http://http://www.kentucky.com/211/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com Local 60 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:52:17 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/853567.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/853567.html Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:53 EDT
The building, sitting derelict and silent on acres of asphalt, is listed for sale at $10.5 million. But there's been little interest in the near-windowless warehouse-like building that occupies a lot the size of a dozen football fields.

For potential tenants, "it's a hard pitch because for most uses it seems to be a bit of a tough fit," said Brian Ritter, business development director of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association.

As the recession takes its toll on big-box retailers, more communities across the country and around the Bluegrass have to confront not just the eyesore of giant empty stores, but the loss of jobs and tax revenue that follow.

Many are trying to find creative uses for those near windowless monoliths. In Minnesota, one became a Spam Museum. In Texas, an indoor go-kart track. In Illinois, as in Georgetown, a church moved into an empty Wal-Mart. The new tenants, however, often generate less revenue for local governments.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/853565.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/853565.html Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:53 EDT
The Fayette County Public Schools will be one of the first school districts in Kentucky to try out the new textbook, Math in Focus: The Singapore Approach , which is based on math-teaching techniques that have helped Singapore's students rack up some of the world's highest mathematics scores in recent years.

The Singapore-based textbook covers fewer math topics than texts previously in use here, but it strives to give students a greater depth of understanding, educators say. That's in line with guidelines for new Kentucky math standards, which the state legislature mandated earlier this year.

"It's really more than a textbook. It's a whole program and approach to math," said Natalee Feese, the Fayette schools' elementary math content specialist. "It's a very rigorous program that focuses on helping kids understand math conceptually first, rather than rushing them into a lot of rules."

Nine Fayette elementary schools will exclusively use the new textbooks and accompanying teaching techniques developed in Singapore in grades K-12 starting with the new school year. Seven other schools will use parts of the program, officials said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852333.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852333.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:03 EDT
Cliff Feltham, a spokesman for the Nest, said that a projected operating deficit at the center of approximately $132,000 necessitates that the day care stop offering services after July 21.

The day care program accounted for approximately 60 percent of the deficit, Feltham said.

Board chair William Owsley said Nest officials did not want to close the day care, which served 696 children from unstable families in the fiscal year 2007-08.

"For the good of the center and in order to continue all the important work that it does, this was the only choice that we really had," Owsley said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852897.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852897.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:28 EDT
The probes revealed unchecked spending, "a severe lack of documented policies and procedures" and an insurance program for the counties that had big financial problems.

KACo which offers services such as lobbying, insurance coverage, financing for projects and training to Kentucky's 120 counties made changes after the scrutiny, particularly to prevent the collapse of its insurance fund.

But, in areas of expenses and travel costs, history appears to be repeating itself.

"There seems to be some similar situations that are going on now: lack of proper oversight and excessive expenditures," said Jack Coleman, the former Democratic state representative who co-chaired the legislature's Committee for Program Review and Investigations that looked into KACo in 1994. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852894.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/852894.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:34 EDT
Louisville International Airport put $1.5 million in major projects and purchases, including baggage system upgrades and new terminal seating, on hold in fiscal year 2009.

But drive by Lexington's Blue Grass Airport and you'll see construction crews scurrying to finish a host of projects, from a new runway to a revamped front entrance.

About $60 million is being spent on major projects, mostly construction, at the local airport, which is much smaller than the Kentucky airports to its west and north.

Some of the Blue Grass Airport projects have been on the books for years, and the airport is trying to get them done before the 2010 World Equestrian Games come to Central Kentucky. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851394.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851394.html Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:49 EDT
The four included Jerome Roberts, 40, who was driving the vehicle, his live-in girlfriend Cheryl Collins, 41, their 11-year-old daughter, Auguste Roberts, and Collins' daughter, MaRhonda Collins, 20.

The family had scheduled a Florida vacation so Ma Rhonda Collins could audition for the American Idol TV show in Orlando next week, said Cheryl Collins' sister, Polly Inman.

"MaRhonda had such hopes and dreams," said Inman.

Inman said the allegations that Roberts exhibited aggression toward another driver just before the wreck doesn't fit with the man she described as a doting father figure to Auguste and MaRhonda.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851224.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851224.html Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:41 EDT
Clouds and rain from earlier that day had disappeared. Vieyra's children, sitting in the back of the SUV, were eager to swim at the colorful $6 million aquatic center that opened about two years ago near Marshall Park off South Broadway.

But, to Vieyra's surprise, the pool was closed.

"It's disappointing," Vieyra said before he drove away, unsure of whether he would head home or take the children to an indoor pool in Georgetown.

The aquatic center and several pools in the state have closed in an effort to get into compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, a federal pool safety law that went into effect in December. The act requires all public and semi-public pools and spas to have safety covers over drains to prevent children and others from being trapped by suction.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851887.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851887.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:05 EDT
Worley, who is the Senate Democratic leader and a private developer, spent $765,000 over two years buying up most of a downtown Richmond block full of 19th-century, Italianate-style buildings, which he demolished.

He's now building a two-story, brick-veneer office building on the site to house Madison County's family courts division.

Worley said his position in the General Assembly doesn't make his development deal with the county and state court system a conflict of interest when he takes state money in his private life.

He said his development companies sometimes get work from local and state governments, including Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, all of which he has power over as a legislator who helps craft the state budget.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850755.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850755.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:09 EDT
Police were called at 12:07 p.m. The robber gave bank employees a note and demanded money. He did not show a weapon or imply that he had one, according to a news release from Lt. Ron Compton.

Compton said police found evidence from the robbery, including clothing possibly worn by the robber, at the Brannon Crossing shopping center in Jessamine County.

The bank robber is described as a bald white man in his 30s, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds. He wore a black long-sleeve T-shirt and blue jeans during the robbery.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850733.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850733.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:49 EDT
Charges will relate to the trafficking of cocaine or crack cocaine, Lt. Ron Compton said in a news release.

Police were releasing little information on Thursday because the investigation is continuing, Compton said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850634.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850634.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:04 EDT
Gordon H. Lunceford, 47, of Richmond, was indicted June 6 by an Anderson County grand jury.

The charges include six counts of third-degree rape, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, five counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

The victims in the case were juveniles at the time of the alleged offenses, state police said.

Lunceford is a former youth minister at churches in Anderson, Franklin and Madison counties.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850809.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850809.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:44 EDT
The council's economic development task force discussed ways to make sure all organizations working toward economic development keep in constant contact. But council members split on just how to do that, or indeed whether Commerce Lexington is already doing an adequate job of promoting economic development without stepped-up appearances at council meetings.

"They're just starting up their program. ... These are long-term initiatives," 12th District council member Ed Lane said.

Commerce Lexington was founded in January 2004 with great fanfare, uniting Lexington's Chamber of Commerce with the city's private and economic workforce development agencies.

Banker Luther Deaton, then chairman of the organization, said that Commerce Lexington would become a potent lobbying force for the Lexington area in attracting businesses and retaining businesses already in Fayette County.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850633.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850633.html Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:33 EDT
As a child, Corman watched the Jessamine County fireworks while eating homemade ice cream in his grandmother's yard .

"Then one year I came home all ready for the fireworks, and they told me the fireworks weren't happening this year," Corman recalled. "So we got some fireworks and put on our own show.

"We kept doing that until the year one went off under our feet, and I realized someone might get hurt. Then we got Jody Watkins to set them off for us, and he still does it."

Corman said he has been putting on his fireworks show in Jessamine County for almost 20 years. The fireworks will cost Corman approximately $20,000, but he will not be deterred by a tight economy.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851030.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851030.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:26 EDT
State and federal public services

U.S. District Court: Closed Friday.

Fayette Circuit and District courts: Closed Friday.

Government: Most city, state and federal offices closed Friday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851026.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851026.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:50 EDT
"My nephew was a hostage in this situation," said Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr, R-Lexington. "He's losing his job in retaliation for my vote against predatory gambling in this state."

Kerr is the aunt of John L. Forgy, who submitted his resignation Wednesday as attorney for the horse racing commission, effective July 31.

Forgy did not return phone calls seeking comment about his departure from the commission. He did not state a reason for leaving in his one-sentence resignation letter obtained by the Herald-Leader.

Forgy has had the job, which pays $76,478 a year, since October 2008 and has been an attorney in state government since June 2004. He was a Phi Beta Kappa student at Georgetown University and received his law degree from the University of Kentucky.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851024.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851024.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:50 EDT
The Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir, made up of high schoolers, was informed Monday that it was "uninvited" to participate in the University of the Cumberlands' Mountain Outreach program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The Southern Baptist Convention voted during its national meeting in Louisville last week to sever ties with Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, because it said the church did not adhere to the language in the denomination's constitution calling for churches not to "approve or endorse homosexual behavior."

The church drew criticism from some Southern Baptists after gay member couples asked that their portraits appear in a church directory. The church later published a directory without the family portraits.

University of the Cumberlands spokeswoman Daphne Baird said Thursday that officials at the school in Williamsburg declined to comment.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851022.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/851022.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:50 EDT http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850943.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850943.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:44 EDT
"With the Lyric coming to life, an entire neighborhood is going to blossom," said Everett McCorvey, director of the University of Kentucky's opera company, who has been involved in the Lyric effort.

McCorvey said he could envision the neighborhood around the center becoming a thriving arts area with the Lyric as its centerpiece.

The Lyric, at the corner of East Third Street and Elm Tree Lane, was once an entertainment hub for the black community. Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and many other well-known artists performed there. It opened in 1948 and closed in 1963.

Plans are for the revitalized Lyric to host a variety of programs, with an emphasis on African-American heritage. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850575.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850575.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:44 EDT
The nonprofit's board of directors also voted to welcome state Auditor Crit Luallen, who said Wednesday that her office would audit the League and the Kentucky Association of Counties because of what she called "serious concerns over spending" at both groups.

Luallen said her decision to audit the League was partly based on the League's decision to stop releasing documents to the newspaper, but Thursday's announcement won't stop her work.

"We are proceeding with our plans to conduct the audit and will contact the League on Monday to set up the first meeting," Luallen said late Thursday.

The League's executive board, along with the board that governs its insurance arm, voted in a conference call Thursday to reverse a June 25 letter denying any further requests for documents under the state's Open Records Act. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850627.html http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/850627.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:19 EDT
Millions of dollars could hinge on the answer.

UK has been adamant that Gillispie worked for the university, not the athletics association, the non-profit organization that oversees UK athletics, as Gillispie claimed in a federal lawsuit filed in Texas that alleges breach of contract.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Gillispie has sued the UK Athletics Association, a nonprofit supporting foundation that was not his employer," the university said in a news release on May 28.

However, tax returns filed by the UK Athletics Association tell a different story, listing Gillispie as the organization's highest-paid employee. The 2007 return lists Gillispie's salary as more than $1,220,667 million, with contributions to employee benefit plans and deferred compensation of $293,524.]]>