News

Former Courier-Journal  Vice President of Circulation Mike Huot was laid off last year, and is now suing the C-J and parent company Gannett for age discrimination.

Huot's total compensation was over $300,000, according to Gannett Blog. His lawsuit alleges that the paper brought in a younger employee to replace him. 

Today, Gannett Blog posted a copy of Huot's lawsuit.

 The high heat and lack of consistent rainfall is creating possible hardships for crops in Kentucky.  And that includes one of the more recent additions to the state’s agriculture industry: grapes.

There are about 120 grape growers spread out across Kentucky, mostly in the central, northern, and western regions. Patsy Wilson is the extension specialist for viticulture at the University of Kentucky—viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes. She says temperatures above 90 degrees can start to affect photosynthesis.

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission has fined former Tourism Commissioner Mike Cooper $2,000 in an agreement to resolve ethics charges.

Cooper, who resigned in February, was accused of misusing state resources for his own financial gain.

Cooper was publicly reprimanded Monday. He also waived his right to appeal.

A group of Kentucky lawmakers has a new summer assignment…shoring up the state’s failing pension systems.

At least two of Kentucky’s six pension plans are at a high risk for failure. And their troubles have been highlighted by Bloomberg, the New York Times and the Pew Center.

In response, the state has formed a public pension task force. Co-chairman Mike Cherry says he's dedicated to find a solution, and it may not be pretty.

“From my standpoint, everything’s on the table for this summer interim session,” he says.

A familiar face showed up on the cover of Monday's Courier-Journal: A profile of Maurice "Bojangles" Blanchard looked at his life, his recent ordination, and some criticism from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler. Reverend Mohler says Blanchard's ordination illustrated the rift between traditional Baptist churches and more liberal congregations like Highland Baptist Church, whom Mohler says "defy scripture."

Appearing on Fox & Friends, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., defended the Affordable Care Act on Monday.

The liberal congressman has accused Republicans—particularly Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell—of misleading the public about President Obama's health care law, but Yarmuth had a civil exchange on the Fox News Channel.

Check it out (h/t The 'Ville Voice):

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says a wiring problem caused the navigation lights on the newly rebuilt Eggners Ferry Bridge in western Kentucky to malfunction Sunday  night.

Spokesman Keith Todd says the outage was reported by a boater and confirmed by state police.    

An electrical crew tracked down the problem this morning.

Jefferson County Public Schools elementary principals have received a list of candidates they can hire as assistants for next school year and some are eager to begin the process.

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is giving two Jefferson County elementary schools $5,000 grants to support the extension of their library collections and services.