Thursday’s Kentucky News, November 21st, 2013

OHIO RIVER BRIDGES

Ky. approved for federal loan for new bridge

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear says Kentucky has been approved for a low-cost federal loan expected to save about $100 million on financing for a new Ohio River bridge between downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, Ind.

Beshear's office said Wednesday the loan is for up to $452 million. Recipients can lock in long-term interest rates that usually are lower than for other forms of financing.

Kentucky is responsible for the downtown crossing, one of two Ohio River bridges being built as part of a $2.6 billion project in the Louisville area. Kentucky is financing its portion of the project with a combination of federal highway funds and bond sales.

Indiana has secured financing for its part, which includes a new bridge east of Louisville that will connect Utica, Ind., and Prospect, Ky.

CASINO GAMBLING

Casinos may be issue again for Ky. Legislature

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville Democrat has drafted legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to allow three stand-alone casinos, plus five others at horse tracks.

State Rep. Larry Clark said the proposal could generate needed cash for both state government and the horse tracks.

Gambling proposals have become perennial in the Kentucky Legislature, never garnering enough support to pass.

Gov. Steve Beshear has pressed lawmakers since he took office in 2007 to allow Kentuckians to wager on more than horse races. The Bible-belt state has a longstanding tradition of betting on horses and playing lotteries while barring casinos.

Clark said his proposal could generate $286 million a year in new revenue. If approved by the Legislature, the proposal would then be placed on the ballot for voters to ratify or reject next November.

SMOKEOUT

Ky. smoke-free advocates plan gathering

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network says volunteers are gathering at the University of Kentucky on Thursday for what it is calling a "tobacco tailgate" as the 38th annual Great American Smokeout gets underway.

Representatives of the Cancer Action Network and Smoke Free Kentucky will join with representatives from the university and business communities to celebrate the Smokeout as well as the fourth anniversary of UK's tobacco-free policy. They also plan to appear later before the Joint Interim Committee of Economic Development and Tourism, meeting at UK's Student Center Ballroom in the afternoon.

The American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout is held on the third Thursday of November every year. The organization offers support and tools to help smokers kick the habit.

MASSAGE PARLOR SLAYINGS

Ex-cops charged in Kentucky brothel slayings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Nearly twenty years after two young women were shot and stabbed to death at a Kentucky massage parlor, two former police officers stand charged in connection with their deaths.

Edward Carter and Leslie Duncan are among three men charged in the 1994 slayings at the New Life Massage Parlor in Oak Grove. Carter and an Alabama man were indicted late last week on two murder counts. Duncan was indicted on two counts of complicity to murder.

Investigators are being tight-lipped about how the ex-cops are allegedly linked to the slayings. But Tammy Papler, the woman who once ran the parlor, claimed years ago that she had been bribing police to allow her to operate what was in essence a prostitution business and that the killings took place after she stopped paying.

YUM-PRESIDENT

Yum president leaving under reorganization

NEW YORK (AP) — Yum Brands says its president is leaving as part of a reorganization that will bring together U.S. and international divisions for each of its three chains — KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

Rick Carucci, who has been with the company since 1984, plans to retire in March.

The reorganization brings together the global business for each chain. That means Yum will no longer break out U.S. performance of the chains in quarterly financial reports.

The China and India divisions will remain separate because of their size and growth potential, the company said.

Yum, based in Louisville, Ky., has more than 40,000 locations. But its business varies greatly by region; in China, for example, KFC is the company's flagship chain. Taco Bell has been the strongest performer in the U.S.