Like we told you last week, Metro Government admitted that Ted Pullen harassed a female subordinate and was investigated after a complaint of bias. [C-J/AKN]
Metro Police are looking into seven suspicious deaths this year at Metro Corrections. All of the inmates died while in custody at corrections. [WDRB]
A Louisville man accused of opening fire at a homeowners association meeting, killing one and critically wounding another, was ordered held on a $1 million bond Saturday at an initial court hearing where a prosecutor called him “the epitome of danger to the community.” [H-L]
Another day, another senseless murder in the West End. When will Metro Government take it seriously? [WAVE3]
The owner of western Kentucky’s Ellis Park racetrack says he’s nearing a deal to take on a business partner. [WFPL]
New information is being released, detailing complaints of discrimination in the Metro Public Works department. It comes just one week after the long time director of the department, Ted Pullen abruptly resigned. [WHAS11]
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has ended the consent order it issued against Louisville-based Republic Bank & Trust Co. in December. [Business First]
Police dogs from three Indiana departments and the facility where they train will star in a new National Geographic reality television show. [WLKY]
The cash-strapped agency that oversees the KFC Yum! Center may have a windfall of millions of dollars that could help forestall the need to dig further into city funds to make debt payments. [C-J/AKN]
Federal prosecutors say sentencing limitations in the federal Horse Protection Act are behind their probation recommendation for a man caught by a hidden camera beating a Tennessee walking horse. [H-L]
State spending on courthouse buildings is going up even as Kentucky’s judicial system struggles to pay for its day-to-day operations. [WKYT]
Two months before the election, President Obama and Mittens Romney agree on one thing: the collection of states where the race will be decided. [NYT]
Democratic National Convention Chairman Antonio Villaraigosa stood by his handling of the party’s decision to change its platform on God and Jerusalem, vowing there was no controversy among the votes that counted. [HuffPo]
18 responses so far ↓
1 J. Bruce Miller // Sep 10, 2012 at 8:56 am
I respect the business acumen of Jim King. For sure, finding a few more million dollars under a toadstool somewhere will aleviate the problem (TEMPORARILY).
However, in my opinion paying on-going debt obligations with the money that was originally borrowed (by the bond sale) does nothing but put a gauze wrapping on a cancer.
In order to eliminate the arena’s financial debacle, the ONLY thing that can be done is to find multiple dates, a.s.a.p. for the use of the arena’s ‘bowl.’
That’s why I have strongly recommended to Mayor Fischer that a concerted effort should be made (IMMEDIATELY) to entice an NBA team’s transfer to Louisville. The 41 regular season games of an NBA team, averaging 17,500 attendees (at a minimum [17500 being the average attendance in Oklahoma City]) would add nearly 750,000 MORE PEOPLE in the arena.
2 G'town Reader // Sep 10, 2012 at 9:00 am
Re WAVE3 link to shooting outside West End barbershop: ONE local TV newscast reported yesterday that the victim was the son of Derek Anderson.
3 E // Sep 10, 2012 at 11:04 am
I think the first thing that should be done, is that all the bureaucrats, politicians, and other various ‘promoters’ of the arena shopuld have liens attached their salaries, pensions, and personal property to pay for the ongoing costs of maintaining their ‘dream’.
4 Terry // Sep 10, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Louisville can never support an N B A team .That is why we will never have one unless the taxpayer is screwed again as with the stadium . If someone wants one let them outline the actual costs and source of these funds TAX TAX TAX .Not this pie in the sky T I F like the Stadium . Don’t just go around crying I WANT IT I WANT IT. Louisville has one of the highest rates in the Nation according to C N N Money. GOOGLE Louisville tax burden
5 lateshiftatthezoo // Sep 10, 2012 at 1:28 pm
I applaud you J Bruce Miller in your effort to bring an NBA team to the city of Louisville. I may be wrong. but I don’t think the city would support it.
Louisville to me has always been a place that wants to act like a big city. but wants to remain a small town. that is controlled by only a few.
6 J. Bruce Miller // Sep 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm
lateshiftatthezoo: As I’ve explained to many folks, most mid-sized cities THEMSELVES aren’t large enough to support a major league team. The reason they do support one (or two) is that the market for a major league sports team is THE CITY ITSELF PLUS THE POPULATION WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS. In Louisville’s instance (not counting Cincinnati) but including Covington, Lexington, Southern Indiana, etc. the 100 mile radius population is comparable with most mid-sized NBA cities. The same is true with the # of businesses, money spent on television advertising, etc.
Furthermore, every economic study that has been done on the subject (including the 4-5 teams’ ownerships that have examined the Louisville ‘market’ since 2000) have concluded that Louisville’s market can EASILY support a NBA team.
7 jtt // Sep 10, 2012 at 5:52 pm
But in these economic times, I truly don’t know anyone who could, with any regularity, attend an NBA game. I have a decent job, but I know I sure could not. Even the occasional concert is out of my price range.
8 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Sep 10, 2012 at 10:17 pm
With all respect, I don’t disagree with anything you say Mr. Miller. However, your past unproductive efforts have tainted your message.
The struggle for Louisville is that you are dealing with a city which socially consists of five small towns situated in close enough proximity to act like a mid-size city. Everyone who lives here understands the social and economic barriers which divide and create barriers to big commitments like the one which would be needed to bring a NBA team here. Getting the various neighborhoods to move in one direction is like herding a bunch of cats.
Unfortunately, the lease that was signed gives all the leverage to the University, and they are not going to give up a penny until we get to the point where the taxpayers are footing the bill. The note sale proceeds push that date out a little bit. U of L needs all of the revenue they can get to fluff their resume in their search for the major conference bid. If they get a bid and more television revenues, I see them being more willing to adjust their revenues. Until then, we need to explore the NHL, tennis, tournaments, etc.
9 lateshiftatthezoo // Sep 11, 2012 at 5:45 am
Like I said “I could be wrong” I’m not saying I wouldn’t support it. I just know how this goofy city is. we want to act like a big city. until it’s time to be a big city. then we want to act like a small town.
10 J. Bruce Miller // Sep 11, 2012 at 6:48 am
lateshift: That’s because we’ve never elected political leaders in this city who have leadership skills, who’ve ‘told it like it is’ and demanded quality decision-making from a highly skilled set of top managers. The “Ship of State” around here has (for decades) had barnacles on its hull.
Hopefully (on an issue like this) that’s changed with Fischer. Up to this point, I’ve been given solid reason to believe it has — regarding this particular issue. Keep your hopes alive and we’ll see.
11 Nova China // Sep 11, 2012 at 7:11 am
Barnacles on its hull? Sorry, the barnacles and all their little barnacle friends and relatives have been the ones steering the “Ship of State,” which is hard to do because barnacles aren’t big enough to see where they’re going.
12 J. Bruce Miller // Sep 11, 2012 at 9:17 am
Mark H: I need to ‘clarify’ you phrase “…my past unproductive efforts.” with a little history.
On September 15, 2011 (4 days after 9/11) the Charlotte Hornets ownership came to Louisville on the Hornets’ plane and a contract was SIGNED BY THEM and the Pursuit Team (me, Glasscock, Todd Blue and Jonathan Blum [of Tricon, now Yum(!) – who had committed $100million for naming rights) to move the Hornets (and its womens’ team) to Louisville. David Stern signed off, the NBA’s transfer committee signed off, Governor Patton agreed to build an arena on the Blue Property (where the ‘pointed building now sits) the bond issue was prepared with the aid of PNC Capital Markets, the NBA finance team AND JIM RAMSEY (!) who was Patton’s finance guy AND IT WAS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE OCTOBER 22ND NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ MEETING IN DALLAS.
A mayor(ette) by the name of Armstrong, backed out wanting to ‘slow it down’ and ‘tweek it’ so he could take credit for it. He didn’t know any more about how to do this than I did about how to fly to the moon.
The Mayor of New Orleans, sensing an idiot in charge around here — seized the opportunity, the UofL contingent controlled by the self-appointed chief-dissenter, Malcolm Chancey (of JCPS Foundation fraud fame), mounted a campaign to nix it along with Armstrong’s ‘spineless’ adventures — and a few months later there was a parade down Bourbon Street with New Orleans ‘taking’ our contracted NBA team – away.
That’s the story Mark H. Ask anyone who was involved.
Our loss resulted from utterly pitiful mayoral leadership. I don’t think my efforts were ‘unproductive.’
13 J. Bruce Miller // Sep 11, 2012 at 11:46 am
Correction: September 15, 2001 not 2011
14 ace hat // Sep 11, 2012 at 9:57 pm
How can anyone Bust on Miller!…Hell he’s the only one with any Real Vision of any Sense!—I’d bet on J. Bruce’s plan ! I think people should get heads out of their you know what’s & start listening to some of the real Business minds here that know what needs to Happen
15 Debbie Linnig Michals // Sep 11, 2012 at 10:32 pm
I was against the arena, thinking it was a waste of taxpayers dollars. I WAS DEAD WRONG! Downtown Louisville is alive now because of it.
Whatever we need to do to keep the arena alive, we need to do as a community. J. Bruce, you have a plan, put it out on the table, all I know is we can’t afford to not have it. Your comment about electing true leaders is correct. We do everything back door and true leaders just can’t stomach what they have to go thru to lead. The cream does not rise to the top in government, in fact you get punished because you make them look bad. I once had a former Circuit Court Clerk candidate tell me to read a book in my spare time in the office. He said it made everyone look bad that I kept working on special projects and ways to make the system better. So all you leaders out there, step up to the plate, we have everything to lose as a community if you don’t.
16 Rob Mattheu // Sep 11, 2012 at 11:30 pm
I have been impressed with some of the concerts coming to the Yum Center, but think reports of concerts like KISS / Motley Crue playing to a 2/3 empty house are scary. Too many concerts playing to empty houses will lead to no concerts coming to Louisville beyond the few weeks always get. As to the NBA, at the risk of Mr. Miller accusing me of being employed by an anti-NBA agency, let me say Louisville has never been a pro-sports town, and at pro sports prices, filling the Yum Center will be tough, especially as the years go by. It’s hard to imagine a deep pocketed owner from this area who would put the money in necessary for success, and if the team sucks, Louisville will stay away in droves. I’d love to have a pro-sports team here, and the NBA is one league where I don’t already have a team. If Mr. Miller’s dream is a success someday, awesome. But I just don’t see it happening.
Given that Louisville is not a professional sports town, I have no idea how an NBA team would survive, especially at the cost of pro tickets.
17 Debbie Linnig Michals // Sep 12, 2012 at 2:06 am
Please don’t laugh at some of these ideas. I am going to throw these out for you all to criticque.
1. High school basketball games for rivalries like St. X and Trinity. I am not a big high school basketball fan but I am sure there are others.
2. Dedicate a small portion in the arena as a basketball museum, hype it to locals and tourists tap into what the Louisville Slugger Museum has done. Start by asking former great players who live in Louisville and surrounding cities if they would come and sign autographs for their fans. Charge an admission fee and open a gift shop. Have cutouts where a visitor could have pictures taken with a picture of Darryl Griffith or other great players as a keepsake. They show the picures to people and the word spreads.
3. Sell the view during thunder over Louisville.
4. Form a volunteer think tank made up of citizens in the community to explore other options.
18 lateshiftatthezoo // Sep 12, 2012 at 5:30 am
I wish J Bruce all the luck in the world. I think he is a great visionary. I just don’t think there is room for visionary’s in this city. unless you are part of the corrupt good boy network. then their vision is forced on the rest of us. no matter what the cost.
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