Wrapping Up October 30

Here’s what we reported on today:

• Yarmuth Discusses H.R. 3962
• Cards Hope to Snap Two-Game Losing Streak
• H1N1 Vaccine Still Slow to Arrive in KY
• Hawkins, Seum Wary Of Registered Sex Offender Concentration
• Deadline Approaches For ‘Connector’ Nominations
• Chuchill Downs Has Full Barns for Fall Meet

Bridges Authority Named

Mayor Jerry Abramson and Governor Steve Beshear have made their nominations to the Ohio River Bridges Authority. Against the Metro Council’s wishes, no council members are on the panel.

From the Mayor’s office:

Gov. Beshear’s appointments include:

• Joe Prather, former secretary, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Prather has a long record of public service, including 19 years in the General Assembly and an appointment as secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet under former Gov. Brereton Jones. Prather left KYTC on Sept. 30, 2009.
• Charles Buddeke, president, Buddeke Industries Inc. Buddeke has previously served as executive director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Office of Economic Development, president and CEO of the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce and publisher of Louisville magazine. He currently serves on the boards of the Louisville Metro Parks Foundation, the Greater Louisville Inc. Advanced Manufacturing Network, The Bridges Coalition and the University of Louisville’s Logistics Distribution Institute.
• Jamie Fiepke, president and CEO, the Kentucky Motor Transport Association (KMTA). As president of KMTA, Fiepke has worked with a variety of industry groups and state and federal administrators on improving highway safety and continuing the trend of reducing highway fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles. He has more than 15 years experience in the retail and trucking industry.

Mayor Abramson’s appointments include:

• Sandra Frazier, founding and managing member, Tandem Public Relations. Frazier, a director of the Brown-Forman Co. and Commonwealth Bank and Trust Co., is an active community leader and philanthropist.

• Dr. Charles Moyer, dean, University of Louisville College of Business and Public Administration. Moyer, an expert on the cost of capital and related issues, has published more than 80 articles on issues including leasing, public utility regulation and finance, corporate governance, and cost of capital during nearly four decades in higher education.
• Joe Reagan, CEO, Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce. Reagan has been a leading force in the business community’s support for the Ohio River Bridges Project to continue the safety and free flow of traffic essential to the economic vitality of both Kentucky and Indiana.
• Benjamin Richmond, president and CEO, Louisville Urban League. Richmond has been an active participant in the research and planning of the Ohio River Bridges Project for the past decade, including serving on citizen panels during development of the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

The governor’s appointments are subject to confirmation by the Kentucky State Senate. The mayor’s appointments are subject to approval by the Louisville Metro Council. The other members will represent Indiana.

Stop Your Car

You know when you see people standing in a crosswalk without a stoplight and you drive by? Well, you’re supposed to stop. Broken Sidewalk has this piece on how a crosswalk on the U of L campus is drawing attention to that law. Check it out and prepare to stop your car next time.

Rats? Rats!

Tuck your pants into your socks, Louisville is the 4th most city at risk for a rodent invastion. Here’s the list, from Reuters.

1. New York
2. Atlanta
3. Houston
4. Louisville
5. Philadelphia
6. Chicago
7. Boston
8. San Antonio
9. Milwaukee
10. Detroit

Louisville was number four in 2007, too. The list was compiled based on city infrastructure spending, weather, home foreclosures and a host of other factors.

Wrapping Up October 29

Here’s what we reported on today:

• Design Plans Unveiled For Section Of “The Fork”
• GE CEO Discusses Appliance Division
• City Adds 315 Miles to Snow Clearing Effort
• Demonstrators Sit In At Humana
• KACo Audit Finds “Self Serving Culture”
• Neustar to Open Support Services Center in Louisville

UAW Endorses Fischer

We just got this press release from Democratic Mayoral candidate Greg Fischer‘s campaign.

Mark Dowell, Chair of the UAW’s Community Action Program, announced the union’s endorsement for Fischer saying, “Greg Fischer’s record of job creation and innovation is unrivaled by any of the other candidates. In these hard economic times he has the kind of integrity, experience and leadership that working families can depend on.”

[edit]

The UAW is expected to have a significant presence at Fischer for Mayor’s public kick-off event this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the campaign headquarters at 300 Distillery Commons on Lexington Road, between Payne Street and Headliners Music Hall. The event will take place rain or shine.

Another View Of Newspaper Circulation

Silicon Alley Insider has this graph, which shows newspaper circulation changes by percentages. It’s a nice compliment to yesterday’s post.

Humana Protests

We’ll have the full story with Humana’s side on WFPL today.

From The Healthcare Protests

I’m covering the possible sit-in at Humana this morning. A few single payer advocates say they’re willing to be arrested today.

Wrapping Up October 28 – Listen To The Mayor On SoA

Here’s what we reported on today:

• Indiana OCC Suggests Lower Water Rate Increase
• Capitol Dome Project Continues
• Students To Protest IUS Smoking Ban
• McCain To Speak At U Of L
• Report on Riot Cause Due Within Two Weeks
• Brooklawn Dedicates New Children’s Campus

You can hear Mayor Jerry Abramson on State of Affairs here.