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The huge winter storm system that dumped as much as a foot of snow on parts of Indiana is moving eastward and out of the region.

The heaviest snowfall has been recorded in central and western Indiana, but there have been significant accumulations in counties closer to the Ohio River and in far western Kentucky.

Much of Indiana was under a blizzard warning today as the blowing, drifting snow came at a pace of three inches per hour in some places. The winter weather snarled traffic and left hundreds of travelers stranded at the Indianapolis International Airport.

When Will Russell and his partners staged the first party in honor of their favorite movie, The Coen Bros.'  “The Big Lebowski,” they didn’t realize how many people shared their enthusiasm for what was then an overlooked slacker comedy. Ten years later, Lebowski Fest tours internationally with cast member guest appearances and buzz bands, and their two-day flagship event brings fans (code name: Achievers) from all over the country to Louisville every summer for bowling, White Russians, costume contests and what-have-you.

Russell's banking on tapping into a similar community of cult film fans with his new venture, Pee Wee Over Louisville. The day-long celebration of Russell’s second-favorite movie, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,”  is planned for September and will feature a family-friendly themed activities like a bicycle rodeo and a screening of the film.

Kentucky’s economic growth in 2013 could mirror the advances made this year.

That’s according to Ken Troske, who directs the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky.

Troske predicts another two to three percent in economic growth. He says this year’s economic improvement came at a slower than anticipated pace.

“It’s certainly not the growth that you would expect coming out of a recession," Troske said.

Several companies that operate barges on the drought-stricken Mississippi River have asked Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to intervene by calling for a presidential disaster declaration.

The companies, including three based in Paducah, say such a request could be a first step in getting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release water from the Missouri River to improve the flow of theMississippi.

The companies made the appeal in a Dec. 20 letter.

One food truck couldn’t contain the plans Matt Davis had for Lil Cheezers Gourmet Grilled Cheesemobile.

Davis took to the Louisville streets in a Velveeta-yellow truck in 2011, selling creative takes on the classic grilled cheese sandwich to office workers, club kids and curious passers-by. In less then 18 months, Davis has established a brick-and-mortar restaurant, too.

“The idea was not to put all the eggs in the Lil Cheezers (truck) basket,” Davis said.

Metro Government will install a new emergency siren in Louisville’s East End, and upgrade three others with federal grant money.

Louisville’s Emergency Management Agency uses the city’s network of 124 sirens to warn residents of everything from extreme weather to industrial accidents. But because they’re frequently used during tornado warnings, they’re often called ‘tornado sirens.’

Mayor’s spokesman Chris Poynter says the city decided a siren was necessary on the University of Louisville’s Shelby Campus, which is near Hurstbourne Parkway and Shelbyville Road.

Before the Bobby Petrino era begins at Western Kentucky, there's a bowl game to play — the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Central Michigan tonight.

The game is at Ford Field in Detroit, not far from the campus of the Chippewas (6-6). The Hilltoppers (7-5) will be led by interim coach Lance Guidry.

Petrino's hiring has almost overshadowed the play of the Hilltoppers. They are in their first bowl since becoming a top-tier college football school in 2009.

From scrappy upstarts to established cornerstones of our community, 2012 offered up more intriguing and exciting arts events than one person can even count. Here is my admittedly incomplete, with apologies to what I missed,  in no certain order or rank, list of the year's memorable arts events: 

Kentucky state government officials say jobless rates improved in 99 counties in November but worsened in 20 others.

The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training reports that Woodford County kept its status as the place with the lowest jobless rate in the state at 5.4 percent. Scott County had the second lowest rate at 5.9 percent. And Fayette, Franklin, Oldham and Union counties were at 6 percent.

Magoffin County had the worst unemployment at 15.1 percent. Fulton County was a close second at 15 percent.

The Louisville Metro area remains under a winter weather advisory until 7:00 this evening, with about an inch of snow and sleet accumulation expected.

Louisville sits on the southern edge of a huge winter storm system moving across the upper Midwest.