A coalition of environmental groups say they’re supporting more widespread use of carbon capture and sequestration technology. The ENGO Network—which includes representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Clean Air Task Force and the Environmental Defense Fund, among others—announced the position at the UN climate talks in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., will travel to Israel next month to meet with leaders in the Middle East on all sides of the ongoing conflict.

The trip will be privately funded and marks Paul’s first visit to the region, where he will be joined by  evangelical and Republican leaders on a tour of cultural and historical sites.

The delegation has requested meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah.

Jewish Community of Louisville spokesman Matt Goldberg says the trip will give Paul a chance to understand the unique challenges Israel faces and possibly change his views.

"We're hopeful that after Sen. Paul sees Israel and what kind of small country it is, and how it’s surrounded by its enemies," says Goldberg. "And we’re hopeful that Sen. Paul will come to see that and revisit his position on foreign aid to Israel."

A southern Indiana group raising money to challenge downtown tolling included in the Ohio River Bridges Project may delay filing a lawsuit this month against the federal government’s record of decision earlier this year.

Louisville resident Behzad Karimian (a.k.a. Tony Karimian) pleaded guilty on Monday to charges related to the unlawful export of aircraft parts from the U.S. to Iran. 

Karimain and another person exported "and causing the export of services" with the sale of a GE Aircraft Engine Model CF6-50C2, and the procurement of helicopters made by Bell Helicopters, alleged the FBI, citing two indictments. They allegedly didn't have the required authorization from the U.S. treasury department, the FBI said.

Given tea's rap today as both a popular pick-me-up and a health elixir, it's hard to imagine that sipping tea was once thought of as a reckless, suspicious act, linked to revolutionary feminism.

For Louisvillians, the top domestic travel destination next year should be Fairbanks, Alaska, says Lonely Planet, the big travel guide publisher.

For everyone else, go to Louisville.

Lonely Planet cites the food and drink on NuLu, the shopping on Bardstown Road and the gobs and gobs of available bourbon in putting Louisville atop its 2013 list of top U.S. travel destinations. 

The longtime spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education is retiring.

Members of the Board of Education gave Lisa Gross a standing ovation Wednesday at their meeting in Frankfort.

Board chairman David Karem said Gross, whose title is director of the division of communications, has been with the department for 27 years.

Her last day will be Dec. 19.

Karem praised Gross for her years of helping the board of education get its message out to the public.

A replacement was not announced.

A report released this week by the U.S. News Short List include Centre College in the top 10 colleges with the highest percentage of college graduates that financially support their alma maters.

Centre College is seventh on the list that is “dominated by National Liberal Arts Colleges,” which emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts fields of study, according to U.S. News.

Lexington firefighters say three people have been found dead inside a burning home.

WLEX-TV reported the fire broke out before dawn Wednesday in the Clays Mill area of the city.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the victims appear to be an older couple and their son, all of whom lived at the address. He declined to release names until the victims could be positively identified.

Ginn told WKYT-TV that all the victims were oxygen-dependent, and oxygen tanks could have accelerated the blaze.