Kentucky News Now

OBAMA-MCCONNELL

Obama meets at White House with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic President Barack Obama held a one-on-one gathering at the White House on Wednesday with incoming GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as the two sized up prospects for bipartisan cooperation.

Obama has said he would seek compromises with Congress when the GOP takes full control of Capitol Hill next month. The president said there was "definitely a deal to be done" on overhauling the nation's complicated tax code, but suggested it could months to work that out. On immigration, Obama said he expected Republicans to attempt to dismantle his recent executive orders but eventually come around to pursuing legislation to dealing with the millions of people in the U.S. illegally.

McConnell has broadly agreed with Obama's calls for tax reform and inking free trade pacts. But the Kentucky lawmaker has said he has been perplexed by Obama's decision to press forward with presidential directives on immigration.

FEDERAL JUDGE-HALE

US attorney in Kentucky confirmed as federal judge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Senate has confirmed David J. Hale to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Hale has been U.S. attorney for the Western District since 2010. He previously practiced law in Louisville and was an assistant U.S. attorney.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement he was pleased that Hale was confirmed Wednesday.

President Barack Obama nominated Hale in June. The Senate confirmation was unanimous.

ATTORNEY GENERAL-SURGERY

Ky. Attorney General has successful back surgery

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Attorney General and 2015 candidate for governor Jack Conway has had successful back surgery.

The procedure on Wednesday at Baptist Health Louisville was to help stop persistent pain caused by a herniated disc, according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office. A spokeswoman said Conway will have a limited schedule for the rest of the year but will hit the ground running in 2015.

Conway is finishing his second term as Kentucky's attorney general. He announced his candidacy for governor in May and has been raising money this year along with running mate Sannie Overly, a state representative from Paris who is also chairwoman of the House Democratic caucus. Geoff Young, a Democrat from Lexington, has also filed to run for governor as a Democrat.

ENHANCED DIPLOMAS

Enhanced Kentucky high school diploma discussed

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's education commissioner says an idea for an enhanced high school diploma is aimed at creating a stronger workforce that can meet the requirements of employers with foreign investments.

Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says that the program called "Kentucky Rising" could be in place by the 2016-17 school year. He says it would allow graduates to get scholarships and early college admission.

He discussed the idea Wednesday at a meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education.

Holliday said in an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader that he expects Kentucky Rising to be critical in economic development in the state.

He says businesses will have to help state education officials determine criteria for the program.

CREATIVE INDUSTRY

Report on creative industry in Ky. released

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Arts Council says the category known as the "creative industry" accounts for more than 100,000 jobs in Kentucky where it generates $1.9 billion in earnings.

The industry includes any person or company that makes products or provides services in artistic, cultural, creative, authentic or aesthetic content. It includes people involved in traditional arts as well as creative fields such as broadcasting, publishing, film and video production and advertising.

Arts Council Executive Director Lori Meadows says the industry is often misunderstood, with people seeing the work as hobbies. Meadows says it's hoped the information released in a report Wednesday can promote discussions about the industry's future and contributions to the state's economy.

Mt. Auburn Associates of Somerville, Massachusetts, completed the study. It is available online at http://bit.ly/KACCreativeIndustry .

CORVETTE MUSEUM-SINKHOLE

Sinkhole-swallowed Corvettes being restored

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — General Motors Co. says it's been restoring some prized Chevrolet Corvettes extracted from a sinkhole at a Kentucky museum.

GM has received two classic vehicles that were among eight gobbled up by a 40-foot-wide by 60-foot deep hole in February at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. Among them is the 1 millionth Corvette, a 1992 model, which had significant damage.

The Detroit-based automaker invited the media Wednesday to see the vehicle before restoration begins next month at its Design Center Fabrication Operations in suburban Warren. The work is expected to take six months.

A 2009 ZR 1 was restored and returned to the museum. A 1962 model is expected to be worked on at a specialty shop.

The museum is near the factory where Corvettes are made.

FORT CAMPBELL TREE

FORT CAMPBELL MOVES TREE LIGHTING PROGRAM INDOORS

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — With rain in the forecast for the next few days at Fort Campbell, the post has decided to move its holiday tree-lighting ceremony inside on Friday.

The post says the ceremony will be held at McAuliffe Hall inside the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters. The Army post is located on the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

The 101st Airborne Division Band will perform holiday music, leaders from the post and the division will offer greetings and a special guest may make an appearance.

The festivities are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST.