News

The Family Foundation of Kentucky is criticizing members of the University of Louisville administration for their response to a controversy surrounding Chick-Fil-A.

For weeks, criticism has been leveled at Chick-Fil-A because it’s CEO, Dan Cathy, said recently he believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Cathy and his company are well-known for their Christian beliefs. Notably, Chick-Fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays.

The Metropolitan Sewer District has approved its forth consecutive 6.5 percent rate increase, adding $2.31 to customers' average monthly bill.

MSD is under a federal mandate to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act and is responsible for nearly $850 million of repairs and upgrades to its sewage system.

Spokesman Steve Tedder said the consent decree plan devised by MSD in 2008 calls for rate increases over the next several years.

Joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and other housing advocates, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced Monday that his office is allocating $3.2 million to the city to deal with vacant and abandoned properties.

The funding comes from a $19.2 million pot the state got from the National Mortgage Settlement, which was the result of a lawsuit filed by several states against five of the country’s top banks. Across the country, states are using the money to provide legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure, redevelop foreclosed properties and reduce the blight created by vacant properties.

Conway says his office fought with state lawmakers during the legislative session to push that the settlement money be used for these sorts of programs and initiatives

"I am proud to say that the money I secured on behalf of Kentucky will be going to help people and communities who were harmed by the mortgage foreclosure crisis," says Conway.  "This settlement will provide second chances for people who’ve lost their homes, help revitalize properties that have been abandoned, and develop affordable housing in communities throughout our Commonwealth."

If you visit the main library on Friday without a costume, you might find yourself underdressed. AnimeCon is the Louisville Free Public Library's annual celebration of Japanese animation and culture for teens, and a costume competition is part of the event. Teens (Friday's event is for ages 12-19) come dressed as their favorite animated character and compete for prizes.

The event is free, but registration is required. 

The Metropolitan Sewer District board will consider its annual budget for the next fiscal year as well as a proposed 6.5 percent rate increase during a special session Monday.

Last week, Mayor Greg Fischer announced his support for an MSD, Louisville Water Company merger, which was recommended by a task force earlier this year. The possible savings from merger could be anywhere between $14 million to $24 million, according to an outside audit firm.

MSD director Greg Heitzman says a merger could eventually translate to cost-savings for customers and lower rate increases.

Advocates of a statewide smoking ban are taking their issue on a five day tour before Fancy Farm to drum up support.

 The Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition has pushed a statewide smoking ban law in the General Assembly for the last two years. And they are making next year’s legislative session a key moment in their fight.

 Coalition coordinator Betsy Janes says with Fancy Farm’s big role as a political event, a road tour and outreach at the picnic seemed logical for the group.

Louisville’s first Compressed Natural Gas, or CNG, station will be unveiled Wednesday near the city’s international airport and officials are encouraging both businesses and individuals to make the switch to the cleaner fuel alternative.

This will be the first CNG station in Louisville, and only the second in Kentucky. 

CNG burns cleaner than gasoline, but the vehicles that use it often cost more. That hasn’t stopped investment from companies like Waste Management, which plans to add 25 CNG vehicles to its Louisville fleet this year.

The summer road maintenance season continues with the closure of a short stretch of Brownsboro Road for ten days starting later this week.

The stretch will be shut down starting Friday evening to allow for interchange improvements.

"This section is commonly known by people in the area as Old Brownsboro Road, and it’s the section between U.S. 42 and Warrington Way," says Andrea Clifford with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington woman has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for threatening to kill U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman handed down the punishment for 50-year-old Susan Mary Collins Thursday for mailing a threatening communication.

Collins previously pleaded guilty to sending the letter on September 2 threatening to kill the U.S. Senate’s top Republican.

According to Collins’ plea agreement, McConnell perceived her letter as a genuine threat that could cause him harm.