-5

Having a sleepover with students, hurling expletives in the classroom and threatening to bring a gun to school: These incidents are among a long list of inappropriate behavior Jefferson County Public Schools officials cited in refusing to renew the contracts of 18 teachers. The teachers’ union is suing JCPS for not giving the educators a chance to correct their misbehavior. But given the gravity of the accusations, a judge last week declined to force the district to rehire the teachers pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

+6

Apparently being green is easier than you think. That was the message delivered by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at last weekend’s Forecastle Festival on The Belvedere. Comparing the country’s reliance on oil to a crack addiction, the environmental activist touted the use of sustainable forms of energy and argued that environmentalism and a free-market economy go hand-in-hand. As keynote speaker at the annual music, arts and activism festival, Kennedy urged the Midwest to take the lead in going green.

+6

In the midst of an unending summer of buyouts and job losses, Ford workers have reason to breathe sighs of relief … at least for now. Company officials announced last week that its two Louisville plants will remain open and will be converted to produce more gas-sipping cars and fewer gas-chugging trucks. Mayor Abramson and Gov. Beshear applauded the automaker for sticking with Louisville.

+1

An inch-thick document detailing the proposed City Center Project of outdoor plazas, entertainment venues and retail space was unveiled last week, as was the whopping price tag: $450 million. The city is teaming up with Baltimore developer Cordish (same as Fourth Street Live) to carry out the project, which will be paid for with a combination of public and private dollars. The developer hopes at least some of the project will be ready to open by late 2010.

World-classness: +8