WKU Public Radio News

Paul Says GOP Needs More Diversity

WKU Public Radio News — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:51:52 +0000

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says the Republican Party needs to “look like America.” Paul told the New Hampshire Republican State Committee Liberty Dinner Monday that the GOP needs to become more diverse in order to prosper.

“We need to be white, we need to be brown, we need to be black, we need to be with tattoos, without tattoos, with pony tails, without pony tails, with beard, without," said the Bowling Green Republican.

The Courier-Journal noted Paul’s appearance in New Hampshire also stokes further speculation that he is planting the seeds for a 2016 presidential run.

New Hampshire is the first state to hold a presidential primary every four years. Paul visited Iowa, home of the nation’s first caucuses, earlier this month, and appeared the early primary state of South Carolina in January.

Worker Dies Following Accident at Owensboro "Blue Bridge"

WKU Public Radio News and Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:23:11 +0000

A construction worker has died following an accident at the site of the Owensboro “Blue Bridge” painting project. Daviess County Coroner Jeff Jones says the man—whose identity has not been released—died Monday evening after being taken to the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.

Co-workers found the 35-year-old unconscious in safety netting at the work site. He was cut from the netting and taken to the hospital with burns on his hands, indicating that he may have come into contact with energized electrical wires on the bridge.

The contractor and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet safety personnel will conduct an investigation into the incident.

The Glover H. Cary Bridge—also known locally as the “Blue Bridge”—is closed until November while it gets a fresh coat of paint. The bridge connects Owensboro with southern Indiana, and is used by an average of 8,500 vehicles a day.

Draft Farm Bills in Congress Exclude Hemp Legalization

WKU Public Radio News — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:45 +0000

Industrial hemp legalization has failed to make it into draft copies of farm bills in the U.S. House and Senate.

The hemp issue enjoys the support of seven of the eight members of Kentucky’s federal delegation, and Senator Mitch McConnell had explored the possibility of inserting a hemp legalization provision in the Senate farm measure.

However, that provision didn’t have wide enough backing among Senators to make the farm bill draft.

A McConnell spokesman told the Courier-Journal that McConnell and Senator Rand Paul “continue to look at several options to move the hemp legislation through the Senate.” The spokesman said inclusion in the farm bill isn’t the only option for changing federal laws regarding industrial hemp.

Kentucky lawmakers this year passed a bill allowing farmers in the state to grow hemp if the federal government legalized the crop.

WKU Public Radio has contacted the office of Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer for any response to hemp's lack of inclusion in the draft farm bills. We will bring you any reaction when we receive it.

Kobe to Add 100 New Jobs to Warren County Facility in $66 Million Expansion

WKU Public Radio News — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:12:05 +0000

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Wednesday announced a $66 million expansion at Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products in Warren County.

The move includes 100 new full-time jobs and an additional 87,000 square feet at the plant outside Bowling Green, where employees build aluminum suspension products for the automotive industry.

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said Kobe's announcement is a shot in the arm for the region.

"Kobe has been a great corporate citizen for the past eight years, and we look forward to continuing this relationship long into the future," said Wilkerson. "We congratulate them on their decision to expand here again and send well wishes for their continued growth."

Kobe first opened its Warren County facility in 2005, and currently employs 270 full-time workers.

Traffic Advisory: Eastbound Lanes of WK Parkway Closed West of Elizabethtown

WKU Public Radio News — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:13:50 +0000

A crash on the Western Kentucky Parkway at mile marker 130, west of Elizabethtown, has closed the eastbound lanes. The closure comes after a semi crashed into a bridge.

Eastbound motorists must exit at White Mills and use U.S. 62 to continue to Elizabethtown.

The closure is expected to last until 5:00 p.m. central/6:00 eastern.