News

In the Indiana Senate race, Republican Richard Mourdock launched his first television ad of the general election on Wednesday, attacking Democrat Joe Donnelly for supporting health care reform.

The 30-second spot features Mourdock looking directly at the camera and promising to vote for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The state treasurer goes on to say that President Obama's  overhaul will hurt small businesses, raise taxes and cuts Medicare by $500 billion.

Check it out:

A judge has ruled that Indiana cannot collect millions of dollars it claims IBM owes over the state's failed welfare system overhaul but says IBM is entitled to payment for equipment the state kept.

Marion County Judge David Dreyer issued the order today.

Dreyer presided over a trial earlier this year of dueling lawsuits concerning the state's cancellation of IBM's nearly $1.4 billion contract with the Family and Social Services Administration.

Jefferson County Public Schools elementary principals are in class this week prepping for the end of summer vacation, and many are not alone.

Earlier this year, the school board approved the hiring of assistant principals for elementary schools with more than 400 students.

Of the nearly 80 schools eligible, all but a dozen principals have already hired their assistants, who officially begin Wednesday.

Democratic strategist Paul Begala and Republican commentator Bill Kristol were in Louisville on Tuesday evening to discuss the ongoing presidential campaign at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s annual business summit.

Polling numbers shows President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are locked in a tight race this fall with a small margin of undecided voters. The negative attacks are beginning to escalate with both campaigns accusing the other of misleading voters. 

Political observers note that Mr. Obama has run harsh ads against his GOP challenger on television, which is unusual for an incumbent president seeking re-election.

Begala a CNN analyst and  an adviser for Priorities USA, a super PAC supporting the president. He says Mr. Obama needs to run as a challenger who will outline what the next four years will hold if he is re-elected.

"When times are tough and the president tells you, ‘I’ve done a great job’ people get resentful. They say ‘really, cause I’m still hurting out here.’ What I would do instead is lay out my agenda for a second-term and run as if he were a challenger," he says. "I’m all for attacking Romney and I’m doing it full-time. But he’s also got to say what I can’t do, which is here’s what I will do if you give me this job for the next four years."

Former Auditor Crit Luallen says she will not challenge Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014.

Luallen has long been considered to be among the best-situated Democrats to unseat McConnell. She served two terms as auditor and many political observers credit her with raising the office's profile during her tenure. Luallen also served in former Governor Paul Patton's administration for several years.

But the long-time public servant tells Kentucky Public Radio she will not enter the 2014 race.

The Louisville-based non-profit that provides portable water purification systems for developing countries and disaster areas is changing its brand.

EDGE Outreach is now called WaterStep.

Founder Mark Hogg says the new name and logo better reflect the group's mission of providing clean drinking water where it’s needed around the world, and is a reference to a shoe-recycling program that generates some of its operating funds.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is taking a firmer stand on conservative issues.

Republican legislators have criticized the chamber in the past for supporting Democratic-led proposals like expanded gambling and a higher dropout age while staying quiet on so-called right to work and prevailing wage laws.

But in the chamber's latest annual report, right to work and other conservative issues are more prominent.

Such legislation has caused lengthy political battles in other states, recently in Indiana.

After months of debate, Louisville Metro Council’s Planning and Zoning committee has passed a measure with some compromise that would change the city’s long-standing landmarks process.

The committee approved the measure on a 3 to 2 vote Tuesday after Councilman David Yates, D-25, first introduced the changes in February. 

The ordinance includes the contentious provision of giving Metro Council power to overturn a Landmarks Commission’s decision, but the measure was amended prior to a vote to require a super majority to bring the issue forward.

After more than three decades in the historic Water Tower on River Road, the Louisville Visual Art Association will move downtown later this year. In October, the LVAA will move into interim headquarters at 609 West Main Street while they search for a new permanent home. Scheduled children’s art classes will remain at the Water Tower through the fall semester.

Louisville Gas and Electric is asking the case against the company for its role in a residential gas explosion in December be dismissed. In documents filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission yesterday, the company disagrees with many of the state's conclusions as to the cause of the explosion.