.  Speakers chanted into a public address system, urging the crowd to join them.

Most legislation passed by Kentucky's 2013 General Assembly will take effect June 25, the state attorney general's office said Monday. The attorney general's opinion came from a request by Legislative Research Commission director Robert Sherman about the effective date of legislation passed during this year's law-making session.

Several organizations have partnered with Kosair Charities to participate in a campaign to end child abuse. The announcement expected Tuesday comes in the middle of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Kosair Charities announced the initiative last year. Since then, Kosair president Randy Coe says the coalition has been developing a plan to measure the success of the campaign. The goal is to eradicate child abuse, which Coe acknowledges is ambitious.