Kentucky

“A joint venture with a Mexican distiller that makes the Don Eduardo family of tequilas has been brought to a close by Brown-Forman Corporation of Louisville.

Brown-Forman is taking full ownership of the tequilas.”

“A man who pleaded guilty to knowingly hiring illegal immigrants to work at his central Kentucky restaurant was sentenced Monday to home confinement and probation.

Jian Chai Lin, 35, of Radcliff in Hardin County, was also ordered to forfeit $42,788 that was previously seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Louisville.”

“Minority-owned business suppliers have made great progress, but executives must do more to be open to those companies, PepsiCo Chairman Steven S. Reinemund said yesterday at a breakfast gathering presented by Greater Louisville Inc. and the Kentuckiana Minority Business Council.

The military led advances in diversity in the 1940s and 50s, and “government picked up the mantle … in the 60s and 70s,” he said. “But I would submit today that the responsibility of leadership for diversity in America is now in the hands of business.”"

“Sometimes the black and Hispanic communities are perceived as united minorities in America.

But to author, lawyer and professor Nicolas Vaca, the two races are at odds with each other at times.

Vaca will be on campus tonight to discuss his book, “The Presumed Alliance: The Unspoken Conflict Between Latinos and Blacks and What It Means for America.”"

“Some local Latino middle and high school students got to check out the opportunities they have for colleges in Kentucky Feb. 9 during the second annual state-wide Latino College Fair.

The Latino College Fair is hosted by Educating Latinos for Kentuckys Future ELKF. According to Carmen Kirchgassner, secretary of the Office of Latino Student Affairs, ELKF is “dedicated to enhancing Latino students access to educational opportunities in Kentucky; ELKF sponsors cultural and educational events and hosts college fairs for Latino middle school and high school students.”"

“Spanish-speaking immigrants now have another alternative when it comes to learning about the community and what services are available for their use.

Sandra Anez Powell, the Hispanic outreach coordinator for Foothills Community Action Partnership and vice chairperson for Richmond’s Human Rights Commission, has spearheaded the Hispanic Resource Coalition, created to provide easier access to immigrants looking for basic services offered in the community. “

“Because many Hispanics emigrate from countries with different court systems, a common sentiment is “Say youre guilty, pay the fine and go home.”

“Even if they have good grounds for a case, they would prefer to plead guilty,” said Tyler West, a former interpreter for Franklin County courts. West said he remembers one case in which a Spanish-speaker wanted to plead guilty, but the judge wouldnt allow it. “

“The writer of the letter decrying “mestizo hordes” and celebrating the accomplishments of European immigrants needs a history lesson.

Many of the first Europeans on these shores were indentured servants, working for years to buy their freedom.”

“City Council members said Monday night that they will convene the Safety Committee to investigate what ordinances can be enacted to discourage illegal immigrants from living in Mason.

The decision followed an appeal by the father of Kevin Barnhill, a Mason resident who was allegedly stabbed to death by at least one illegal immigrant in Augus”

“Most people who phone Simon Cipriano are far from home and want to hear music from their childhoods. They dedicate sad songs to wives living far beyond the signal of northern Kentucky’s fledgling Spanish radio station.

Disc-jockey to the homesick, Cipriano surfs his bank of 15,000 Spanish songs in a bid to connect the Hispanic diaspora to a new community in the U.S. heartland.”

“In the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, Lucy Van Pelt said what she really wants for Christmas is real estate. Its not quite Christmas, but real estate is just what Centro Latino received Monday.

Harold Huber and his family donated just over two acres of land fronting on Main Street to Centro Latino. The land is currently occupied by Four Seasons Nursery, which has rented the property from Huber since 1995.”

“A year or so ago, Diaz would have had to either wait for an interpreter to be found, or more likely, come back to court at a later date.

But thanks to a Spanish language and immersion course Bisig took through the Louisville Metro Police Department last year, the judge was able to quickly dispatch Diazs case, explaining the proceedings in English, then translating to Diaz that a no-insurance charge was being dismissed and he was free to go.”

“The family is just one of 125 families Centro Latino Director Joe Brennan and clerk Kathy Mejia are trying to help this Christmas season. But resources are scant.

“We depend upon grants and donations,” Mejia said. “The grants didnt come through so were living off donations.”"

“When he takes office in January, Megerle plans to push for a Covington city ordinance that would address the problem of illegal immigrants.

He wants to see employers who knowingly employ illegals and landlords who knowingly rent to them lose their licenses to do business in the city.

At a meeting earlier this week, the commission gave first reading to an ordinance that would make that happen.”

“Centro la Esperanza, also know as the Hispanic Center at the Community Church of Christ in Bowling Green, Ky., is closing but services provided to the Hispanic community will continue.

The center was founded in March 2002, under the direction of Celia Lopez. Lopez volunteered her time and expertise to help Hispanics with numerous services such as translating, limited assistance with food and clothing and referrals to community resources. The Center has been operating out of their current location at 213 East 12th Street since 2004, donated by the Community Church of Christ.”

“Gateway Community and Technical College is debuting two new Workplace Spanish courses designed to help business people communicate better with the region’s growing Hispanic population.

Workplace Spanish For Realtors and Landlords is a six-week course designed to help real estate agents, leasing agents and landlords better serve their Spanish-speaking customers. Key topics include real estate and financial terminology and conversational Spanish involving rental and purchase transactions, showing homes and exchanging customer information related to applications, deposits, rules and repairs.”

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