Safety Violations in KY Mines, Transparency in Contracts between Public Workers & Metro Government, College-Readiness in JCPS Students, Infant Mortality in West Louisville: Afternoon Review

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has cited five Kentucky coal mines for safety violations. They were among 20 nationwide with a history of compliance problems targeted in MSHA’s special impact inspections.An ordinance supported by the majority of Louisville Metro Council Democrats would exempt the cost of contracts between public workers and Metro Government from being subject to mandatory reports. Democrats says Republican lawmakers are probing the process in an attempt to discredit unions as part of the larger “War on Workers”, but council Republicans say they are concerned about cost to the taxpayers and the overall lack of transparency.Like 40 percent of school districts in Kentucky, JCPS has not met college and career readiness goals — but communication between students and the state has improved and now has a single focus. This year’s new accountability system will focus on whether students are ready for life after high school. For some that means college; for others it means work. Students who are college and career ready are proficient on state-wide tests or earn a certificate from certain industry-related programs. School districts are expected to increase student readiness rates 50 percent over a 5-year period.The Healthy Start Initiative of Louisville’s health department will hold a town hall meeting tomorrow on infant mortality. Health department spokesman Dave Langdon says much of the discussion will focus on infant mortality rates in west Louisville neighborhoods.