Sep 19 Economy Kroger Issues Spinach Recall Kroger is recalling spinach sold at grocery stores in 15 states due to possible Listeria contamination. The Fresh Selections Tender Spinach brand was sold in 10-ounce packages and had a "best if used by" date of Sept. 16. The grocer says if customers bought the recalled product, they should return it to stores for a full refund or replacement. Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have a weakened immune system. No illnesses have been reported from the spinach. The recall came after a single package tested positive for the bacteria. Kroger says the product was sold in Kentucky, Indiana and 13 other states in the South and Midwest. By Associated Press Sep 19 Economy Kroger Issues Spinach Recall Associated Press
Aug 28 Economy Lexmark Layoffs Leave Workers, City Reeling News that Lexmark will lay off hundreds of local workers has Lexington city officials assessing how it will impact tax revenues.The Lexington-based firm will reduce it's workforce by 350 full-timers and 200 contract employees locally. According to one city official that could result in a $1 million revenue loss.Mayor Jim Gray said "our hearts go out to this folks who have been hit with this bad news, losing their jobs."But the mayor says Lexmark remains a competitive electronics business."They've said that they're going to stay here in Lexington. Our best strategy as a city is to wrap out arms around the company, acknowledge the challenge that the employees are having, those who have been laid off."Gray and members of the Urban County Council say the city should do everything it can to help the laid off workers find other positions in the Lexington area.Lexmark will lay off 1,700 workers worldwide following its decision to stop making inkjet printers. By Stu Johnson Kentucky Public Radio Aug 28 Economy Lexmark Layoffs Leave Workers, City Reeling Stu Johnson Kentucky Public Radio
Jul 27 Economy Delta Shutting Down Comair Operations Delta Air Lines is sending termination notices to Comair employees, as Delta begins shutting down its shrunken, 35 year old regional carrier and switches to bigger jets.Comair is down to 290 flights a day. More than 1,000 of the carrier's remaining 1,700 Comair employees are in the Cincinnati and northern Kentucky region, some 700 of those in Kentucky.Comair has slashed its fleet, flights and workforce in the last seven years. Delta said the smaller regional planes are expensive to fly because they are not as fuel-efficient and cost more to maintain as the fleet ages.Comair handles only about 1 percent of Atlanta-based Delta's flying, so the closure won't result in significant changes to Delta's network. Delta also said it won't mean fewer flights out of Comair's base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear calls the news of the shutdown “terribly disappointing.” By Associated Press Jul 27 Economy Delta Shutting Down Comair Operations Associated Press
Jul 3 Economy Kentucky Brewers Team Up A group of Kentucky beer brewers have joined together to give themselves a louder voice in state matters. By Gabe Bullard Jul 3 Economy Kentucky Brewers Team Up Gabe Bullard
Jun 28 Economy U of L Approved for State’s Largest TIF District Kentucky’s economic development cabinet has granted final approval for a special taxing district near the University of Louisville’s Belknap campus. The over 900-acre tax increment financing district is the largest ever approved by the state. The TIF program will allow U of L to keep a portion of state and local taxes generated within the district. By Devin Katayama Jun 28 Economy U of L Approved for State’s Largest TIF District Devin Katayama
Jun 27 Economy General Electric Expands Production of New Refrigerators General Electric is hiring more employees than expected to manufacture its new bottom-freezer refrigerator at Louisville's Appliance Park.GE officials previously announced a total of 600 production line employees would build the new product. The company currently employs around 400 workers on the first shift, according to spokeswoman Kim Freeman. When the second shift begins later this summer, a total of 772 employees will be working on the appliance, she said.The addition of 172 production line employees is a testament to the product, said Freeman. By Devin Katayama Jun 27 Economy General Electric Expands Production of New Refrigerators Devin Katayama
Jun 13 Economy 2013 Ford Escape SUV is Ready to Compete With reporting from the Associated Press.Ford Motor Company is rolling the new 2013 Escape SUVs off the line and into dealerships this week.Ford officials joined Mayor Greg Fischer and Gov. Steve Beshear Wednesday morning to announce the much anticipated launch of the new Escape, which was named the best selling SUV in the nation with over 250,000 sales last year. Ford officials say small SUVs like the Escape are the only vehicles that have returned to pre-recession sales levels. By Devin Katayama Jun 13 Economy 2013 Ford Escape SUV is Ready to Compete Devin Katayama
Jun 11 Economy Youth Summer Jobs Program Comes Up Short Mayor Greg Fischer’s goal of employing 400 students this summer has not been met, but the Kentuckiana Works summer jobs program has seen growth.Monday is the first day on the job for around 150 students who signed up for the "Summer Works" program this spring, said Michael Gritton, executive director of Kentuckiana Works, the Workforce Investment Board for the Greater Louisville region. By Devin Katayama Jun 11 Economy Youth Summer Jobs Program Comes Up Short Devin Katayama
May 9 Economy More Facts and Figures on Kentucky’s Tourism Industry Following up on a story we ran earlier this week regarding Kentucky’s 2011 tourism economic impact numbers, here are a few other facts and figures that may be of interest, provided by the <a href="http://www.kentuckytourism.com/%21userfiles/Industry/research/2010-20 By Devin Katayama May 9 Economy More Facts and Figures on Kentucky’s Tourism Industry Devin Katayama
May 9 Economy Appeals Court Sides With Maker’s Mark in Wax Seal Dispute A federal appeals court has ruled that Maker’s Mark holds the trademark on the dripping wax seal atop its bottles. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a lower court ruling granting the Kentucky bourbon maker a trademark on the seal, which serves decorative purposes only.The decision comes in a case brought by London-based Diageo North America and Casa Cuervo of Mexico, which used a dripping red wax seal on special bottles of its Reserva tequila. By Rick Howlett May 9 Economy Appeals Court Sides With Maker’s Mark in Wax Seal Dispute Rick Howlett
May 1 Economy Changing Gambling Laws Affect Track Attendance in New York Attendance at horse racing tracks has declined, and many blame the availability of online betting. Why deal with parking, unpredictable weather, and expensive concession stand food when all you care about is handicapping the race and winning money? As part of our "Track Tech" series, Ryan Delaney examines the implications of changing gambling laws in New York, home of the Belmont Stakes. "Track Tech" is part of a collaboration between WEKU, Louisville Public Media, and NPR’s Innovation Trail. By Laura Ellis May 1 Economy Changing Gambling Laws Affect Track Attendance in New York Laura Ellis
Apr 26 Economy Heaven Hill to Open Downtown Bourbon Attraction Heaven Hill Distilleries today announced plans to build a downtown Louisville attraction based on its Evan Williams brand of bourbon. The $9.5 million Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will be housed in a company-owned building in the 500 block of West Main Street.Evan Williams was a Welsh immigrant who settled in Louisville and set up a distillery in 1783, along what would become known as Whiskey Row. By Rick Howlett Apr 26 Economy Heaven Hill to Open Downtown Bourbon Attraction Rick Howlett
Apr 26 Economy Bluegrass Boardwalk Sets 10-year Goals The Bluegrass Boardwalk group has been granted preliminary approval for state tax incentives this week, bringing the amusement park one step closer to opening. By Devin Katayama Apr 26 Economy Bluegrass Boardwalk Sets 10-year Goals Devin Katayama
Apr 23 Economy Kentucky, Indiana Select Finalists for Bridges Project Kentucky and Indiana have narrowed the list of finalists to build their respective portions of the Ohio River Bridges Project. Kentucky now has three finalists for the construction of a downtown Louisville bridge and the reworking of Spaghetti Junction. Indiana has selected four finalists for an east end bridge. By Rick Howlett Apr 23 Economy Kentucky, Indiana Select Finalists for Bridges Project Rick Howlett