Kentucky News – Wednesday

KING COMMEMORATION

UofL to host March on Washington commemoration

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A bell-ringing ceremony at the University of Louisville is among events being held across the country Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT on the steps of the campus library.

Elsewhere in neighboring Tennessee, a program is scheduled at Lookout Mountain, which was mentioned in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

The program at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is set for 2:30 p.m. EDT at the New York Peace Monument at Point Park on Lookout Mountain.

Both events are open to the public.

KENTUCKY SENATE-GRIMES

Grimes gets endorsement of Ky. Firefighters

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Professional Firefighters Association has endorsed Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes for U.S. Senate.

Grimes, the Democratic front-runner, received the endorsement on Tuesday. She is seeking to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell who is running for a sixth term.

The firefighter group's president, Joe Baer, said his members are getting behind Grimes because they believe she has their best interest in mind, as well as the best interest of the people who depend on them.

Grimes faces Owensboro contractor Ed Marksberry, University of Louisville professor Greg Leichty and Louisville music promoter Bennie J. Smith in next year's Democratic primary.

McConnell faces Louisville businessman Matt Bevin in the Republican primary.

RUPP ARENA-MEMORIES

Rupp Arena memories sought

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Lexington officials are inviting people to share their favorite memories of Rupp Arena.

The request comes as the city considers a makeover of the home of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray is inviting people to use social media or email to share their memories of the downtown arena.

The comments will be incorporated into upcoming public meetings about the arena's future.

Rupp opened in 1976. Along with being the home of the Kentucky men's basketball team, the arena has hosted other sporting events, concerts and graduation ceremonies.

Seattle-based architectural firm NBBJ will handle the renovation design. Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis, which originally built Rupp, will handle the renovation.

The public can submit their Rupp memories through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RuppDistrict), Twitter (@RuppDistrict) or e-mail (info@ruppdistrict.com).

HATFIELD AND MCCOY GEOTRAIL

Hatfield and McCoy event enters second year

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The second annual Hatfield-McCoy GeoTrail Event will be celebrated Labor Day weekend in Pike County and West Virginia.

The event is a commemoration of the historic feud. It begins Friday, Aug. 30, with the popular Stolen Pig Roast.

The Kentucky Tourism Cabinet says interest in the Hatfield and McCoy feud has significantly increased over the last two years, due in part to the miniseries that aired on the History Channel.

Last year, geocachers from several states visited eastern Kentucky and West Virginia to take part in the event.

All of the caches along the trail are designed to be family friendly, and finders of all ages and experience levels are invited to come out for the event.

More information can be found at http://www.hatfieldmccoygeotrail.com.

OHIO RIVER BRIDGES

Electronic tolls for 3 Ohio R. spans at Louisville

Motorists will pay electronic tolls to use three Ohio River bridges connecting southern Indiana with Louisville, Ky.

Officials with the Ohio River Bridges Project said Tuesday that instead of using toll plazas where workers collect cash from motorists, the bridges will use tolling gantries that rely on electronic transponders and video cameras.

The News and Tribune reports passenger vehicles belonging to frequent commuters will be issued electronic transponders and be able to pre-pay into accounts from which tolls will be automatically deducted when the vehicle passes through a gantry.

Vehicles without transponders will be billed at the address to which the vehicle is registered as determined by license plate numbers captured by video cameras.

Rates haven't been determined.

ROADSIDE BODY

Police: Mowing crews find body near interstate

(Information in the following story is from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com )

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Police in northern Kentucky say a body has been found in the wood line along Interstate 75.

Kenton County Police Chief Brian Capps told The Kentucky Enquirer that mowing crews found the partially decomposed body Monday morning. It was near truck scales on the southbound side of the roadway.

He said police don't know how long the body was there before being discovered and they aren't sure whether it is a man or woman.

MUHAMMAD ALI-AWARDS

Muhammad Ali awards to honor humanitarian efforts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Boxing great Muhammad Ali wants to recognize some of the greatest humanitarians around the world.

The first-ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will be presented Oct. 3 in Louisville, Ky. — the former heavyweight champion's hometown.

The Muhammad Ali Center said Tuesday that six awards will honor people ages 35 and under for making significant contributions for peace, social justice and other humanitarian causes. Those awards will be given for exemplifying six core principles — confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality.

There will also be a Humanitarian of the Year Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Kentucky Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Ali and his wife, Lonnie, are members of the selection committee.

The Ali Center says award presenters will include people who've achieved greatness and worked for social change.