Jan 23 Local News Hart Slams Fischer Over Rerouted Funds (AUDIO) Louisville businessman Ed Hart continues to speak out against Mayor Greg Fischer, accusing him of misleading donors and withholding funds that should be intended for charity. Hart has submitted paperwork with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance as evidence in a complaint filed by Metro Council candidate Curtis Morrison. The case alleges Fischer violated state […] By WFPL News Jan 23 Local News Hart Slams Fischer Over Rerouted Funds (AUDIO) WFPL News
Jan 22 Local News Alleging Fischer Misled Donors, Local Businessman Joins KREF Complaint Louisville businessman Ed Hart says Mayor Greg Fischer misled donors about how their contributions to his inauguration were spent, according to documents filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election. The paperwork was submitted to the state agency a month after an initial complaint was filed by Metro Council candidate Curtis Morrison. The case alleges Fischer […] By WFPL News Jan 22 Local News Alleging Fischer Misled Donors, Local Businessman Joins KREF Complaint WFPL News
Oct 10 Local News New Suitors Sought To Restart Kentucky Kingdom The Kentucky Kingdom amusement park has spent a second straight summer behind locked gates, as the state fair board seeks a new operator. Board officials say they’re committed to getting the park back up and running. It appears the park will stay closed for a third summer, with officials most likely looking toward a 2013 […] By Rick Howlett Oct 10 Local News New Suitors Sought To Restart Kentucky Kingdom Rick Howlett
Oct 3 Local News Lawmaker Optimistic About Kentucky Kingdom Reopening A Kentucky lawmaker whose district includes the shuttered Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s optimistic the state fair board will find an operator for the facility. State Representative Jim Wayne says he was surprised to hear that negotiations with developer Ed Hart to reopen the park fell through last week. Fair board president Harold Workman […] By Rick Howlett Oct 3 Local News Lawmaker Optimistic About Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Sep 30 Local News Talks End Between Fair Board and Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company The plan to expand, refurbish and re-open Kentucky Kingdom has hit another snag. Talks have broken down between the state Fair Board and businessman Ed Hart’s Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company. Fair Board president Harold Workman says the two sides couldn’t agree on where certain revenue streams should be steered, but declined to elaborate. The board […] By Gabe Bullard Sep 30 Local News Talks End Between Fair Board and Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company Gabe Bullard
Sep 22 Local News Hart: Kentucky Kingdom Can’t Reopen In 2012 Louisville developer Ed Hart says there’s no way the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park can be reopened next year, but he’s willing to extend his interim agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board and aim for a 2013 reopening. Hart says without a public/private funding partnership and a long-term lease in place, suppliers won’t be able […] By Rick Howlett Sep 22 Local News Hart: Kentucky Kingdom Can’t Reopen In 2012 Rick Howlett
Sep 13 Local News Hart: Time Running Out For 2012 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening The man who wants to reopen the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s close to securing nearly $29 million in private funding for the effort, but time is running out for state and local governments to finalize their commitment. Kentucky Kingdom was shut down early last year after its previous operator, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy. […] By Rick Howlett Sep 13 Local News Hart: Time Running Out For 2012 Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Jul 25 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Plan Louisville Metro Government officials say they remain hopeful that the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park will re-open next spring. A financing plan proposed by Mayor Greg Fischer in May to reopen the park would include more than $17 million in city-issued bonds, but Fischer’s chief financial officer tells the Courier-Journal that developer Ed Hart may try […] By Rick Howlett Jul 25 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Plan Rick Howlett
May 4 Local News Fischer Proposal Would Reopen Kentucky Kingdom In 2012 Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has unveiled a plan under which the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park would reopen in 2012. It calls for the city to issue 17-and-a-half million dollars in bonds, and would bring in a third-party investor. The bonds would be backed by parking revenues, occupational taxes, and the new partner. Louisville businessman Ed […] By Rick Howlett May 4 Local News Fischer Proposal Would Reopen Kentucky Kingdom In 2012 Rick Howlett
Apr 28 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Louisville businessman Ed Hart and the Kentucky State Fair Board have extended their interim agreement to negotiate a lease under which Hart would redevelop the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park. The park has been shuttered since its previous owner, Six Flags, declared bankruptcy in early 2010. Hart’s agreement was due to expire at the end of this […] By Rick Howlett Apr 28 Local News Talks Continue On Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Rick Howlett
Apr 15 Politics Hart Revises Plans for Kentucky Kingdom, Still Hopes for 2012 Re-Opening Businessman Ed Hart has put forward a third proposal for re-opening the Kentucky Kingdom theme park next year. Hart first sought to renovate and re-open the park with a $50 million bond from the state. The General Assembly didn’t take up the issue. Hart then planned to use $20 million from the city this year […] By Gabe Bullard Apr 15 Politics Hart Revises Plans for Kentucky Kingdom, Still Hopes for 2012 Re-Opening Gabe Bullard
Apr 6 Politics Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Likely Delayed Again The developer who wants to re-open Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s not sure how to proceed after the city declined this week to approve a $20 million bond issue to get the facility back in working order. Ed Hart had hoped to use the money to partially reopen the park in 2012 and make […] By Rick Howlett Apr 6 Politics Kentucky Kingdom Reopening Likely Delayed Again Rick Howlett
Apr 6 Politics Ed Hart: “Scratching My Head” Over City’s Ky Kingdom Decision The developer who wants to re-open Kentucky Kingdom amusement park says he’s not sure how to proceed after the city declined this week to approve a $20 million bond issue to get the facility back in working order. Ed Hart had hoped to use the money to partially reopen the park in 2012 and make […] By Rick Howlett Apr 6 Politics Ed Hart: “Scratching My Head” Over City’s Ky Kingdom Decision Rick Howlett
Apr 5 Politics Without State or City Bonds, Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company to Regroup The park closed last year when Six Flags declared bankruptcy. Hart, who owned the park before Six Flags, then proposed a spate of improvements and a plan to re-open the facility by next summer. Hart's proposal relied on the General Assembly's approval of a $50 million bond to finance the renovations. By Gabe Bullard Apr 5 Politics Without State or City Bonds, Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company to Regroup Gabe Bullard
Nov 17 Local News Lawmakers Asked To Back Kentucky Kingdom Plan The fair board, which owns the property, has an agreement with businessman Ed Hart to re-open and operate the park, but is asking lawmakers for a $50 million bond issue to help implement its redevelopment plan. By Rick Howlett Nov 17 Local News Lawmakers Asked To Back Kentucky Kingdom Plan Rick Howlett