News

Here is the rundown for today's Byline:

At the top - A look back at this week’s Democratic national convention with  CN2’s Ryan Alessi, WFPL political editor Phillip M. Bailey and Kentucky Public Radio’s Kenny Colston.  Panelists reflect on the major speeches, and the lack of Kentucky participation compared to last week's Republican convention in Tampa.

The Yale School of Architecture’s Advanced Design Studio will visit Louisville tomorrow to show off student designs for a distillery at the corner of 1st and Main streets, across from Whiskey Row.

New Fruits: Urban Distillery will feature models and renderings of designs students began putting together during a visit to Louisville earlier this year.

Kentucky Tea Party activist David Adams has stepped up his battle with the state Department of Insurance by filing a federal civil rights complaint. 

Adams has spent the last three months fighting with the department over the rights of Christian Care Medishare and other Christians-only health sharing organizations, Christian HealthCare and Samaritan Ministries.

Retired four-star general and current CIA director David Patraeus will visit the University of Louisville Monday.

Patraeus's biography reads like a primer on modern military history. He was commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq in 2003. After the invasion, he led the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq. From there, he became head of the Multinational Force, commanding military operations in Iraq.

It’s fine to hit the downtown First Friday Trolley Hop without a plan. Park, wander in and out of galleries, grab a drink or dinner with friends and hop a TARC trolley from one end of downtown to the next and back—you’re sure to find something to catch your eye or ears.

But with so many events and gallery receptions happening at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so every month we take a look at five don’t-miss art events happening during the hop.

Natural gas is becoming increasingly popular as a source of electricity, and in many places—including Louisville—it’s replacing coal. But natural gas is also becoming more prevalent as fuel for vehicles.

In Waste Management’s facility off of Fern Valley Road, there’s a garbage truck parked after its daily route. On one side, so large it’s hard to miss, is a sign that says “Think Green, Think Clean”—a reference to the fact that this truck burns cleaner natural gas.

As the Democratic National Convention wraps up, Kentucky Democrats are trying to present a more unified front for President Barack Obama.

In this year’s primary, 42 percent of Democrats who cast ballots voted uncommitted rather than for the president. That created a problem for delegates to the party’s national convention, since uncommitted isn’t a candidate.

But this week, almost every Kentucky delegate supported this president's formal nomination.

Louisville Metro Councilman Kevin Kramer, R-11, is hoping to raise awareness about the continued problem of distracted driving.

Kramer has introduced a resolution to support AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign. The non-binding measure is aimed at curbing texting while driving, particularly among teenagers. Last year, a state law banning texting while driving took effect but state police have said the law is difficult to enforce.

The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft opens a month-long celebration of the new exhibit “Storytelling as Craft, Chapter One” tomorrow with oral and visual stories. The exhibit runs through November 11. 

A slowdown in Kentucky's mining industry is causing financial problems. Diminished severance tax revenue could force some planned construction projects in the coalfields to be postponed.

Revenue from the state's coal severance tax is plummeting, with mines shutting down and miners being laid off.

Deputy State Budget Director John Hicks told lawmakers today that coal tax revenue is projected at $245 million this year. That's $88 million less than was expected when lawmakers passed the budget less than five months ago.