Todd Hatton

Todd Hatton speaks with history professors, and history authors, Dr. Duane Bolin of Murray State University and Berry Craig of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, about what you might find in the "2012" chapter of our region's history books.

The U.S. Senate has approved four new members of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board of directors, including west Tennessee native and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Mike McWherter.  The Senate has also sent the nominations of Vera Lynn Evans of Tennessee, C. Peter Mahurin of Kentucky and Joe Ritch of Alabama to President Obama’s desk for his signature. 

A Democratic state lawmaker will be pushing legislation in the upcoming legislative session to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky.  Representative Carl Rollins of Midway drafted a measure that would make the Commonwealth's stiffest sentence life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Rollins bill calls for the term "capital punishment" to be stricken altogether from state law.  Similar legislation has been introduced intermittently over the past 25 years, but has never garnered enough support to pass. 

Several barge companies that operate on the drought-stricken Mississippi River have asked Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to call for a presidential disaster declaration.  The companies, including three based in Paducah, say doing so could be a first step in getting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release water from the Missouri River to improve the Mississippi’s flow.  Crounse Corporation, James Marine, Ingram Barge, Marquette Transportation, and AEP River Operations made the appeal in a letter sent late last week. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning a series of public meeting in January to solicit opinions on restricting access in hazardous waters immediately upstream and downstream of all Corps-owned locks and dams in Kentucky and Tennessee.  Dates for the meetings have not been set. 

Tennessee officials say they’re putting a hold on their state’s segment of the proposed Interstate 69 corridor until the federal government provides more money for the project.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation hasn’t made an official announcement about the delay, but TDOT spokeswoman B.J. Doughty tells the Commercial Appeal some kind of federal promise on I-69 is needed. 

The new McCracken County High School has reached deals to sell naming rights to their gymnasium and on-campus field houses.  They’re also seeking sponsors willing to pay up to $200,000 to name the football stadium.

The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area will have to cut a million dollars from its annual operating budget following across-the-board budget reductions for all national parks.  LBL Area Supervisor Bill Lisowsky says this means some smaller roads along with Jones Creek and Rushing Creek campgrounds will be closed.

This week on Front Page, Gayle Kaler is a Paducah city commissioner and stylist whose clients once included the River City’s first female mayor, Dolly McNutt. Now, appropriately enough, Kaler herself is preparing to become Paducah’s next chief executive. We’ll profile Mayor-elect Kaler, today on Front Page Sunday from WKMS News. Gayle Kaler is a Paducah city commissioner and stylist whose clients once included the River City’s first female mayor, Dolly McNutt.  Now, appropriately enough, Kaler herself is preparing to become Paducah’s next chief executive. We’ll profile Mayor-elect Kaler, this week on Front Page Sunday from WKMS News.  

In Racer basketball over the weekend, the Murray State men’s team won their fifth straight victory against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers 75 to 70 Sunday at the CFSB Center in Murray.  The 8 and 1 Racers now stand at six straight home wins.