Kennedy Bridge Lanes to Close for Roadwork

Repairs on the Kennedy Bridge will cause lane closures this week.

Crews are replacing bearings on the span, and work near the Kentucky shore will require traffic to be limited to one lane in each direction overnight Tuesday and Wednesday. Lanes will close at 9 pm and reopen at 5 am. Ramp closures will continue during this time as well.

In the daytime, the outermost lanes will be closed from 9 am to 3 pm Wednesday, but ramps will remain open.

Heavier construction is slated for the middle of next month.

MSHA Releases Report Into Death of Two Killed in 2011 Ohio County Mine Accident

Last year, 21 coal miners died in mining accidents, and eight of them were in Kentucky. I’ve reported on many of these deaths on our website and on the air, but most only after the fact. Two of these mine deaths—the deaths of 47-year-old Darrel Alan Winstead and Samual Joe Lindsey, 23—in a roof fall at an Ohio County mine were reported nearly real-time, as rescuers worked to uncover the men. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration released its report into the deaths today.

Winstead and Lindsey were blasters employed by the Mine Equipment and Mill Supply Company, or Memsco. They were working at the Equality Mine, a surface mine owned by Armstrong Coal Company. It was their job to place explosives and detonate them to uncover coal seams, but early in the morning of October 28, 2011, a wall in the mine collapsed and buried the two men in their truck. Continue reading “MSHA Releases Report Into Death of Two Killed in 2011 Ohio County Mine Accident”

Roads Closed Due to Trees, Flooding Across Louisville

UPDATE 12:37pm: Louisville Water Company spokeswoman Kelley Dearing Smith says the company has no reported water main breaks in its system.

Morning rain and flooding have closed streets across Louisville.

According to MetroSafe spokeswoman Jody Johnson, a water main break near the University of Louisville has exacerbated the flood conditions. The break is at Cardinal Boulevard, east of Floyd Street, and Johnson says workers from the Louisville Water Company are on site.

More news and closures: Continue reading “Roads Closed Due to Trees, Flooding Across Louisville”

U of L Student Housing Damaged From Lighting Strike

Following this morning’s storms, the Province, a privately owned and operated student housing complex, caught fire from a lighting strike, according to U of L officials.

The fire damaged up to 24 single bedroom units, displacing the students who live there. Twelve units were severely damaged, said U of L spokesman Mark Hebert.

The school is also experiencing flooding, particularly on the east side of campus, similar to the 2009 flood, he said.

The campus has cancelled morning and afternoon classes according to The Louisville Cardinal student newspaper. A decision is pending on whether evening classes will also be cancelled.

Photo courtesy of WHAS-TV

Flash Flood Warning Declared for Jefferson County, Southern Indiana

UPDATE 11:07am: The National Weather Service has revised its flash flood warning; it’s only in effect until 11:30am.

UPDATE 10:22am: Flooding at the University of Louisville prompted the cancellation of classes until 11:00am. Officials say they’ll decide soon about classes for the rest of the day.

UPDATE 9:40am: The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning until 12:15pm. The warning specifically highlights flash flood prone areas like the low lying area at Taylorsville Road and the railroad bridge overflows, and the points where Hite Creek overflows onto Highway 22.

UPDATE 9:12am: The intersection of Main and 13th Streets is closed due to flooding, according to MetroSafe.

Some road updates from our Facebook fans:

Continue reading “Flash Flood Warning Declared for Jefferson County, Southern Indiana”

Lawmakers Differ on Mayor Ignoring Cuts to Council Discretionary Funds

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer will give up his discretionary account to help fill the budget deficit next year, but the Metro Council is split on whether to follow suit.

Each council member is given a total of $205,000 to spend annually, with $75,000 in their Neighborhood Development Fund in addition to a $100,000 Capital Infrastructure Fund and $38,000 in their office accounts.

During last year’s budget address, Fischer warned city lawmakers that they could see their accounts reduced in future budgets to offset growing shortfalls. The mayor’s new spending plan for fiscal year 2012-13, however, makes no reductions to the accounts.

Councilman David Yates, D-25, says residents want to reduce spending, but local representatives should have the ability to appropriate taxpayer money.

“Should all that money be allocated from the mayor’s office or should it be better left, at least some of that money left all the way down to the Metro Council offices where we’re actually out there on the street talking to the neighbors. I think that’s a very good use of that money,” he says.

Continue reading “Lawmakers Differ on Mayor Ignoring Cuts to Council Discretionary Funds”

Edelen Says He’ll Audit Private Medicaid Operators This Year

After months of mounting problems, State Auditor Adam Edelen says he will launch a full investigation intoKentucky’s statewide Medicaid Managed Care system.

Edelen created a Medicaid task force in February after taking a first look at the managed care system. He also gave recommendations to managed care companies, health care providers and the state on how to make the system run better in the future.

But with clashes between private Medicaid companies and healthcare providers ongoiong, Edelen wants to take a stronger look into the system.

“We will launch a full blown audit of the managed care companies based on the information that’s being gathered right now, we’re going to launch that investigation by the end of the year,” he says. Continue reading “Edelen Says He’ll Audit Private Medicaid Operators This Year”

Looking for Lilith Celebrates 10 Years with Motherhood Play

Louisville’s Looking for Lilith Theatre Company celebrates a decade of productions with a staged reading of a new play, “Becoming Mothers,” and a revue of old favorites titled “10 Years, 7 Stories.” The shows open Thursday and run in repertory at The Bard’s Town through June 10.

Looking for Lilith is a feminist theater ensemble that uses a collaborative process to create original plays based on women’s stories and women’s perspectives on history. The company built their new play “Becoming Mothers” by conducting interviews with several generations of local women on topics surrounding pregnancy, birth and motherhood, from fertility treatments to changes in consumer culture throughout the years. Continue reading “Looking for Lilith Celebrates 10 Years with Motherhood Play”

Indiana Begins Gathering Input for Raw Milk Study

Indiana officials begin gathering online input this week for a study on the sale of raw milk. The information will be turned to the 2013 General Assembly.

Current Indiana law prohibits the sale of milk that has not been pasteurized. But its proponents say raw milk from pasture-fed animals contains beneficial nutrients depleted by the process and should be available for sale.

The dairy industry and other opponents contend any raw milk can contain dangerous pathogens such as E.coli or salmonella and should be treated before it’s sold.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health will host a virtual public hearing for its study starting this Friday. Spokeswomen Denise Derrer says if lawmakers consider lifting the ban, they’ll have a lot of questions to answer.

Will they allow retail sales in grocery stores, or do you have to go directly to a farm, or are herd share agreements going to be approved? What kind of labeling will be required, packaging, distribution? There’s a whole gamut of just associated issues that need to be addressed,” Derrer said.

The sale of raw milk is banned in about two dozen states, including Indiana and Kentucky.