Kentucky News Now – October 20th 2015

HUMANA-AETNA

Kentucky-based Humana, Aetna shareholders approve $37 billion merger

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Humana of Louisville, Kentucky, says shareholders at a special meeting overwhelming approved the company's takeover by fellow insurer Aetna.

Humana announced Monday that more than 99 percent of shares voted at the meeting were in favor the deal, which was announced in July. That total represents about 87 percent of Humana's total outstanding common shares. Separately, Aetna, of Hartford, Connecticut, says that shareholders approved the issuance of stock to Humana shareholders.

The $37 billion deal would create the country's second-largest managed care company. It's still subject to approval by regulators and other closing conditions. Humana Inc. and Aetna Inc. expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2016.

TOYOTA PLANT-LEXUS

Toyota Georgetown unveils US-built Lexus

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — The first U.S.-built Lexus has rolled off the line in Georgetown where Toyota already makes Camrys, Avalons and Venzas.

The plant unveiled its Lexus ES 350 at a ceremony Monday.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and former Gov. Martha Layne Collins attended the ceremony along with other officials. The Lexington Herald-Leader says Beshear gave credit for the economic progress that followed Toyota's arrival in the 1980s to Collins and Larry Hayes, who has worked in economic development in the Collins and Beshear administrations.

The company invested $360 million in a new dedicated assembly line for the Lexus and added 750 jobs. The plant will build 50,000 of the sedans a year. Toyota says that 1.5 million hours of training took place before the first Lexus came off the line.

FLU-KENTUCKY

Kentucky health officials confirm first 2 cases of flu

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State health officials have confirmed the first two cases of the flu in Kentucky this season.

The cases are from Jefferson and Kenton counties. Jefferson County includes the state's largest city, Louisville. Kenton County is in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati.

Officials with the Kentucky Department of Public Health file a weekly report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Kentucky's flu status. Officials say Kentucky is classified as "sporadic," the lowest level of flu activity.

Health officials urged people to get a flu shot as soon as possible. It takes about two weeks to develop immunity to the virus after you receive the shot. Officials say they expect Kentucky will not have a shortage of flu vaccines this year.

BOURBON TRAIL

2 micro distilleries added to Bourbon Trail Craft Tour

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two more distilleries have been added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, bringing the total number of micro distilleries included to 10.

They are Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. and Hartfield & Co. Distillery.

The new state-of-the art Kentucky Peerless distillery opened in June in downtown Louisville. Corky Taylor and his son, Carson, have revived the brand that their ancestor, Henry Kraver of Henderson County, made famous in the 1880s.

Andrew and Larissa Buchanan became the first licensed distiller in Bourbon County since 1919 when they opened The Gentleman Distillery in Paris last year and recently changed the name to Hartfield & Co. to reflect their family's distilling heritage in Green County in the 1800s.

The tour was founded in 2012 to complement the Kentucky Distillers' Association's Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

MISSING KENTUCKY MAN

Search suspended for Kentucky man missing in Washington state

STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — Officials have called off their search for a Kentucky man who was last seen a month ago in Washington state.

The Skamania County Sheriff's office says 39-year-old Glenn "Austin" Oldfield, of Louisville, Kentucky, had planned a two-week-long camping trip in southwest Washington. His girlfriend last heard from him on Sept. 17 by text message, and a pair of hunters reported seeing him two days later near Lone Butte in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Sheriff Dave Brown said Oldfield told the hunters he was lost, but when they offered to show him the way to the road, he turned and ran the opposite direction.

Brown said Monday that about 50 people spent the weekend searching an area near where a car and campsite were found. He says deputies will continue posting flyers to alert people to Oldfield's disappearance.

OHIO RIVER-ALGAE

Ohio River's huge algae bloom a warning for water suppliers

A rare outbreak of toxic algae on the Ohio River that has stretched more than 600 miles is starting to wind down.

Drinking water plant operators along the river say what happened should serve as a warning to cities that get their supply from lakes, rivers and manmade reservoirs.

The algae bloom first detected in the middle of August made its way from Wheeling, West Virginia, and past Cincinnati and Louisville, Kentucky.

Toxins produced by the algae haven't tainted any municipal supplies, but cities did spend more money treating their water.

Researchers say heavy rains in the early summer washed algae-feeding pollutants into the river and that a dry late-summer made conditions just right for the outbreak.

HORSE PARK

Horse Park offers off-site wagering for Breeders' Cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Horse Park is offering indoor and drive-thru wagering for the Breeders' Cup races next week.

Wagering will be available at the Alltech Arena during the CP National Horse Show Oct. 29 to 31. Simulcasting will be broadcast inside the arena all three days, with Keeneland's race card shown on Oct. 29 and Breeders' Cup races on Oct. 30 and 31.

Off-site wagering will open an hour before racing begins and close 30 minutes after the last race at Keeneland each day.

The park is also planning activities in the week before the Breeders' Cup. One event will be the unveiling of a newly engraved headstone for 19th century jockey Isaac Burns Murphy, who is buried at the park. The event is at 2 p.m. this Thursday.