From Greg Fischer, who is really excited about tolls:
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$1 tolls each way for frequent bridge crossers, $5 for trucks, $10 for tractor trailers.
From the state press release:
Under the plan, tolls will be collected on the new East End bridge, the new downtown I-65 bridge and the revamped Kennedy Bridge. Tolls will begin as soon as the first bridge is completed.
Under the current plan, toll rates would be in the range of $1 per crossing for frequent commuters in cars, SUVs and other passenger vehicles using transponder devices. Toll rates for other cars, SUVs and passenger vehicles would be in the $2 range; panel trucks in the $5 range, and tractor trailers in the $10 range.
Toll rates would be set and periodically adjusted by the two states’ transportation and finance agencies and governed by the financing contracts and bond agreements the states reach with private sector firms. Tolls would be collected by a third-party vendor mutually chosen by the two states.
This week President Barack Obama discusses the American automobile industry and taking control of our energy future:
Would have been too much to ask for an address dedicated to storm damage and recovery efforts taking over hundreds of towns in this country, obviously.
Clean energy is important but it could have waited a week.
Our coverage will obviously be a bit different this week. 100% of my efforts and the efforts of those who work for me are focused on Eastern Kentucky for the foreseeable future. It’s worse than Henryville and you’re not reading about it in the mainstream or seeing it on television outside of The Weather Channel, which has been most helpful in West Liberty. That crew is top-notch and I hope they’re awarded Kentucky Colonel status ASAP. -Jake
It’s been loosely crazy to watch this Jamilah Fraser-Jefferson County Public Schools story play out. [Toni Konz]
Metro United Way is working hard to help relief efforts in Southern Indiana. But please don’t forget that West Liberty, Kentucky – though two hours away – is also in serious need. [MUW]
Please donate through the Red Cross or volunteer via Kentucky Emergency Management. [Click Here]
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at this video we posted last night of a tornado close-up. It’s creepy. [Page One]
Take a look at the before and after photographs of the devastation in West Liberty. It’s alarming. [TWC]
It’s Monday and people are still unable to communicate in West Liberty. This is why Eastern Kentucky is in dire need of a real, functioning telecommunications system. [WKYT]
Mitch McConnell visited Jake’s devastated hometown and within an hour was making things happen to help the relief process. [FOX41]
The Kentucky Justice Association and the AAJ’s Trial Lawyers Care Task Force are collecting donations for relief efforts in storm-damaged areas. Supplies will be collected at the KJA headquarters in Louisville. So heads-up, lawyers. [Email Blast]
You can’t get gas or buy a pack of gum at a gas station without seeing the clerk get shot. Possibility city. [WAVE3]
The owner of the Indiana Colts pledged $50,000 for tornado relief. Where are the prominent Kentuckians offering the same? [Business First]
Everybody complaining about Jefferson County Public Schools being open for business today need to be thankful their kids have schools to attend. [WHAS11]
No matter how many times you read stories about the lengths that have been taken to clean up after deadly tornadoes, it’s still bizarre. [H-L]
It’s super-sad that Angel Babcock, the baby discovered in an Indiana field who lost her entire family, has died. Let’s not forget that dozens and dozens of other people have also died in Kentucky and Indiana and their lives are no less valuable. [WLKY]
For the most part, local media outlets have ignored the extreme tornado damage in their own state because Henryville is much more convenient (not to demean Henryville in the least). WFPL is one of the few outlets that has paid attention to Eastern Kentucky. [WFPL]
If you want to volunteer or donate outside of the Red Cross, do so here with Kentucky Emergency Management.
Also – call your state legislator and urge them to begin pushing a sustainable recovery policy in Kentucky.
Now some photos.
This church is no more:
This one is gone, as well:
The front of this home is still standing but the back is gone:
A look at the disappearance of everything on Prestonsburg Street:
If you’re wealthy friends of mine in Louisville? I need you to step up. Some of you have. Some of you have not. Please consider doing so because there’s more than Henryville out there (not to diminish the need there, of course) and you’re not necessarily seeing it in the mainstream.
Jake
See 14 more photos of the devastation by CLICKING HERE…
By now, most of you are aware that my hometown of West Liberty, Kentucky was absolutely decimated.
Aerial view:
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Some of the rare few homes left standing:
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The common view of most everything:
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Morgan County’s historic court house:
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And that’s just the beginning.
Many have asked me what they can do to support relief and recovery efforts both in Henryville, IN and in West Liberty.
Here’s how: use the money you’re going to spend on coffee this week to give to the Red Cross.
Whether it’s $5 or $25 per week, give that money to help. If you can afford to read this, you can afford to take me up on it.
What you won’t read about in the mainstream, as they didn’t have access and were afraid to join me this morning as I visited family and friends to survey damages and pay condolences to our deceased loved ones? Is that it’s not just a few roofs ripped off. Telecommunications infrastructure is dead at the moment. There are maybe two buildings in town that are structurally sound. The rest are gone or just a few walls remain. Funeral homes are gone. Most pharmacies and stores are gone. Gas stations demolished. Flooding is separating part of the town. The hospital was severely damaged. Schools damaged.
Outside of town proper? Tons of damage. People are conducting searches on horseback because many areas are still impassable.
I still have family and friends who are unaccounted for.
I’ve done my part and now I’m asking you to do the same. You know Frankfort isn’t competent enough to handle this so you’re going to need to support organizations that can. If you have a dollar, DONATE IT HERE. You don’t have to like me. You may even be one of the many people who went so far as to try defaming me last year. But the least you can do is support your fellow Kentuckians who have never needed you more than they do at this moment.
Our thoughts are with those in tornado-damaged areas like Henryville.
And… JCPS has ditched “Diversity” Director Jamilah Fraser. How bout that?
Of course, Fraser says she decided not to take the job. And Hargens still says she was the right hire. But we all know how that works. Best Friday evening news dump scenario for them EVER.
UPDATE: – Dear C-J ed board… we know the weather mess will occupy you all weekend but you really should run a Sunday editorial about this JCPS mess. We don’t even care if you give us credit for uncovering it. But it’s time to start speaking out about bloated $160,000 admin salaries while students suffer neglect on the actual education front.
The press in Philadelphia haven’t forgotten Jamilah Fraser, Jefferson County Public Schools’ newest scandal queen.
Here’s a taste:
Fraser, who was paid $170,000 a year to run former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s propaganda, er, public-relations office, has landed on her feet.
-SNIP-
That’s despite not having the work or school experience initially required for the job, the Courier-Journal, of Louisville, reported. Donna Hargens, Jefferson County’s superintendent, defended her decision to hire Fraser this week after a school board member brought up Fraser’s experience as Ackerman’s personal-image concierge.
-SNIP-
When the Daily News ran a Photoshopped image of Ackerman under the headline “SCHOOL DISTRICT’S CHAINSAW MASSACRE,” Fraser’s team spent the day on social media, claiming that we were promoting violence.
It turned into a pretty amusing Twitter fight – as much as fights between newspaper editors and school district Twitter accounts can be – that I quite enjoyed. I hope the city’s taxpayers did as well.
Click here to read the entire thing. No wonder she’s lobbing threats and leaving comments on The ‘Ville Voice.
Louisville wins again. It’s so bad that Greg Fischer could have hand-picked this girl himself.
P.S. Like we said a few days ago, the press was set to examine her experience and qualifications as they compare to her job requirements at JCPS.
Before anyone gets too excited over Kentucky Retirement Systems demanding $10.8 million in interest payments? Don’t forget that Greg Fischer’s top guy, Tommy, is the illegal appointee to the KRS board. They think they can get it because he’s Greg’s man. [C-J/AKN]
Louisville food trucks should probably be hopping on this wedding bandwagon. [NPR]
Why anyone ever believed Steve Beshear and Jim Host weren’t out to “get” Harold Workman is beyond us. He’s essentially admitting it on video now. And poor Kerri Richardson… where did her integrity go? [FOX41]
So this is Greg Fischer’s big plan for how to grow Louisville businesses. Literally, he’s got no plan. So he has to turn to Kickstarter. [Business First]
Here’s way more on the push in Frankfort to give government money to more people like Keith Hall with no accountability. And blaming this on John Rogers is a long shot. If these folks don’t want to prove how they’re spending government money, they ought not suckle at the teat of gubmint. [John Cheves]
Don’t forget that Johnny Bell and Will Coursey are pushing this corrupt mess to benefit their already wealthy friends. [Page One]
Why Occupy Louisville continues to fail and look stupid. They don’t bother filtering who represents them on the front lines. [WAVE3]
Innovation is not the problem with finance. It’s what comes later that matters. Just like innovation isn’t the problem with Louisville Metro Government. [The Economist]
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was in Louisville this week to address folks at UofL. He says sacrifices are necessary but seems to make the case that cuts are risky. [WFPL]
Woah, it’s almost Derby Festival time again. We’re always shocked when Pegasus Pins go on sale. [Snatch One]
Since the Ark Park is as much a fantasy as the myth that the earth is only 5,000-years-old, you should probably go check these overpriced dineysores out. [WHAS11]
Why on earth are people shocked that Glassworks is closing? The business has been in the press for a year for being a (literal?) hot mess. [Consuming Louisville]
It’s no longer marijuana, meth or crack that Louisville drug dealers are pushing. It’s steroids. [WLKY]
