You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2010.
Next year, detail data from the 2010 will filter out to the states. This will be used to redrawn city, state and federal legislative districts. While a dramatic change is unlikely in Kentucky, it could tip the scales toward the cities, Louisville and Lexington. If the cities represent more of the state’s population, they’ll get more representation, and it’s long been said that Americans are becoming more urban, and cities could gain more power on the state and federal level.
But as Governing reports, that could come at the cost of rural clout.
The Freakanomics team says this on the New York Times website:
A new paper by Emory economist Sara Markowitz finds that “laws regulating indoor smoking are associated with increases in some types of fires. Specifically, workplace restrictions and bans are associated with increases in fires in all locations and in residential units. Restaurant and bar bans are associated with increases in fires in restaurants and all eating/drinking establishments.”
Louisville’s fire deaths have decreased since the smoking ban took effect, and it seems unlikely the two are related. Actual fires, though, may tell a different story.
State Representative Rick Nelson has pre-filed legislation that would require…someone to disclose (upon request) the names of people who post anonymously online.
I say “…someone” because it’s unclear in the legislation who that would be. The bill would “require providers of these services [sites, blogs, message boards] to conspicuously identify the parties who post entries; require providers of these services to disclose, upon request, the names, addresses, and e-mail addresses of parties posting entries”
But who is the provider? Is it the ISP or the host? It’s also unlikely this could pass a legal challenge or apply to out of state residents, hosts and ISPs.
Page One has more, and it seems that Jake is no fan of Rep. Nelson.
On WFPL’s State of Affairs, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said the statues that would grant tax breaks to the proposed Ark Encounter theme park “cut both ways.” The state can’t deny the breaks outright because the park is religious. However, the park must follow all state operating, hiring and anti-discrimination laws in order to receive the breaks. When a caller asked whether he thought the park would hurt Kentucky’s image, Abramson said he likely share’s the caller’s logic, but the state can’t judge the park based on its image for the commonwealth.
That transitioned into a conversation about Louisville’s differences with the rest of the state.
Abramson is leaving office to run for Lt. Governor with incumbent Governor Steve Beshear on the top of the ticket. Beshear was on State of Affairs recently. He said he doesn’t think the Ark Encounter will hurt Kentucky’s image.
In Kentucky, Goodwill has seen a 24% increase in the number of people it placed in jobs.
“When unemployment is high, it is even more difficult for people with disabilities or other disadvantages to find employment,” Roland R. Blahnik, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, said in the news release. “The economic conditions challenged our ability to place people into jobs, but with continuous effort, placements are returning to prior levels. Even with this success, we’re seeing many more people come to Goodwill for assistance in finding jobs.”
The controversial Ark Encounter theme park has received preliminary approval to apply for $37 million in tax breaks.
After saying he would “pray about” a 2012 bid for President, Republican Indiana Congressman Mike Pence is expected to make a decision next month. Pence is also considering a run for governor. The gubernatorial bid may be a safer bet for Pence, since Republican Lt. Governor Becky Skillman is not running, and neither is outgoing Democratic Senator Evan Bayh.
