The proposed Cadiz restaurant tax ordinance received its first reading at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The ordinance championed by Cadiz and Trigg County Tourism Commission Executive Director Bill Stevens would levy a 3% tax on all city restaurants with a business license. Revenues collected would fund the tourism commission’s marketing and promotion campaign. The council split 3-3 last week to draft the ordinance.  Mayor Lyn Bailey broke the tie in favor.

On this day in 1868, the US Senate failed to convict President Andrew Johnson by one vote. The primary charge was that Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. He was later acquitted. The Act was repealed in 1887. 

It’s Thursday, May 16

Hopkinsville native and Georgetown College student Brendan Jones gives a brief concert on the historic Estey pipe organ at Grace Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville tomorrow at noon. The public is invited to attend.

From NPR: Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is introducing legislation with other lawmakers Thursday that would change the way the military prosecutes sexual assault cases. It's the latest high-publicity move for a senator who was almost unknown four years ago when she was appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

Richie Farmer's federal trial on charges of misappropriating government resources when he was agriculture commissioner has been moved to this fall. Farmer’s lawyer, Guthrie True, said he needed more time to prepare for what he expected to be a complex case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor objected to delaying the trial that long, and U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ordered yesterday that it be continued until October 22.

Illinois 17-year-olds would be able to vote in primary elections in some cases under legislation headed for Governor Pat Quinn.  The measure would allow voters as young as 17 to cast ballots in primaries if they will be 18 by the time of the general election.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is honoring its fallen troopers this week. In honor of National Police Week, the agency, along with the state Safety Department and Homeland Security, will have its annual memorial service at 9 a.m. Friday at the Safety Department's headquarters in Nashville. Maj. Gen. Terry Haston, Tennessee's adjutant general, will be the keynote speaker. 

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is kicking off National Safe Boating Week with Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day tomorrow. The goal is to promote the use of life jackets as the 2013 summer boating season begins. Participants are asked to wear a life jacket to work in order to demonstrate how easy to wear one.

The Murray-Calloway Transit Authority will ask the Calloway County Fiscal Court for $9,000 to help support county ridership.

The appeal to the fiscal court comes after Murray State informed the MCTA they will reduce public transportation funds. To continue the Racer Route program, MCTA Executive Director Bjarne Hansen said he'll seek funding this fall from MSU departments that heavily rely on routes and from the community.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Wednesday to stop the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from restricting fishing access around Corps dams, specifically along the Cumberland River.

Sen. Mitch McConnell sponsored the bill.

The Corps of Engineers wants to install signage and a line of buoys separating fishermen from what they characterize “hazardous waters.” Legislators like McConnell felt the economic impact it would have on tourism outweighed any potential dangers.

Lourdes Hospital of Paducah has laid off 1.9% of their non-clinical and management workforce.

Hospital spokesman David Simmons would not confirm the total number of people who lost their jobs, however using the 2012 staffing totals would bring the number to approximately 30. Simmons wouldn’t say why the hospital is reducing its workforce.