Louisville

Speed Art Museum Gets $18 Million for Expansion

Associated Press — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:30:01 +0000

The Speed Art Museum in Louisville could complete its expansion and renovation five to 10 years early thanks to an $18 million donation.

The Courier-Journal reports work already has begun the project that will double the exhibition space and dramatically change the look of Kentucky's largest museum.

The new donation comes from the family of Brown-Forman Chairman Owsley Brown II. Before Brown's death in 2011, he served as chairman of the museum's building committee and honorary chairman of the capital campaign, which was raising money for the expansion.

Museum board president Allan Latts said the donation will allow the museum to shave $20 million off the project's original $79 million budget because of the lower cost of materials and labor.

Kentucky Derby Weekend Means It's Mint Julep Time

Kevin Willis — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:40:14 +0000

The mint julep stands proud as the beverage known as Kentucky's signature drink. Unless you're new to the area or haven't been paying attention, you know the julep is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby.

What you might not know, however, is that the mint julep's history traces back to a rose water drink in the Middle East.

WKU Public Radio's Kevin Willis in 2010 visited the famous Seelbach Hotel in Louisville to learn the history and proper preparation of the famous drink. Cole Phelps, who at the time served as the head bartender at Max's Bar on the hotel's second floor shared his favorite recipe for drink:

Kentucky Kingdom Approved for Tax Breaks

Associated Press — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:47:12 +0000

Kentucky's Tourism Development Finance Authority has approved performance based tourism incentives for the new developers of the the Kentucky Kingdom theme park in Louisville. Those incentives could amount to as much as $10 million over ten years.

The park's now due to re-open by Memorial Day of 2014 after being shut down for four years when Six Flags went bankrupt. The new development group's headed by the park's original owner Ed Hart, who sold to Six Flags in the early 90's.

Hart says he'll detail what the new Kentucky Kingdom will be like this summer.

Kentucky Veteran Files Lawsuit Alleging Abuse by Police

Associated Press — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:40:19 +0000

A military veteran who was confronted by Louisville police last year at Mid City Mall has filed a lawsuit over the incident claiming he was wrongfully detained and assaulted by officers.

The Courier-Journal reports Kentucky National Guard Lt. Col. Donald Blake Settle has requested unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Settle says officers forced him to the ground and handcuffed him without sufficient reason in January 2012.

Police have said they thought Settle was panhandling because he was wearing dusty clothes, had trouble speaking and couldn't tell them his address. Settle told the newspaper in a previous interview that he has poor memory and difficulty speaking due to an injury he suffered in Afghanistan.

Hoosiers, Cards, and Cats Top Preseason Basketball Poll

USA Today — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:29:46 +0000

Three traditional college basketball powerhouses in our region are 1-2-3 in a major preseason ranking. Indiana, Louisville, and Kentucky appear set to have outstanding seasons and contend for national championships.