Local/Regional News

By Bryan Bartlett

Lexington, KY – Crime in Lexington and Fayette County was up slightly in 2008 from the previous year with 11,549 reported offenses - an increase of 380 from 2007, when crime in Fayette County was at a 34-year-low. Lexington Police Chief Ronnie Bastin says that up until August of last year, those numbers were in line with the previous year, until they noticed a sudden spike in property crimes.

By Bryan Bartlett

Lexington, KY – With eighteen months to go before the start of the World Equestrian Games, Mayor Jim Newberry turned the spotlight on Lexington Wednesday, announcing plans for 17 days and evenings of events downtown. Bryan Bartlett has more.

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – Kentucky House Democratic leaders say when the 2009 session resumes Thursday, no further votes will be taken on pending legislation unless their caucus members desire such action. Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh has more.

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – Governor Beshear says Kentucky Speedway officials are telling him without state incentives, there's a good chance the track won't be able to land a NASCAR Sprint Cup race for 2010. The tax incentives, once a separate bill, have been attached to the governor's economic incentives bill, which is still awaiting final action. "That would be a tragedy, if we miss that opportunity."

Lexington, KY – As the 2009 Legislative Session winds down, a sizable number of bills will have to wait til next year. One of them is of particular interest to high school journalists. We talk with two contributors to Dunbar High School's "Lamplighter" to get their take.

By Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – Governor Beshear still has three days to consider possible vetoes before the session resumes. So far, he's issued only a line item veto in the state road plan. Lawmakers will decide if they want to override any vetoes when they return.

By Tony McVeigh

By Tony McVeigh

By Alan Lytle - Alex Risen

Lexington, KY – A group advocating for more affordable housing for Lexington's poor says almost 9-thousand households in Fayette County use half their income to pay rent. The organization, BUILD, which stands for Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct-Action, is calling on Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry to establish an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The money would be used to construct some 360 housing-units every year. Pastor Ron Luckey of Lexington's Faith Lutheran Church is a co-chair of BUILD.

By Alan Lytle

Lexington, KY – In a written statement, paper publisher Tim Kelly calls the job cuts regrettable, but says they're just a part of company-wide reductions ordered by the Herald Leader's corporate owner, McClatchey Newspapers. Scott Sloan, the area chief steward of the Lexington Newspaper Guild, which represents some 75 Herald Leader employees, says emerging technology, especially free online content is largely to blame for print's apparent demise.