Free Republic

County to rename rural road BY PAM EASTON Associated Press Writer BEAUMONT, Texas - Bowing to criticism that the name Jap Road was insensitive, Jefferson County commissioners voted Monday to rename the nearly century-old rural road. Commissioners listened to about three hours of testimony from nearly four dozen people, alternating between those who wanted to retain the name and those who favored a change, before voting 4-1 to seek a new name. County Judge Carl Griffith put two people who live along the 4.3-mile road in charge of a committee to come up with a new name and deliver their...

Former Louisville teacher charged with molesting two students Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A former teacher who worked at public and religious schools in the Louisville area has been charged with molesting two boys in the 1970s. Bill Maggard, Jr., 56, faces three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He is accused of molesting two boys between 1973 and 1975, when he was a fifth-grade teacher at Schaffner Elementary School. Maggard was indicted Dec. 17. He pleaded innocent at his Dec. 22 arraignment and later posted a $5,000 bond. A pretrial conference is set for Jan. 23 in Jefferson Circuit Court....

<p>The number of home foreclosures in Jefferson County has nearly tripled since 1996 and shows no signs of slowing.</p> <p>While no section of the community is immune — people are losing $300,000 and $400,000 houses in Cherokee Triangle and Lake Forest — most foreclosures are in western Louisville and, to a lesser degree, portions of south Louisville.</p>

<p>Republican vote challengers will be present at 18 precincts in predominantly black areas in Jefferson County today after a judge yesterday refused to block the local Republican Party's plan to station them there.</p> <p>Jefferson Circuit Judge Thomas Wine said he couldn't grant a restraining order based only on the fear that someone's right to vote would be abridged.</p>

<p>The preamble of the Rules of the Republican Party adopted in 2000 said this: "The Republican Party is the party of the open door. Ours is the party of liberty, the party of equality of opportunity for all and favoritism for none."</p>

<p>Republican Ernie Fletcher has vaulted into a clear lead over Democrat Ben Chandler in the race for Kentucky governor, according to The Courier-Journal's latest Bluegrass Poll.</p> <p>Fletcher led 48 percent to 39 percent, with 13 percent undecided in the poll conducted Tuesday through Thursday. The poll surveyed 712 self-defined likely voters by telephone, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.</p>