University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich is marking a professional milestone this week.

It was 15 years ago that Jurich came to U of L from Colorado State University.

Jurich says the Louisville athletic department has been successful because of its staff of talented people.

Among other things, Jurich and his team have overseen a major upgrade of its athletic facilities since he arrived in 1997.

The first shipment in a huge deal to export coal to India hasn’t yet left Appalachia.

President Obama and Mitt Romney haven't spent much time talking about world affairs on the campaign trail, yet foreign policy can often define a presidency. America's next leader faces tough choices that range from redefining the U.S. role in the Middle East to managing the crucial relationship with China.

With that in mind, let's look at the topics most likely to come up in tonight's foreign policy debate — the candidates' final faceoff — in Boca Raton, Fla., and how international issues will shape the next administration.

1987:  Kentucky Kingdom opens with out-of-state investors. The amusement park closed after a single season.

1990: Businessman Ed Hart reopens the amusement park. The size of Kentucky Kingdom is doubled, and new rides such as Thunder Run are added.

1997: Premier Parks purchases Kentucky Kingdom.

1998: The new ownership renames the amusement park Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

2009: Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's parent company closes the park amid bankruptcy proceedings.

Election day is two weeks away, and with only one competitive Congressional race (6th District with Congressman Ben Chandler and Andy Barr) and no statewide races on the ballot, this year's politics will definitely be local.

Republicans are trying to take control of the state House this year. They need 10 seats to do so. Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to pick up a few Senate seats to bolster their slim minority. Below are the races to watch, by region, in these legislative contests. 

West Kentucky/Paducah

The Kentucky Department of Education will release data under the state's new accountability model--Unbridled Learning--on Nov. 2.

The data will show test scores and other information since implementing new college-and-career standards last school year. Jefferson County Public Schools, KDE and city officials have all warned that the results could be shocking to the community because the bar for student achievement is being raised.

Under the Unbridled Learning model the following five areas will be the primary measurements:

Louisville Metro Councilman Jon Ackerson is endorsing Democrat Teague Ridge over fellow Republican Marilyn Parker in the 18th District race.

Parker was backed by the Tea Party in the GOP primary and narrowly defeated Ackerson by 37 votes. The majority of council Republicans also supported Parker over Ackerson, citing that he sided with Democrats on key issues and could not be trusted.

Ackerson says he is not switching parties, but that Ridge will be more involved and that Parker’s views against council members' use of discretionary funds will hurt the district.

"She's not supporting using Neighborhood Development Funds in the district, and I think that's a huge mistake," he says. "With the Capitol Infrastructure Funds she's talking about allocating them in other districts other than District 18. And I think that's also a big mistake. I just don't think she's going to provide the quality representation that District 18 needs."

A group of four local investors led by businessman Ed Hart says it will invest $50 million without a state guarantee to reopen the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park.

Louisville actors, directors and designers aren't hurting for play projects, but they are hurting for space.  

Mitch McConnell isn't up for reelection until 2014, but the Kentucky senator is already raking in donations from energy-related PACs.