Although they’re not sure how many visitors to expect, Blue Grass Airport, the Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport have added baggage carts, built terminals and refurbished runways in preparation for possible increased passenger traffic because of the Games.

About $8 million in construction projects out of approximately $66 million in improvements under way at Blue Grass Airport have been accelerated because of the Games, airport officials said. Those projects include a new airport entrance and a refurbished terminal that includes a $239,000, 31-foot by 35-foot section of terrazzo tile flooring depicting the bloodlines of prominent Thoroughbreds.

On Wednesday, Blue Grass will celebrate its new $27 million general aviation runway, which will open around the beginning of September.

Other big changes include a new $1.3 million terminal the Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport opened on June 30, several years earlier than expected.
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Local airports adding services, new facilities for WEG is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The state Public Service Commission on Friday approved a adjustment that means the average customer will see an increase of $7 a month. Louisville Gas & Electric bills will go up by the same amount.

In January, the companies asked the PSC for permission to raise rates by $11.85 for the average customer.

The adjustment approved Friday was agreed to by the two utilities and most of the parties to the rate case. The state attorney general’s office, which advocates on behalf of residential customers, did not agree.

The PSC said it accepted the partial settlement because it will “result in a lower rate increase than justified by our traditional rate-making case.”
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Kentucky Utilities’ rates increasing $7 a month for average customer is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The jury returned a guilty verdict on two murder counts Wednesday. Other potential sentences were 20 to 50 years, life in prison, life without parole for at least 25 years and life without parole.

Formal sentencing by Judge Pamela Goodwine is scheduled Sept. 10.

Dennis Shepherd, one of two public defenders who represented Ordway, said he was “certain there would be an appeal.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson declined comment, saying it was inappropriate until after formal sentencing.

Ordway, 29, was accused of fatally shooting Patrick Lewis, 21, and Rodrieques Turner, 25, both of Louisville, while the two were inside a car on Appian Way in Lexington. Defense attorneys argued during the trial that Ordway acted in self-defense.
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Fayette jury recommends death penalty in 2007 slayings is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The East End Community Farmers Market is scheduled to open Aug. 7 in the pavilion behind Third Street Exchange at 560 East Third Street. The building is a small business incubator owned by Community Ventures Corp.

The initial priority is making fresh, healthy food accessible to East End residents, a significant number of whom do not have reliable transportation to a full-service grocery store or to one of several farmers markets in the city, said James Coles, executive vice president of Community Ventures.

The market will start with four farmers. “We’ll assess the need for more as the community finds out about it and as demand increases,” Coles said

The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
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Another farmer’s market opening near downtown on Aug. 7 is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The jury returned a guilty verdict on two murder counts Wednesday. Other potential sentences were 20 to 50 years, life in prison, life without parole for at least 25 years and life without parole.

Formal sentencing by Judge Pamela Goodwine is scheduled Sept. 10.

Dennis Shepherd, one of two public defenders who represented Ordway, said he was “certain there would be an appeal.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson declined comment, saying it was inappropriate until after formal sentencing.

Ordway, 29, was accused of fatally shooting Patrick Lewis, 21, and Rodrieques Turner, 25, both of Louisville, while the two were inside a car on Appian Way in Lexington. Defense attorneys argued during the trial that Ordway acted in self-defense.
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Fayette jury recommends death penalty in 2007 slayings is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The 31.5 percent yearly increase to $337,623,982 was largely due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which accounted for $64.5 million of the total.

The university’s research funding total for fiscal year 2008 was $256,740,712.

UK vice president for research James W. Tracy said total research awards were up more than seven percent and federal awards increased almost 20 percent.

“…With the university working harder than ever to commercialize our discoveries and innovations, the impact will be felt for years to come,” said UK president Lee Todd in a statement.
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UK research awards break $300 million mark is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The East End Community Farmers Market is scheduled to open August 7 in the pavilion behind the Third Street Exchange at 560 East Third Street. The building is a small business incubator owned by Community Ventures Corp.

The initial priority is making fresh, healthy food accessible to East End residents, a significant number of whom do not have reliable transportation to a full-service grocery store or to one of several farmers markets in the city, said James Coles, executive vice president of Community Ventures.

The market will start with four farmers. “We’ll assess the need for more as the community finds out about it, and as demand increases,” Coles said

The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
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Another farmer’s market opening near downtown on Aug. 7 is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

“I was shaking when I stepped off the bus,” said a happy Spec. Sarah Spurlock of Lexington, a member of the outfit.

The soldiers, who are from towns scattered throughout Kentucky, arrived at Lexington’s Armed Forces Reserve Center by bus from Camp Atterbury, Ind., where they completed post-deployment processing after returning to the United States on Saturday. A few more soldiers, who remained at Camp Atterbury to finish last-minute medical checkups, were expected to arrive later Thursday.

During their tour, the troops drove thousands of miles, moving countless truck-loads of equipment out of U.S. bases in Iraq that were being closed down and turned over to the Iraqi army.

No member of the unit was wounded during the year. Sgt. Kimberly Gray of Lexington had the unit’s one close call a homemade bomb exploded alongside her truck during a night run. The truck was not significantly damaged, she said.
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Troops return to Kentucky after a year in Iraq is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

“Anyone who would look at this rate increase with an objective eye would conclude it is excessive,” he told the state’s Public Service Commission on Wednesday.

Vice Mayor Jim Gray says Lexington doesn’t need the plant and is being asked to bail out the utility’s bad business decision.

“I question whether these massive costs should have been incurred at all,” he said.

The two men, who are vying for the mayor’s job in the Nov. 2 election, were the leadoff speakers at a lightly attended PSC meeting held to gather local opinions on a proposed 37 percent rate hike request. If approved, the average monthly residential water bill would rise from $25.44 to $34.88.
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At hearing, Lexington mayoral candidates air views about water plant, rate hike is a post from: Kentucky Registrar

The subdivision is off Georgetown Street in northern Fayette County.

To make it easier for police and firefighters to reach victims in distress, all street names have to be unique, David Lucas, director of enhanced 911, told a gathering of Oakwood residents.

The dilemma is this: There are two Cedarwood Drives, separated by a 5-foot berm. Cedarwood Drive in the Oakwood neighborhood opened in 1964. Cedarwood Drive in the adjoining Coldstream Subdivision opened less than 10 years ago.

Lucas stressed that the city’s address committee made up of representatives from police, fire, the U.S. Postal Service and the property valuation office recommended the street-name change. Because Cedarwood Drive in Coldstream has two more houses than the part in Oakwood, the committee recommended that the Oakwood section get a new name.
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Cedarwood Drive residents protest city’s move to rename their street is a post from: Kentucky Registrar