By Lorie Hailey
Associate Editor
A new study shows that despite toll costs, two new Ohio River bridges will be a boon to the area, reports the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The bridges are projected to increase employment by about 18,000 jobs, or about 2.6 percent, in the Louisville-Southern Indiana area over the next three decades. The overall benefit would “far outweigh” the cost of tolls, according to the study.
The actual number of jobs created by the project will fluctuate along with the timing of construction, tolls and development spurred mainly by the East End bridge, the newspaper reports. READ THE FULL STORY
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The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission did not approve a ban of the the anti-bleeder medication known as Lasix on Monday, but the effort is likely to be on track again next month, reports the Lexington Herald Leader.
The commission deadlocked in a 7-to-7 tie on a phased-in ban of race-day use of furosemide, beginning next year with 2-year-old horses.
The move would have made Kentucky the only U.S. racing jurisdiction so far to implement a ban and would be a major change in the sport. More than 90 percent of all horses in America run on Lasix, the newspaper reports. READ THE FULL STORY
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Berea College will soon begin construction on what will be the most energy-efficient residence hall in the commonwealth of Kentucky, if not the country, reports the Richmond Register.
A three-story, 42,000 square foot building — referred to as the “Deep Green Residence Hall” — will be constructed near Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant and will house 120 students in 66 rooms. Construction is expected to be complete by August 2013. READ THE FULL STORY
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The U.S. auto industry has been enjoying upswing lately, selling lots of cars and revelling in higher prices and profits. But it is facing a real threat today, reports the Associated Press. There is a potential shortage of resin, a key component used to make fuel lines and brake lines that could shut down factories.
It’s not just a U.S. problem, but one that could reverberate around the world, the AP says.
Automakers are meeting today to discuss the problem in Detroit. READ THE FULL STORY
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Coca-Cola sold more beverages in the first quarter, and its net income rose 8 percent, reports the Associated Press.
The world’s biggest drinks maker said it earned $2.05 billion, or 89 cents per share, for the three months ended March 30. That’s compared with a net income of $1.9 billion, or 82 cents per share, in the year-ago period.
Analysts on average expected a profit of 88 cents per share, according to Fact Set.
Shares of Coke rose 76 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $73.20 in premarket trading.
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Facing the ire of voters over high gas prices, President Barack Obama will announce a plan today to “to increase oversight and crack down on manipulation in oil markets,” reports USA Today.
Obama, along with Attorney General Eric Holder, is scheduled to discuss the plan at 11:10 a.m.
The $52 million request to Congress is designed to strengthen federal supervision of oil markets, and increase penalties for manipulation of those markets.
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Builders started work on fewer homes in March after they sharply cut back apartment construction, reports the Associated Press.
However, builders requested the most permits for future projects in 31/2 years, suggesting that many see the housing market improving.
The Commerce Department says builders broke ground at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 654,000 homes last month. That’s down 5.8 percent from February. Apartment construction, which can fluctuate sharply from month to month, fell nearly 20 percent. Single-family homebuilding was mostly unchanged.
Lorie Hailey can be reached at [email protected].
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