Tag: Highlands

Latest Headlines May 17, 2016June 25, 2016

NTT adding 300 jobs in Louisville; Ford’s $916K Edsel faced most pushback in director re-elect, and Hut tries beer-infused crust

A news summary focused on big employers; updated 7:43 p.m.

NTT DATA said it will add 300 jobs at its Louisville center to bolster its financial services offerings. The expansion comes only three years after NTT opened its North America Service Delivery Center in the city. The company is based in Plano, Texas (press release).

FORD said all 14 directors were re-elected to the board last week during the annual shareholders meeting. But the best-paid of them, Edsel Ford II, faced the most opposition (SEC). Ford, 67, has been on the board since 1988, and is a great-grandson of the company’s founder. Last year, the automaker paid him $915,609 in fees — far more than any other director. That included $650,000 under a 1999 consulting agreement he has with the company (proxy report). Also, Executive Vice President James Farley sold 78,042 shares yesterday at $13.31 each for a total $1.1 million (SEC). Ford’s stock closed at $13.14, down 1.4%.

HUMANA issued a progress report on its goal to improve health outcomes 20% in communities where it does business by 2020 (press release); full report.

PIZZA HUT is giving beer-infused crusts a trial run in London (Mirror).

KFC has just opened the world’s first human-free fast food restaurant in Shanghai (Yahoo Tech). And a British newspaper wins today’s prize for worst pun use in a story: “Hundreds of fried-chicken lovers were counting their clucky stars this morning at the opening of KFC’s new Nottinghamshire eatery (Nottingham Post).”

AMAZON continued expanding its restaurant food delivery service, first announced in November for 20 big cities, to Manhattan and Dallas (press releases here and here).

In other news, Gannett has substantially raised its hostile bid for The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other Tribune Publishing Co. newspapers by 22%, to $15 a share from $12; Tribune’s board has so far rebuffed the Courier-Journal’s parent company (regulatory filing).

The popular Highlands Asian restaurant Joy Luck is opening a second location, in the East End (Insider Louisville). The Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari park’s 11th annual charity walk raised more than than $350,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Courier-Journal).

Louisville entrepreneur Stephen Reily is among seven candidates vying for one of the most sought-after seats on the 26-member Metro Council — the Highland’s District 8 — as voters head for the polls today (Insider Louisville).

Latest Headlines May 13, 2016June 10, 2016

Report: Brown-Forman considers Finlandia sale, and Ford says 6,500 applied to buy new supercar

A news summary focused on big employers; updated 11:28 a.m.

BROWN-FORMAN is reportedly considering a sale of Finlandia vodka amid a broader effort to focus on its whiskey business; the company spent $200 million to assemble the vodka business from 2000 to 2004. Brown-Forman declined to comment on the report (Bloomberg). Last month, the company said it would spend $413 million to buy Scottish single-malt distiller BenRiach Distillery Co.

FORD said 6,506 people applied worldwide to buy the new EcoBoost-powered, carbon-fiber GT supercar; hundreds included videos to bolster their chances to buy the first 500. The $400,000 car will be available the end of the year (press release). Also, total vehicle sales in Ford’s 20 traditional European markets last month were the best since April 2009, with passenger car sales at their highest level since 2010 (press release).

KFC: A barrel of Montana oil fell so low this winter, it was cheaper than a big bucket of KFC: $22.16 for the oil vs. $24.99 for a 16-piece meal (Billings Gazette).

HUMANA: Aetna has spent at least $119 million for lawyers, investment advisors and other services in connection with its planned $37-billion purchase of Humana (Modern Healthcare).

GE: Negotiators for GE Appliances and a local union are trying to improve warehouse efficiency to prevent 217 jobs from being outsourced (Insider Louisville).

In other news, Al J. Schneider heirs have settled a feud that would allow for the sale of the Galt House and the late real estate moguls other holdings (Courier-Journal). The Bernard A. Dahlem family has donated $500,000 to the Catholic Education Foundation so more students can attend Archdiocese of Louisville schools (Courier-Journal). The new owners plan to demolish a Highlands house possibly dating to the 1830s to make way for a new, custom-built home; they paid $605,000 for the property last fall (Courier-Journal).

Latest Headlines May 12, 2016June 10, 2016

Papa crooks nab 600-lb. store safe, and Schnatter’s chopper noise ticks off neighbors

A news summary focused on big employers; updated 8:33 a.m.

PAPA JOHN’S: Two super-strong thieves were caught on video dragging a 600-pound safe with $1,300 from a Papa John’s in Edinburgh on Monday, leaving police baffled (Mirror). CEO John Schnatter‘s frequent helicopter trips to and from his property in tony Anchorage have caused enough noise for some neighbors to write complaint letters to the city (WDRB). (Terrific story, BTW!)

AMAZON: Walmart is testing a two-day shipping subscription service and building a regional delivery network as the retail giant takes on Amazon (Wall Street Journal).

KFC launches program in India to fight childhood hunger (Times of India).

GE has signed a three-year contract to be exclusive appliance provider for developer Perry Homes of Houston (Business First).

HUMANA: Aetna doesn’t have any plans to leave Obamacare exchanges in 15 states — and may, in fact, expand; Aetna has agreed to buy Humana for $37 billion (Wall Street Journal).

In other news: Walmart and its charitable arm have donated more than $22 million to Kentucky non-profits in the past fiscal year (WDRB). A candy store will open May 23 in the former Why Louisville space on Bardstown Road (WDRB, too).

With revenue down, CafePress’ CEO has a turnaround plan; shares closed yesterday at $3.13, dead even, but down 33% from a year ago (Business First). U.S. stock futures were poised to open up as oil prices traded near 2016 highs (CNBC).

Food and Dining May 11, 2016May 15, 2016

Bristol May 11 7:15 tonight, Bristol Bar & Grille in the Highlands.

A house salad of mixed greens with carrots, red cabbage, and cucumbers. Not very inspired, but it came with an entree. À la carte, just $4.

Part of the Urban Bourbon Trail, the Bristol is a mainstay of Highlands restaurants. Plus, it has a big, outdoor patio that’s quiet.

Address: 1321 Bardstown Road. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Latest Headlines May 9, 2016August 1, 2016

UPS in deal to deliver blood by drone; Ford exec: ending two-tier pay turned out OK, and Derby brings few arrests

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).

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