Opinion

    NICHOLS - The fur could be flying during the next week as Bullitt County determines its official groundhog in time for the upcoming Groundhog Day holiday.

    In past years Nichols Nick, long-time county soothsayer, eluded local government attempts to control weather forecasts. Rather than continue pursuit of the slippery hedgehog, Bullitt Fiscal Court switched to plan B.

    A 3-2 split decision vote designated a new county groundhog officially recognized by local agencies.

FRANKFORT - As the clock tick-tocked on a session still without a formal budget proposal, the General Assembly this week stared down the barrel of what one leader called its ‘defining moment,’ moving ahead with what another leader called its greatest challenge since at least 1990.

In the wake of the earthquake disaster in Haiti, Americans are donating via text message more than ever before. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance advises donors that giving through text can be a safe and easy way to give - but you should still use caution.

Within days following the disaster in Haiti, it was widely reported that more than $3 million was donated through text message to such organizations as the Red Cross and others.

FRANKFORT - Last week the Senate passed legislation designed to increase transparency across Kentucky government, open the primary election process to more voters, and aid crime victims in their efforts to recover stolen property.

We passed Senate Bill 40 known as the “Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2010.”

This important bill requires the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government to place their spending records into a searchable database available on the internet.

As immediate relief needs are assessed in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many Americans are looking for ways to help by donating to a charity. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance warns that, as occurred following the tsunami in 2004 and Katrina in 2005, fraudulent charities will likely emerge to try and scam donations from well-meaning Americans.

Nearly two weeks ago I submitted a two-year budget proposal that included a bold new way to help fund, on a recurring basis, shared priorities like education and jobs, a way that eschewed the tax increases and destructive cuts being espoused by some legislative leaders.

As I had predicted, my proposal was met with a chorus of angry responses in some quarters, and the posturing and rhetoric was as stiff as it was unhelpful in moving the discussion forward.

In fact, some legislators declared my budget “dead” even before they examined it.

Budgets must originate in the House of Representatives, so it’s our job to write a spending plan for the House to approve.

It takes a lot of work, especially since we will need to make cuts this year and that is always difficult.

But we will pass a budget and send it to the Senate.

HILLVIEW - Just close your eyes and listen.

There is no need to have any DNA or paternity tests.

Just close your eyes and listen.

There is no doubt that Dr. Praveen Arla is the son of Dr. Mohana Arla.

And it’s not because of how they say it...it’s because of what they are saying.

Praveen has recently joined his father’s medical practice in Hillview and Lebanon Junction. It’s a natural to enter a field he’s known his entire life.

But the young doctor said he went into the field with his eyes wide open.