Local/Regional News

Washington, DC – Kentucky U-S Senator Mitch McConnell has released the following statement regarding Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

"Senate Republicans will treat Judge Sotomayor fairly. But we will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences.

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – In November, we observe Veterans Day, a day to honor those who served our nation in war. But Memorial Day is different. Originally called Decoration Day, and dating back to the end of the Civil War, it's held to honor those who died in military service, says Jason LeMay of Kentucky Military Affairs. "Veterans Day is for the living. Memorial Day is the one day we can stop and say thank you to those people who gave everything they had, their life, to something more than themselves."

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – Last year, there were more than 21-hundred accidents involving motorcycles in Kentucky. One-hundred-two cyclists or their passengers died, and of those, 64 were not wearing helmets. Retired State Trooper Pat Zalone of Mt. Sterling says those are sobering statistics. "The best thing I ever did was took the motorcycle safety course when I started riding again. And you know, we're never too old to start re-learning and safety is the key - the key issue."

By Jen Schatz

Lexington, KY – Rain barrels are miniature versions of much larger detention and retention ponds that help control runoff from rain events. Last year, the city's Department of Environmental Quality made available, on an experimental basis, 500 of the brown, plastic containers nicknamed "The Lily". Mayor Jim Newberry says the Lily is an economical and "green" way for Lexington residents to get hundreds of gallons of free water.

By Alan Lytle

Madison, WI – Lexington Attorney Kevin Weaver, who was on this year's trip, says an even larger Kentucky contingent will participate in the 2010 summit.

Weaver says a joint venture between Central Kentucky and the derby city makes a lot of sense.

By Tony McVeigh

By Capitol News Connection

Washington, DC – The bill would put a price on greenhouse gas emissions to encourage consumers to choose clean energy over fossil fuels. Congressman Whitfield says it will kill jobs and cripple the economy.

"Even though I am not going to vote for the bill, I do think it's important to improve it to help lower our electric! ity cost, and we know we can best do that by utilizing coal."

By Gabe Bullard

Louisville, KY – Governor Steve Beshear is in Atlanta for the conference this week. He'll be meeting with entrepreneurs and offering them incentives and grants to set up shop in Kentucky.

Beshear says the meetings usually pay off, but the economy has made business leaders wary about taking risks in starting up or relocating.

By Tony McVeigh

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – It's bad out there, and although there are glimmers of hope, nobody's sure when the current recession - one of the worst on record - will end. That was the gist of analysis offered to the Consensus Forecasting Group, a panel of economic experts that advises the governor and legislative leaders. State economist Thomas Jones says all of Kentucky's leading index growth rates have been negative since February 2008. The recession began in December 2007.