Lexington/Richmond

Flood waters have receded from some homes in western Kentucky’s river counties. Teams are assessing damage to determine whether some counties may be eligible for F-E-M-A individual recovery assistance. FEMA’s Nick Morici says it’s OK for people to start cleaning up before their homes have been assessed.

A central Kentucky high school club has been named the Outstanding History Club of the year. The award was given to Henry Clay High School in Lexington by the National History Club and the History Channel. Club sponsor Chris Snow says he wants the Henry Clay group to be proactive and hands-on.

The Louisville-based Presbyterian Church U.S.A. will soon allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy members. A majority of the denomination's regional governing bodies–called presbyteries–have agreed to lift the requirement that unmarried clergy remain celibate, which was previously part of the church's constitution.

Many charitable groups across the region collect donations at traffic lights.  But,  Lexington’s prohibition of such fundraisers will continue.  The Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program and Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center thinks fundraising at busy intersections is a good idea.  They want to model their Lexington effort after a highly successful campaign waged in Louisville.  However, councilmember Bill Farmer joined the majority in rejecting the proposal.

At last count, the tourism business in Kentucky accounts for some 10-billion dollars to the state economy, and employs more than 160,000 people. Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet spokesperson Gil Lawson says that message is being emphasized during National Travel and Tourism Week.

Some of the western Kentucky residents who were forced to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding will be allowed to return soon. Governor Steve Beshear today authorized the move as the Ohio and Mississippi rivers recede. But while some residents will return to their homes, not all of them will stay. Lisa McManus left her McCracken County house and is going back only to retrieve what is salvageable.

Running unopposed in the primary election, Republican candidate for attorney general and Hopkins County Attorney Todd P’Pool raised an impressive $114,335, according to the latest campaign finance reports. The 15-day reporting period is the last filing before the May 17 primary and stretches from April 15 through May 1. Records show during that time P’Pool raised the second highest amount among any candidate seeking statewide office, behind only Governor Steve Beshear, who raised $200,627 since the last filing.

Fifteen jobs at the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper will be cut. Four of the positions are currently vacant, and the paper reports that the cuts are necessary to overcome year after year of negative revenue. The jobs cuts will be in various departments, including advertising, news and operations. Some of the employees were offered voluntary severance options. Others were not.

The three Republican candidates for governor gathered for a KET forum last night.  There were a few instances of argumentative disputes,  but the candidates also sought to identify their strengths. Louisville businessman Phil Moffett says his tea party candidacy is different from Rand Paul’s, another tea party member, who now serves in the US  Senate.

A structural engineer spent most of Monday morning at the corner of Vine Street and Hernando Alley in Lexington, trying to determine what caused a piece of concrete to fall from the Phoenix parking garage Sunday night. A 28-foot slab fell from the 2nd level of the garage, which is owned by the city.

"With the six garages that we've got, five of which are open, we're going to do whatever it takes to make sure they're all safe for the public. I can assure you that."

The lone police officer killed last year in the Commonwealth was honored today.  His name was added to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial in Richmond.  WEKU’s Charles Compton reports…

As temperatures warm, more motorcyclists are travelling Kentucky Roads.  Eastern Kentucky University played host Monday to the first International Rider Education Training System conference.

The primary election is just over a week away.  So, expect aggressive campaigning this week by the three Republican candidates for governor.  It may begin tonight’s during a gubernatorial forum on Kentucky Educational Television.    Political scientist Joe Gershtenson, who teaches at Eastern Kentucky University, says the primary seems to be ‘creeping up under the radar.’

Pikeville College has changed its name. It will soon be the University of Pikeville. University President Paul Patton says it’s a name the eastern Kentucky school earned many years ago.

“Well, the definition of a university is a college that also offers graduate programs, which we do and have for many years.  And, the name should try to indicate to people the kind of institution that you are,” said Patton.

Besides hosting a school of osteopathic medicine, Patton says the university will soon offer a master of business administration.

Officials in charge of fixing Fayette County’s sewer problems are discussing potential costs.   City officials are examining three different options with three different rate plans.

The publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader is retiring. The 63-year-old Timothy Kelly has been with the paper for 22 years, 15 of which as president and publisher. He will step down on June 3rd. On June 6th, Rufus Friday will take over leadership of the paper. Friday is currently publisher of the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Washington. Both the Tri-City Herald and the Herald-Leader are owned by the McClatchy Company.

Calling the decision a foolish game of cat and mouse, the president of the Louisville NAACP says Gov. Steve Beshear is snubbing President Barack Obama, and it could cost him votes in the general election. Mr. Obama is making his first visit as president to the commonwealth Friday to meet with troops at Fort Campbell. He will also have a private meeting with members of the Navy SEAL team that killed al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. But Beshear will miss the president’s visit in order to fulfill his Oak’s Day obligations instead.