News

U.S. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to announce a bill to put limits on the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of coal mining. McConnell’s bill—which he’s calling “The Coal Jobs Protection Act”—would set deadlines for the EPA to approve or veto coal mining permits. If McConnell’s bill becomes law, the agency would have 270 days to act on some permits for water pollution. For valley fill permits, the bill gives the EPA a year to conduct an environmental assessment. This is a time-intensive process that the EPA estimates takes an average of three years.

The Kentucky Arts Council awarded more than $50,000 in grants to six organizations to provide “creative aging and lifelong learning” arts programs for Kentucky’s senior citizens.  The Arts Access Assistance grants were created last fall to support programming for specific underserved groups. The first fiscal year of funding will support programs for the state’s senior citizens.

A leading health organization in Kentucky is putting the pressure on Gov. Steve Beshear to expand Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act.  Kentucky Voices for Health Executive Director Regan Hunt says her group is launching a two-week radio ad campaign pressure Beshear to expand Medicaid. The radio ad campaign will be partnered with a month long online ad campaign.

Officials with The Old Pogue Distillery announced Friday the release of the first barrel aged whiskey distilled in Maysville in more than 70 years. The limited quantity brown spirit will be available only at The Old Pogue Distillery in Maysville beginning Wednesday.

An evacuation occurred at the temporary Franklin County courthouse Monday morning after the words “bomb in build” were found spray-painted on the building. The black spray-painting was on the left side of the building, near the door where judges enter. An employee first noticed the spray-painting about 8 a.m., when the courthouse opened. The employee notified the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, which is housed in the opposite end of the building. A search of the building turned up nothing.

The growing popularity of bourbon has sparked big dreams along the Ohio River and among the state’s leaders in Frankfort. An idea that began when Ken Lewis saw a surge in bourbon sales at his Party Source liquor store in Bellevue has taken shape with the stainless steel fermentation tanks now standing in front of his store on Ky. 8. Gov. Steve Beshear and other Kentucky leaders hope to help Lewis and Kentucky’s other 16 distilleries with tax credits and promotion to foster Kentucky’s signature liquor industry.

A leading Kentucky charter schools advocate says he’s hopeful the state House leadership will choose a new chairman for the House education committee who is open to charter schools. The chairmanship became vacant last week when Democratic state Rep. Carl Rollins resigned to lead the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and the CEO of the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation.

Following our broadcast of concerns about the amount of coverage we provided following the Boston bombings last week, we received the following email from listener Lisa, saying she agrees.  She writes, “I love your station and listen all the time. I usually donate once, often twice a year and will gladly donate more when I secure a full time job."

On this week's edition of Kentucky Tonight, host Bill Goodman and guests will the federal budget.  The program which airs "live" Monday evening on Kentucky Educational Television, will be re-broadcast Tuesday morning at 11:00 on the WEKU Stations.

Two southern Indiana sites are on the latest list of the state’s Most Endangered Places, compiled by the preservation group Indiana Landmarks.  One of the places, the Old Clarksville Site, is a holdover from last year. The nearly 300 acre site along the Ohio River includes remnants of pre-historic settlements, and the spot where Lewis and Clark launched their expedition of the western U.S. in 1803.

In the early stages of developing the University of Kentucky's master plan, hired consultants Sasaki and Associates took a deeper look at some of UK's oldest buildings, putting an emphasis on renovation over demolition. Bob Wiseman, UK's vice president for facilities, said preservation of old buildings is part of the "give and take that will go on for many years."

Just as Churchill Downs gears up for Derby Week, Keeneland wrapped up its spring meet.  Both attendance at the Lexington track and the amount of cash wagered increased. Despite traffic complicated by major road repairs on US 60, overall attendance at Keeneland was up over three percent this spring, with over 278-thousand people enjoying a day at the races. 

Breakfast has been said to be the most important meal of the day, and it can be important in fighting obesity. Policymakers in West Virginia are pushing for breakfast food programs in schools through public-private partnerships, and a new report says similar programs could save $41 billion in federal dollars long-term by preventing obesity. Does this make sense, and does it make sense for Kentucky?

Dump your unwanted prescription drugs this Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which in the past has coordinated with local law enforcement to haul in more than than 2 million pounds or 1,018 tons of prescription medications.

Former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer may be on trial for three weeks in Frankfort’s federal courthouse, prosecutors said Thursday during Farmer’s arraignment. In addition, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Wier told Farmer he could not take a planned vacation to Mexico and must remain in the state until his trial begins. Farmer, who played on the 1992 University of Kentucky basketball squad dubbed “The Unforgettables,” pleaded not guilty to four counts of misusing state resources and one charge of accepting property in exchange for a Department of Agriculture grant.

The Kentucky Bach Choir is getting ready for its spring concert with performance of the music of Bach and Handel. The group was founded in 2007 as the Lexington Bach Choir.  London, Kentucky native Marlon Hurst became artistic director in 2009 when choir founder Richard Sowers took a job out of state.  

A Louisville high school ranks as the best in Kentucky, according to the 2013 best high school rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News joined with the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C. to evaluate schools on student performance on state-mandated assessment tests, according to the publication's website. In all, data from more than 21,000 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia was evaluated.

Misery loves company, after all. Kentuckians are the third most stressed out people in the U.S., trailing only West Virginians and Rhode Islanders, says a new poll from Gallup. In 2012, 44.8 percent of Kentuckians told Gallup that they'd experienced stress the previous day. Kentuckians also are the second least likely to experience enjoyment. Rhode Island topped that list.

Kentucky has spawned its fair share of Hollywood actors….from Patricia Neal to Jennifer Lawrence, and now, Michael Shannon.  The Lexington native cancelled an appearance this weekend at the Kentucky Theater, but Shannon’s newest film still opens there.  Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, spoke about this weekend’s events with WEKU’s Charles Compton.

Former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that he misused more than $450,000 of state money and property during his eight years as Kentucky's top agriculture official. Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball player whose retired jersey hangs in Rupp Arena, appeared Thursday afternoon with his attorney, J. Guthrie True, at the federal courthouse in Lexington. A grand jury has charged Farmer, 43, with four counts of misappropriating property and money, and one count of soliciting property to influence agriculture department business.

The Kentucky Nonprofit Network staged its first Kentucky Gives Day this week, raising $330,000 for 380 nonprofit organizations in one 24-hour online campaign on April 24. The Network supplied each organization with digital campaign tools and a page on the Kentucky Gives Day Razoo site, the giving platform that received donations on behalf of the organizations.

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.

In the annual Kentucky Writers' Day program at the Capitol, Governor Steve Beshear inducted poet Frank X Walker as the state's new poet laureate. Walker is the first African American to hold the post, and at 53 years old, the University of Kentucky professor is also the youngest. The Kentucky Arts Council announced Walker's appointment in February.

Almost the entire life of Andy Narell has been devoted to mastering the steel drum.  The steel drum, also known as the steel pan, was invented in Trinidad, where it was first made from the lids placed atop oil drums. The Grammy-Award winning percussionist describes his instrument as an engineering feat that defies the odds. Narell spoke with WEKU’s Roger Duvall.

Factory and office workers in Lexington could see new lunch time items available in coming months.  But, it might mean a trip outside.  While the debate in Lexington rages over food trucks, those vendors might find less resistance at workplaces.  Worried about competition, the owners of many brick-and-mortar restaurants want to limit a food truck’s access to public spaces…keeping them from doing business on public streets.  However, with a small change to the Lexington’s zoning restrictions, Planning Director Chris King says businesses without indoor dining facilities for their employees could open their gates to food trucks.

 In about a month, more details are expected on who should design the renovation of Lexington’s Rupp Arena.  The overall project to refurbish the sports arena along with the Lexington Convention Center carries an estimated price tag of close to 300-million dollars.  Frank Butler is project manager for the Rupp Arena Arts and Entertainment District.  “We’re really now starting to ramp this up.  I would anticipate sometime probably towards the end of May beginning of June, we will have selected our architects and our construction manager and we’ll be in full blown moving the project ahead,” said Butler.

A super PAC founded by former Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is calling out Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for voting against gun control measures in a new radio advertisement. Americans Responsible for Solutions was formed by Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, and is launching the spots in the Louisville and Lexington areas. Giffords, who was shot in the head during a 2011 shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., has been an outspoken proponent for gun control measures since retiring from Congress.

Pikeville's Hatfield and McCoy River Trails will open Friday for people to enjoy floating down the calm waters of the Levisa Fork River this summer. The service will offer canoes, kayaks and float tubes to rent and have two- and four- hour trails to choose from.

Kentucky state Rep. Carl Rollins is resigning his House seat effective at the end of today, becoming the state first lawmaker to announce his retirement this cycle. Rollins is resigning to become the executive director and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and the CEO of the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation.

Lexington leaders have narrowly voted to beef up the city’s rainy day fund.  With the city’s financial outlook improving Council member Jennifer Mossotti wants to set aside two-point-seven million additional dollars in an economic contingency fund.

“But, my concern is that revenues are gonna be flat this year and if we have some kind of disaster or a need that we need to use this economic contingency fund for, we would have that ability to do so,” said Mossotti.