Foundation President Eduardo Martinez briefed reporters on this morning’s announcement that UPS’ charitable arm will explore drone use to deliver life-saving medicines such as blood and vaccines across the world. The UPS Foundation has awarded an $800,000 grant to support the project’s initial launch in Rwanda (press release).
Day: May 9, 2016
A news summary, with a special focus on big Louisville employers; updated 4:54 p.m.
UPS just announced that its corporate foundation will explore using drones to deliver life-saving medicines such as blood and vaccines are delivered across the world. The foundation has awarded an $800,000 grant to support the initial launch in Rwanda (press release). Here’s the foundation’s GuideStar page, including annual IRS tax returns.
FORD: A top executive now says that while dropping the two-tier wage system increased labor costs, it eliminated a major source of anxiety in the automaker’s plants (Automotive News).
AMAZON: 1,500 Amazon shareholders want the company to stop selling Trump-branded products (Fast Company). CEO Jeff Bezos has sold 1% of his stake — just over one million shares — worth $671 million. The stock was sold last Thursday according to a predetermined schedule called an SEC Rule 10b5-1 plan, and takes his stake down to 17% of the company from 17.5% (New York Post). Regulatory filing. Amazon shares closed this afternoon at $679.75, up less than 1%.
CHURCHILL DOWNS: Only 17 people were arrested in and around the namesake track on Derby Day (Courier-Journal).
KINDRED: Why the healthcare giant isn’t content being the No. 1 home health provider, according to CEO Benjamin Breier (Home Healthcare News).
In other news, Metro Council President David Yates is expected to introduce an amendment today exempting Airbnb and other short-term rentals from some regulations during major events, such as the Kentucky Derby (WFPL). Former state agriculture commissioner and University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer has filed for bankruptcy (Courier-Journal).
Newspaper publisher Tribune Publishing Co. said its board had adopted a shareholder rights plan — popularly known as a “poison pill” — in a bid to thwart Courier-Journal owner Gannett Co.’s unsolicited $815 million takeover offer (Reuters).
The Wild Dog Rose tea shop will open later this month in the Highlands at 1570 Bardstown Road (Insider Louisville). Also, the owners of Magnolia Photo Booth Co. in NuLu have opened a second store right next door, selling custom t-shirts for kids and adults. The new shop, called OSO Goods, is also at 709 E. Market St. (Insider Louisville, too).
What Boulevard would choose from the spring menu at one of our favorite restaurants, Le Relais:
- Escargots de Bourgogne: snails in garlic herb butter. $11
- House salad: Groganica greens, fresh goat cheese, strawberries, toasted almonds, herbs, sherry vinaigrette (half portion). $5
- Steak frites: pan-roasted 9 oz. prime New York strip, pommes frites, spinach, bordelaise sauce, bone marrow butter (half portion). $22
- Café Glacé: house-made coffee ice cream topped with espresso and served with Chantilly cream. $9
From the restaurant:
Situated in the historic airport terminal of Bowman Field, Le Relais offers a fine dining experience like no other in Louisville. You’ll find exquisite French cuisine, prepared with only the finest, freshest ingredients, combined with relaxed, first-class service and an intimate, 1940s art-deco interior reminiscent of the café from the movie “Casablanca.”
Reservations on OpenTable, or call 502-451-9020.
And speaking of Casablanca . . .
Median chief executive pay at nearly 300 large publicly traded companies slipped 3.8% to $10.8 million last year from $11.2 million in 2014, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. Still, among big Louisville employers, nine c-suite executives earned more last year, according to Boulevard‘s latest executive pay figures.
The movie “Back to the Future” advertised here is a fitting title for today’s look-back ad in The Courier-Journal. This one, for the Village 8 Theatres, appeared 30 years ago today.
Back then, the matinee cost just $2 a ticket — a sum equivalent to $4.35 in today’s inflation-adjusted dollars, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. In fact, though, the theater’s matinee tickets are only $3.
The Village 8’s still at the same location: 4014 Dutchmans Lane — but for less than a year; the theater told WAVE it plans to close for good in January 2017. Boulevard wonders if one of its final films will be 1971’s “The Last Picture Show,” one of our favorite movies. Here’s the trailer:
Boulevard noticed the jet-share company’s logo appeared prominently on winner Nyquist’s post-run blanket, as well as ball caps worn by the thoroughbred’s owner Paul Reddam and others during TV broadcasts and other news media.
Based in the Boston area, Sentient announced a multi-year agreement with Churchill Downs in February, under which the company would offer exclusive benefits to Derby and Kentucky Oaks guests.
How prominent was Sentient’s role? Look no further than this photo Boulevard took of today’s Courier-Journal sports section:
Boulevard 