Dan Modlin

150 years ago this month, Union and Confederate forces met in some bloody fighting in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  Stonewall Jackson distinguished himself in the field, in fighting that demonstrated the importance of good maps and accurate military intelligence. WKU Military Historian Dr. Jack Thacker and Dr. Glenn LaFantasie of the WKU Institute for Civil War Studies provide details.

Kentucky is one of 44 states reaching a 45 million dollar settlement with Skechers USA, Inc.  The settlement stems from complaints about deceptive advertising for rocker-bottom shoes.

The office of Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says $6 million has been recovered from Merck and Company in a lawsuit filed against pharmaceutical companies. Its the latest in a series of settlements over so-called "average wholesale price" cases. The suits allege that defendent drug companies published false and inflated average wholesale prices for their products, which didn't bear any relationship to the prices actually charged to customers.

The annual Bosniak Convention in the U-S will be held in Warren County, Kentucky this Memorial Day Weekend. Organizers of the event estimate  about 15,000 visitors will come to Bowling Green for the weekend's activities. WKU will be coordinating some educational activities in conjunction with the Bosniak Convention.

Governor Steve Beshear has ordered that flags fly at half staff at all state office buildings in Kentucky today, in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.  The flags will be at half staff from sunrise to sunset in the Commonwealth.

The mortgage division of a company which used to be the financing arm of General Motors Company is filing for bankruptcy protection. Ally Financial's mortgage division is known as Rescap.The government-owned lender had reportedly been considering a chapter eleven filing for Rescap for some time.

Law Enforcement Officials in Kentucky are making preparations for this year's "Click it or Ticket" campaign, which is scheduled to start on May 20th. Although seat belt use has increased in the Commonwealth in recent years, more than fifty percent of the people killed in traffic accidents in the state aren't wearing seat belts at the time of their accidents. Greg Dennison of the Office of Highway Safety and Captain Steve Stratton of the Logan County Sheriff's Department talk with WKU Public Radio.

The Council on Postsecondary Education  has worked with Kentucky’s public postsecondary institutions to develop the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy, and the plans were approved by the CPE last fall.   

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will leave Sunday for an economic development trip to Taiwan and Japan. The seven day trip is expected to highlight the bluegrass state's 30 year sister-state relationship with Taiwan, and to showcase the Bourbon industry in the Commonwealth.

Thousands of Americans who have been receiving extended unemployment benefits will no longer receive that money, if they live in states that no longer qualify for the program. Under federal law, the rate of unemployment must be 10 percent higher than for the previous three years for extended benefits to remain in each state. States that no longer qualify, as of today, include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas.  Officials in California say that state alone will see more than 90, 000 people lose their extended unemployment benefits today.

State Officials in Kentucky today announced that the state has been selected by the National Governor's Association to work with other states to develop policies promoting efficient education funding. The group will also study flexibility in the awarding of high school credits.

Owensboro's International Bar-B-Q Festival is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the Daviess County area this weekend. 

Officials at Fort Campbell say an emergency management and anti-terrorism exercise is underway at the military post today. The annual event is testing Fort Campbell's security personnel and first responders, as well as support agreements with outside response organizations.

Consultants hired last week to help Kentucky's Blue Ribbon Commission on tax reform stressed the importance of tax policies and business climates in surrounding states. A new rating released today by Chief Executive Magazine places Tennessee and Indiana in the top five states, in terms of having business-friendly climates.

Mammoth Cave National Park is making use of some new propane-fueled vehicles, thanks to a partnership between the National Park Service and the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program. The vehicles are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the park.

The country duo known as Montgomery Gentry will perform Wednesday at the Kentucky Cares Concert in Lexington. Kentucky natives Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry will play at the event at Busters Billiards and Backroom, with proceeds given to the local chapter of the American Red Cross, to help people who suffered tornado and storm damage on March 2nd.

The Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a marker in honor of the western Louisville home where boxing great Muhammid Ali was born.  Ali, who was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., lived in the home with his parents and brother. 

Jockey Robby Albarado lost his ride in the Kentucky Oaks, after being arrested on an assault charge this morning. Jefferson County Sheriff's Department spokesman Carl Yates says Albarado was arrested at a local residence, several hours before he was slated to ride "Hard Not to Like" in the Oaks.

The Tennessee Valley Authority will look for ways to reduce its expenses in the months ahead, and some positions will be cut. TVA officials announced today that the power supplier brought in about eleven percent less revenue during the first six months of its financial year, compared to the first six months of the previous financial year. An unusually warm winter, which reduced power sales, was cited as a major contributing factor.

One of the top bluegrass guitarists in the world will be playing May 4th at the Roxy Theater in Franklin, along with mandolin specialist Mike Compton. Its part of a new series of Bluegrass Friday programs at the venue in Simpson County. 

Leaders at Western Kentucky University say they now plan to open the new Doctor in Physical Therapy Program in about 13 months. Although there is strong demand for the program, it can't be offered until the entire certification process has been completed.

Dr. Harvey Wallmann says he's optimistic about the program's future.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s office has awarded the contract for the Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform to a three person team made up of two consultants from the University of Kentucky and one from the University of Tennessee.  The Governor says the individuals selected for the consulting team have the necessary experience to address the issues before the Commission.

For the first time in a generation, Kentucky courts will temporarily close due to budget cuts. Workers in the judicial branch were notified this morning that furloughs will be necessary for three days. All state court employees will be furloughed on August 6, September 4, and October 15 of this year.

The recent opening of a new greenhouse/headhouse facility at the Western Kentucky University farm is expected to strengthen the research partnership between the University and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. ARS  Mid-South Director, Dr. Ed King, says much of the work at the new facility will focus on ways to improve the management of livestock waste. 

Officials at Western Kentucky University say they currently plan to open the WKU Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in  about fourteen months.  The program has now received state approval from the Council on Postsecondary Education.

CafePress Incorporated will move its Global Headquarters to Louisville,in a move that  will create nearly six hundred jobs in  Jefferson County.  The company already has a 140 thousand square foot fulfillment center in the area. That operation will be expanded by another 185 thousand square feet, at an investment of more than sixteen million dollars.

In April of 1862, both the Union and Confederate leadership considered New Orleans to be an important strategic location. The battle that took place there involved chains in the river and a Mayor who refused to surrender, even after Union forces had won the battle. WKU Military Historian Jack Thacker and Glenn LaFantasie of the WKU Institute for Civil War Studies talk with WKU Public Radio in the latest of our ongoing series of reports marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is expected to sign HB 281, which improves training for coaches in recognizing concussions. He will be joined in that ceremony, which will be held at Central High School in Louisville, by Representative Joni Jenkins and Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Donna Hargens.

The fourth national "Take Back"initiative is collecting unwanted prescription medications today at State Police Posts across Kentucky. The Kentucky State Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency are working together on the effort, which is designed to help reduce prescription abuse .

U-S Senator Rand Paul, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power Ed Whitfield, and U-S Congressman Brett Guthrie have introduced the Services Members and Communities Act. The sponsors of the bill say it  would provide a more accurate count of deployed service members in the national census. Representatives Guthrie and Whitfield introduced the legislation in the U-S House today, after Senator Paul introduced it in the Senate yesterday.