Devin Katayama

The Kentucky Department of Education says it will drop the written portion of the state’s End-of-Course Exams—called the constructed-response questions—in its accountability system, which officials expected will save money and time.

But some are concerned the change, effective this year, is a step back from Kentucky’s recent education reforms. 

The company contracted to provide standardized end-of-course exams in Kentucky has suspended online testing this week.

The Kentucky Department of Education halted the state’s ACT End-of-Course Exam last week after nearly 25 school districts experienced problems connecting to the test online. ACT officials initially told the department they had fixed the glitch, but later said more technical issues would prevent testing from resuming.

Louisville-area residents will have a chance to discuss construction and traffic issues this week with Kentucky officials and the contractor group hired to design and build the new downtown bridge as part of the Ohio River Bridges Project.

Walsh Construction has begun preliminary work for developing and building the new downtown I-65 bridge and reworking Spaghetti Junction. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Chuck Wolfe says residents can discuss that work and related issues this Wednesday.

Certain Jefferson County Public Schools teachers and staff will be alerted soon whether they shouldn't plan to return to the district this fall.

The district's overstaff and layoff lists—which are prepared annually-—are subject to change daily, says JCPS Chief Financial Officer Cordellia Hardin, but the school district must alert the state who it plans to employ by May 15.

Kentucky Department of Education officials say problems with the company contracted to administer one of the state’s standardized tests online have been fixed and testing will resume on Monday.

This week several states experienced problems with three separate companies contracted to administer standardized tests.

All issues were related to online testing.

Kentucky has become the most recent state to see problems with the company that administers online  exams in public schools and officials say the problem is of concern as more states move to online testing.

Since the beginning of this week, 25 Kentucky school districts have experienced slow or dropped  connections to the online system, making it impossible to complete the ACT End of Course Exam.

The Louisville Metro Council Court will convene this month to schedule embattled councilwoman Barbara Shanklin’s removal trial.

The city Ethics Commission recently found Shanklin guilty of violating several provisions of the city’s ethics code, including signing checks that went to a neighborhood organization she oversaw, and not fully disclosing her role in that organization.

The commission recommended the council remove her from office.

Several African-American lawmakers are concerned about a potential "pattern of discrimination" at Fourth Street Live after a former Louisville Cardinals basketball star was arrested at the entertainment district.

Jason Osborne, 38, was arrested Sunday night on Muhammad Ali Boulevard at Fourth Street Live after an altercation at Sully's with security, an arrest report says. Another person, Jacquelynn N. Russell, 32, arrested at the entertainment district. Charges for both include  criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.

Jefferson County has nearly 700 childcare programs in operation, but officials say program quality varies widely.