Matt Kelley

Responding to growing concerns over funding cuts and the need to trim budgets, college administrators are turning to high-tech software to better manage their resources. Kentucky Community and Technical College System spokesperson Melinda Holbrook says more than 80 education leaders from 25 institutions will share their experiences at the Kentucky Ad-Astra Summit. WNKU’s Matt Kelley asked Holbrook how the Summit will help save energy and money> (get more information at www.kctcs.edu) 

The Adult Education unit of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is warning people about fraudulent websites offering free GED diplomas for a fee through the internet.  Spokesman Reecie Spanolia says the only way to earn a GED is through a test administered onsite at an official testing center. WNKU’s Matt Kelley talked to Spagnolia how they identify fraudulent sites and how people can avoid being taken advantage of.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and one local group has a special event planned in honor of the occasion. “A Celebration of Women Touched by Adoption” will take place on April 29th in Evendale. It’s designed to commemorate the triad of adoption birthmothers, adoptive mothers, and adoptees. WNKU’s Matt Kelley talked to Celebrate Adoption spokesperson Julie Eschman about what women will experience at the event.

Awareness about “Pink Slime” and the products containing it is continuing to be an issue for many consumers across the country. Meat processors say the additive has been in use for decades and is harmless, but people are still confused about its use. WNKU’s Matt Kelley talked to U.K. Meat Science Professor Greg Renfrow to find out what “Pink Slime” is.

“The Hunger Games”is coming off another strong weekend at the box office, and people are beginning to wonder if this is becoming another successful teen based franchise. Eric Pennington, spokesman for the Madeira branch of the Cincinnati Public library says it’s not too late to participate in events celebrating the movie and book. WNKU’s Matt Kelley asked Pennington to describe the plot and what events are coming up at the Madeira branch.( Get more details at www.cincinnatilibrary.org/branches/madeira ) 

Twenty-Nine middle, and high schools from around the Bluegrass will be the beneficiaries of a nearly Twenty-Seven million dollar federal college readiness grant announced by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Executive Director Yvonne Lovell talked to WNKU’s Matt Kelley about how the recipients were chosen. (get more information at www.cpe.ky.gov)

     Seven additional counties are now eligible for reimbursements to county and local governments to assist in storm recovery, Governor Steve Beshear announced Tuesday. The newly approved counties are Ballard, Johnson, Kenton, LaRue, Pendleton, Trimble, and Wolfe.

     The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has now approved 14 counties to receive Public Assistance (PA), which provides reimbursements to county and local governments to repair public infrastructure or to remove storm debris. Deadly storms and tornadoes tore through Kentucky on Feb. 29 and March 2.

     Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, Hamilton County Commission President Greg Hartman and Matthew 25 Industries are partnering to hold a one day collection drive for emergency relief supplies for people in Clermont County. People are encouraged to donate items such as; non-perishable food, personal care, and cleaning products. Donations can be dropped off to any Cincinnati Police or Hamilton County Sheriff Station, Cincinnati City Hall or the Hamilton County Administration building between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm tomorrow (Tuesday 3/20/12). 

     Employees in the unclaimed property division of the Kentucky Treasurer’s Office are working to locate the rightful owners of more than $26 million dollars in unclaimed property in the counties hardest hit by the violent storms of March 2. The Treasurer’s Office approached Lexis Nexis, an information technology services company, for assistance and the company generously agreed to donate enhanced software to speed up the process of locating and verifying the owners of over 99,000 claims in the federally designated disaster counties.