News

Earlier this month,  I wrote about Sonia McElroy. McElroy was vying for a seat on the board of Shelby Energy--an electricity cooperative that serves parts of Shelby, Trimble, Henry and Carroll counties. This was the first contested election in the co-op's history. It was being run according to the bylaws, but McElroy raised questions about whether the rules were fair and biased in favor of incumbents.

Political satirist Stephen Colbert focused on Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's recent fumble on the campaign trail.

The Mourdock campaign accidentally released the GOP contender's various reactions to the Supreme Court's pending ruling the Affordable Care Act. Colbert mocked Mourdock by releasing his reactions to a number of faux-Supreme Court decisions including the re-appointment of George W. Bush as president.

Check it out:

The Colbert Report
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Louisville Metro Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, D-2, is launching a radio show amid growing scandals over city spending in her office.

The embattled city lawmaker has faced mounting criticism for her actions, including hiring her felon grandson as her legislative aide at a $34,000 annual salary. Shanklin was also questioned about lobbying for a jobs program for ex-convicts that served no former inmates but that she and family members participated in.

Earlier this week, it was reported that $3,000 in taxpayer money has gone to her relatives through funding of a neighborhood association in checks that she personally signed since 2005.

Now Shanklin is teaming up with gospel station WLOU 1350 AM to create "Speakerphone," a weekly radio broadcast that will debut this Saturday at Noon.

Democratic Caucus spokesman Tony Hyatt says Shanklin wants to discuss issues affecting teenagers and young adults in her district, and won’t address those controversies on her show.

"Speakerphone is primarily for young people to talk about what’s on their mind. I don’t see it as being an opportunity for the councilwoman to speak on any particular thing she’s being involved with over the last couple of weeks," he says.

Unlike its Appalachian neighbors, Kentucky has no large or small-scale wind farms. And a study says that’s only partly due to the state’s low wind potential.

University of Louisville officials are continuing plans to develop a research park near the Belknap Campus.

In a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday, the project--located just North of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium--was unveiled and includes a new road and two bridges that will connect the research facilities with the rest of campus.

The Transit Authority of River City’s Board of Directors has approved several service reductions that will take effect in August, but the cuts are not as steep as originally proposed.

Under a plan approved by the board today, half of the cuts proposed two months ago will be spared, due to lower than estimated diesel fuel costs,  a boost in occupational tax revenue in May and in response to public input.  TARC gets much of its funding from the occupational tax.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overrule a Montana campaign finance law is likely to boost the rise of super PACs in Kentucky.

The Montana law limited the amount of money independent groups could spend on campaigns. But the high court says the 2010 Citizens United decision overrules state laws. The ruling doesn’t affect any laws in Kentucky. But state election officials have changed regulations to accommodate Citizens United. 

A Pike County miner has died following an accident at the McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation's Mine No. 23 in Kimper. From the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing:

Preliminary reports indicate 33-year-old Farley Sargent was laying track when a rib roll occurred. A rib roll is when a portion of the coal pillar wall falls into the corridor.

The University of Louisville Department of Pediatrics has been granted permission by a national accreditation council to offer a fellowship to doctors in child abuse pediatrics.

The three-year program is one of 25 in the country dealing with physical and sexual child abuse, neglect, prevention and advocacy.

Fellowship director Dr. Lisa Pfitzer says it will function much like a physician’s residency, with emphasis on clinical work.

Activists expect the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down most of Arizona's controversial immigration law will stifle efforts to pass a similar law in Kentucky.

Kate Miller of the state ACLU chapter says Kentuckians have largely rejected policies modeled after Arizona's law. But at least one immigration bill comes up in every legislative session.