Rick has been a member of the WFPL News team since 2001 and has covered numerous beats and events over the years. Most recently he’s been tracking the Indiana General Assembly and the region’s passion for sports, especially college basketball.
The developers of a 4,000 acre public parks system along the Floyds Fork watershed in eastern and southeastern Louisville say the project is on schedule for completion in 2015.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork is being opened in phases. Earlier this month, several amenities were made available to the public in Beckley Creek Park, one of four parks in the system. They include hiking and biking trails and a fishing pier.
Two indoor projects--an education center and a meeting facility---will be finished in February.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Louisville says former McMahan Fire Chief Paul Barth failed to disclose two real estate transactions that would have affected his ability to pay back some $200,000 he embezzled from the Crusade for Children charity and the fire district.
At his sentencing hearing Monday , Barth said he was unable to make restitution until he sold his Louisville home. He was given until the close of business Wednesday to pay the money or sign an agreement under which the government would collect on the sale of the property.
Indiana Supreme Court justices want to know whether the nation's largest school voucher program primarily benefits students and their parents or religious institutions.
The five justices prodded lawyers for both sides on that point today during a hearing on a constitutional challenge to the 2011 law under which more than 9,000 students have switched from public to private schools with help from state funds.
Indiana taxpayers will receive a $111 credit on their state income tax returns next year as the state distributes part of its budget surplus.
Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the credit today.
It will be $222 for couples filing joint returns. The credit represents the automatic taxpayer refund plan that Daniels pushed through the state legislature last year.
Indiana state lawmakers held their organizational session today in preparation for the 2013 General Assembly.
The House and Senate meetings were largely ceremonial.
Brian Bosma was sworn in for a second term as Speaker of the House, where Republicans now hold a supermajority.
Bosma pledged to work closely with the Democratic minority, saying everyone needs to deal with critical issues like fiscal stability, job creation and education.
Religious leaders and others from across the Louisville area will hold their annual Hunger Walk and vigil on Wednesday evening.
The event marks the anniversary of the death of Bobby Ellis. The nine year old died of starvation at his west Louisville home in 1969.
Interfaith Paths to Peace Executive Director Terry Taylor says the tragedy led to the creation of the Dare To Care Food Bank and other anti-hunger initiatives in the community.
The former chief of the McMahan Fire Department has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $200,000 from the Crusade for Children charity and the fire district.
Fifty-five year old Paul Barth pleaded guilty in June to mail fraud, money laundering and other charges.
Prosecutors say Barth, who was also chairman of the Crusade’s board of directors, directed charity funds donated through the fire department to his personal bank account, with some of the money used for vacations and expenses related to his Corvette car collection.
After a week off, the University of Louisville football team returns to action this Saturday.
The Cards will host Connecticut in their last home game of the season.
U of L is coming off a disappointing loss at Syracuse, the first defeat of the season, but coach Charlie Strong believes his players have put it behind them.
In college football, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated Samford 34-3 Saturday night in their final home game of the season.
It was just the Wildcats’ second victory and their first win since September 8. UK finishes the season next Saturday at Tennessee. It was also the final home game for head coach Joker Phillips, who’s being replaced after this season.
The Indiana Hoosiers lost at Penn State 45-22. IU, now 4-7, finishes its season next Saturday at Purdue.
