Mayor Greg Fischer is halfway through his first term in office, and he is marking the mid-term by highlighting job creation and making Louisville a more compassionate city.Despite his optimism and business acumen, much of Fischer’s tenure has been gobbled up dealing with "cleaning house" at different departments, auditing city services and steep budget deficits.Then there is the surge in homicides, which increased by 28 percent in 2012.The mayor's task force issued a report that says there’s a need for violence prevention director and other serious intervention from Metro Government on a number of fronts. But some Metro Council members have question if that's the best use of city resources and many residents are taking a "wait and see" approach.I talked with Fischer about his administration’s steps to quell violent crime, as well as his support of bringing the NBA to Louisville and the controversial use of inmates from Dismas Charities at city agencies.I also caught up with Kentucky Public Radio’s Kenny Colston before he heads to Frankfort to cover the 2013 General Assembly. State lawmakers are set to begin a 30-day legislative session Tuesday, and casino gaming, state pension system and tax reform is on the top of their list.There is hope that with a new leader of the Republican-controlled state Senate that more can be accomplished this year. But as Colston reminds us, the gridlock in Washington oftentimes pales in comparison to the logjam in Frankfort.
