Business

In a seven-day trial in Laurel Circuit Court, a jury ordered St. Joseph Health Systems to pay a Corbin man more than $21 million in damages after it upheld his claim that he needlessly was put through the ordeal of receiving a pacemaker. The jury found that St. Joseph Health Care System, Inc., specifically Saint Joseph London, failed to exercise prudent care and skill and conspired with Dr. Anis Chalhoub in the performance of the medically unnecessary surgery. Finally, the jury found that the hospital violated the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act in its dealings with Wells. The jury awarded Wells $20 million in punitive damages, $24,785.94 in medical expenses, $500,000 in past...

Big changes are taking place at the Forest Hills Shopping Center, and owners of the Corbin complex are hoping it makes for a better experience for patrons. The Reelz Video store and vapor shop has moved next door to is former location at the center to make way for what is being called the “Forest Hills Design Center” — two retails spaces, merged into one, that will be newly renovated and which will house a larger Sears appliance store, Benjamin Moore paint center and Kitchen Tune-Up. “We’ve already got the franchisees locked in,” said Kyle Perkins, Forest Hills Center Manager. He also co-owns the shopping center with his mother, Arlene Perkins...

Gov. Matt Bevin announced Friday that fiscal courts in 33 counties will receive refunds totaling $179,900 from mining permit and acreage fees, including Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell and McCreary counties. The Department for Natural Resources collects mining permit and acreage fees and returns a portion of the fees to coal-producing counties for projects that the fiscal courts deem beneficial to their communities. Whitley County will receive $9,079.17. Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens said that the money would go into the county's road fund. Knox County will receive $10,112.50, Bell County $9,950, Laurel County $375, and McCreary County $250. "Kentucky is a coal state," said Gov. Bevin. "This administration is committed to partnering...

The Williamsburg–Whitley County Airport will receive much-needed repairs to its runway thanks to $250,000 in state funds. Governor Matt Bevin announced last Thursday that the airport would be one of the first general-aviation airports across the commonwealth to benefit from $20 million earmarked to pay for the restoration and maintenance of pavements in poor condition. “I would like to formally thank the governor for the inclusion of the Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport as a recipient of funding from the most recent budget,” said Rep. Regina Bunch, R-Williamsburg. “The $250,000 allocated for our local airport is essential predominately for the community to continue its local aviation. It is my hope that this capital...

Download the survey by clicking the link above. The St. Camillus Academy Alumni Association, Inc., is seeking response to its questionnaire to help it determine the majority opinion about special education in the Corbin geographical area. “The SCAAA Board of Directors is trying to find out if one of two of its primary missions is feasible or not," stated Peter O. Samples, Board President. Samples went on to say that the mission in question is one concerning the potential re-establishment of a Catholic high school in the Corbin geographical area. “We are asking anyone who has an opinion on the present quality of education in the Corbin area to answer the five questions...

AT&T is making high-speed internet service available to area consumers and small businesses. The result is an integrated, seamless and smart entertainment experience delivered to almost any screen, anywhere and anytime. “Internet access is key to education, job creation and real estate values,” said Bruce Carpenter, executive director of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “This type of high-speed connectivity is essential to ensure our communities continue to grow and it would not have happened without the leadership provided by our state and local officials.” “A main point of discussion last year in Frankfort was how we could encourage the continued deployment of high-speed Internet access, and I believe this is...

Unemployment rates fell in 64 Kentucky counties between June 2015 and June 2016, including Knox County, rose in 49 counties, including Laurel County, and remained the same in seven (Fleming, Henderson, Morgan, Simpson, Trigg, Trimble and Whitley), according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Whitley County's unemployment rate stayed at 7.2 percent in both June 2015 June 2016. This was a 0.7 percent increase from the May's rate. Whitley County tied Fulton and Livingston counties with the 37th highest June unemployment rate in Kentucky. Knox County's unemployment rate fell from 8.5 percent in June 2015 to 8.3 percent in...

Baptist Health Corbin, Baptist Health Lexington and Baptist Health Richmond were among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The campaign has added 400,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide since 2011. The hospitals conducted awareness and registry campaigns that educated staff, patients, visitors and community members about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors. The hospitals earned points for each activity implemented between May 2015 and April 2016. Baptist Health Richmond and Baptist Health Lexington were awarded platinum recognition by HRSA,...