Tag: Crime and Punishment

Trump renews Amazon attack, 93-year-old KFC retiree hits rare milestone; and UPS plans big new Austin facility

A news summary focused on big employers; updated 2:02 p.m.

Donald Trump
Trump

AMAZON: White House GOP candidate Donald Trump attacked Jeff Bezos again, claiming the Amazon CEO bought The Washington Post to promote a political agenda that would help the company on taxes (CNN). Also, a former software director who led the company’s new FireTV initiative was charged with promoting prostitution in the Seattle area (KIRO).

KFC: A retired 29-year employee in Ontario has reached an American Legion milestone that few reach in any organization: he’s been a member for 60 years. William Young, 93, worked at a KFC franchise, rising to manager before retiring. And he met founder Col. Harland Sanders (Argus Observer).

UPS plans a new $70 million, 300-employee distribution center in Austin with room for 300 vehicles; it’s to open at the end of 2018 (Austin Statesman). Asked and answered: How important is e-commerce to the shipper’s sales (Motley Fool).

In other news, The Courier-Journal has joined 199 other investors in buying a two-year-old colt, which the nascent Churchill Downs Racing Club hopes to run during the current spring meet. The horse is being trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas (Courier-Journal).

Louisville strip clubs and Attorney General Beshear are kicking sex traffickers to the curb

That’s according to a just-published story in LEO, which says a nationwide group, Club Owners Against Sex Trafficking, is training club operators and employees to recognize when someone is the victim of this modern-day slavery. The group includes PT’s Showclub on Market Street.

“People assume we must be involved, but we’re not,” PT’s Brian Franson told the weekly. “In fact, we’re on the lookout for human trafficking.”

And Attorney General Andy Beshear wants everyone to be on guard during Derby Week. “The Derby is one of the greatest sporting events in the world and one all Kentuckians can take great pride in,” Beshear said in a statement. “But unfortunately, there are individuals who use large sporting events like the Derby to traffic children and adults for sex and labor.”

Related: A list and map of Louisville strip clubs, plus reviews.

Ford April sales best since 2006; Brit accused of attempted murder at KFC gets suspended sentence, and UPS adds to hybrid electric fleet

Latest news, with a special focus on big Louisville employers; updated at 1:43 p.m.

FORD said April U.S. auto sales rose 4%, and that retail sales grew 3%, also its best April retail results since 2006. “We saw strong consumer demand in April, especially for pickups,” said Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service (CNBC). Ford shares recently traded at $13.49, down 1%, as automakers overall fell with a broadly lower market.

YUM: A 40-year old British man received a suspended prison sentence after being accused of threatening to kill an employee at a KFC store in late February in central England. Craig Mellor was caught on video surveillance camera putting his hands around Kallum Byatt‘s neck at the restaurant in Hanley, south of Manchester. Mellor was arrested and later pled guilty to a racially aggravated assault on Byatt (Stokes Sentinel).

UPS is adding to its Louisville fleet of hybrid electric delivery trucks, to a total 125, to extend their range and improve fuel efficiency (Courier-Journal).

In other news, Kentucky’s coal industry continued its freefall in the first quarter, falling nearly 13% statewide.  The bulk of the job losses came in Eastern Kentucky, with more than a 1,000 lost there. Statewide, about 6,900 coal miners are employed, the lowest level recorded since 1898 (WFPL).

More than ever, local retailers are looking like toast

News about Louisville’s major employers; updated frequently.

AMAZON extends same-day delivery to Louisville — even on Sunday; details. The retail behemoth and big local employer also disclosed executive pay in a filing yesterday, once more revealing virtually all of CEO Jeff Bezos‘ compensation was the $1.6 million cost of his personal and corporate security. Amazon has 6,000 area employees.

KINDRED discloses golden parachutes for the top brass. More Kindred news.

YUM: Worth noting activist investor Corvex added another 1 million shares during the fourth quarter. Founder Keith Meister elbowed his way onto the board in October, when Corvex owned 3.6% of Yum. With the latest buy, Corvex is now No. 2, with 5%. Shares traded recently at $81.64; year-to-date gain: 12%. All major holders. Yum’s 15-member board. More Yum news.

In other news, A reviled former coal baron gets jail time.

Kindred’s Diaz paid $14.5 million last year, and ‘Mr. Social Security’ charged with fraud

News about Louisville’s major employers; updated frequently.

KINDRED paid former CEO Paul Diaz a princely $11.6 million in special compensation last year as part of his move to vice chairman; that boosted his total to $14.5 million vs. $6 million in 2014, the company said in an SEC filing yesterday. The hospital and nursing home giant also disclosed it paid $2.2 million to buy CFO Stephen Farber‘s home in exclusive Glenview out of concern for his family’s personal safety amid a high-profile property dispute with a neighbor, the filing says; WDRB’s got background. (We track exec pay at big employers.)

In other newsEric “Mr. Social Security” Conn is charged with defrauding the Social Security Administration out of $600 million in disability payments in Eastern Kentucky.