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San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sen. McConnell and wife join Kentucky ceremony marking expansion of their archives
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao's enduring status as a powerhouse couple was on display Tuesday as they reflected on their shared lives at a ceremony for the archives that will catalogue their careers. The Kentuckians marked the expansion of the McConnell Chao Archives at McConnell's alma mater, the University of Louisville. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, is in his final term after the Republican senator revealed in February that he won't seek reelection in 2026. Chao, his wife, is a former U.S. labor and transportation secretary for Republican administrations. 'I didn't get into this line of work to put my name on a building," McConnell said during the campus ceremony. "We needed an archive largely because I never threw anything away.' The collection will span their decades of public life and offer a 'front-row view of how our government and institutions operate,' McConnell said in a news release. The couple — a formidable duo on the campaign trail for decades in the Bluegrass State — praised one another during the campus ceremony. McConnell, 83, is Kentucky's longest-serving senator. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was elected to his seventh term in 2020. His tenure as Senate party leader ended at the start of 2025. He is serving out his current term and has focused on national defense and international issues, including his strong support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. At Tuesday's event, Chao referred to McConnell as her 'best friend and teammate and also the man who is at the center of my life, the man who supported my career in public service.' She called her husband the 'most prolific" Senate party leader in history and said Kentucky continues to 'reap the benefits' from his tenure. 'With the expansion of this archive, his extraordinary accomplishments will continue to inform and inspire leaders for generations to come,' she said. McConnell returned the compliments, saying: 'Spending life with Elaine has been a blessing. Sharing this archive is an honor.' Reflecting on his storied career, McConnell said of his wife: 'She's been my most effective advocate every step of the way. And thank you, again.' UofL President Gerry Bradley said the archives will be an 'invaluable source' for scholars and historians by offering insights into the careers of McConnell and Chao. 'It's not just a record of political history — it's a living resource for students, scholars and citizens who seek to understand and engage with the democratic process,' he said. Originally installed in 2009, the McConnell Chao Archives include a permanent gallery open to the public in UofL's Ekstrom Library. It features exhibits, films and interactive displays about U.S. government, history and politics. The expansion enhanced the facility's capacity and functionality with a newly constructed archive storage room to house the couple's collections. The vast volumes of archived materials are being processed and are not yet available for research. McConnell quipped that his political enemies 'have been deterred from seeing any of this.' Another campus initiative close to McConnell's heart has been the McConnell Center, a nonpartisan academic program at the university that aims to prepare students for future leadership roles. 'The idea here was to try to provide an Ivy League-type experience in a Kentucky place," McConnell said Tuesday. "The point being, so many of our sharpest kids go off to the East and never come back.'
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sen. McConnell and wife join Kentucky ceremony marking expansion of their archives
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao's enduring status as a powerhouse couple was on display Tuesday as they reflected on their shared lives at a ceremony for the archives that will catalogue their careers. The Kentuckians marked the expansion of the McConnell Chao Archives at McConnell's alma mater, the University of Louisville. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, is in his final term after the Republican senator revealed in February that he won't seek reelection in 2026. Chao, his wife, is a former U.S. labor and transportation secretary for Republican administrations. 'I didn't get into this line of work to put my name on a building,' McConnell said during the campus ceremony. 'We needed an archive largely because I never threw anything away.' The collection will span their decades of public life and offer a 'front-row view of how our government and institutions operate,' McConnell said in a news release. The couple — a formidable duo on the campaign trail for decades in the Bluegrass State — praised one another during the campus ceremony. McConnell, 83, is Kentucky's longest-serving senator. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was elected to his seventh term in 2020. His tenure as Senate party leader ended at the start of 2025. He is serving out his current term and has focused on national defense and international issues, including his strong support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. At Tuesday's event, Chao referred to McConnell as her 'best friend and teammate and also the man who is at the center of my life, the man who supported my career in public service.' She called her husband the 'most prolific' Senate party leader in history and said Kentucky continues to 'reap the benefits' from his tenure. 'With the expansion of this archive, his extraordinary accomplishments will continue to inform and inspire leaders for generations to come,' she said. McConnell returned the compliments, saying: 'Spending life with Elaine has been a blessing. Sharing this archive is an honor.' Reflecting on his storied career, McConnell said of his wife: 'She's been my most effective advocate every step of the way. And thank you, again.' UofL President Gerry Bradley said the archives will be an 'invaluable source' for scholars and historians by offering insights into the careers of McConnell and Chao. 'It's not just a record of political history — it's a living resource for students, scholars and citizens who seek to understand and engage with the democratic process,' he said. Originally installed in 2009, the McConnell Chao Archives include a permanent gallery open to the public in UofL's Ekstrom Library. It features exhibits, films and interactive displays about U.S. government, history and politics. The expansion enhanced the facility's capacity and functionality with a newly constructed archive storage room to house the couple's collections. The vast volumes of archived materials are being processed and are not yet available for research. McConnell quipped that his political enemies 'have been deterred from seeing any of this.' Another campus initiative close to McConnell's heart has been the McConnell Center, a nonpartisan academic program at the university that aims to prepare students for future leadership roles. 'The idea here was to try to provide an Ivy League-type experience in a Kentucky place,' McConnell said Tuesday. 'The point being, so many of our sharpest kids go off to the East and never come back.' For years, the center has lured a long list of U.S. and international leaders to Louisville to give speeches. The program's graduates have pursued a variety of professions — including public service, business and medicine — and many have returned to make their lives and careers in Kentucky, McConnell said.
4 days ago
- Politics
Sen. McConnell and wife join Kentucky ceremony marking expansion of their archives
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao's enduring status as a powerhouse couple was on display Tuesday as they reflected on their shared lives at a ceremony for the archives that will catalogue their careers. The Kentuckians marked the expansion of the McConnell Chao Archives at McConnell's alma mater, the University of Louisville. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, is in his final term after the Republican senator revealed in February that he won't seek reelection in 2026. Chao, his wife, is a former U.S. labor and transportation secretary for Republican administrations. 'I didn't get into this line of work to put my name on a building," McConnell said during the campus ceremony. "We needed an archive largely because I never threw anything away.' The collection will span their decades of public life and offer a 'front-row view of how our government and institutions operate,' McConnell said in a news release. The couple — a formidable duo on the campaign trail for decades in the Bluegrass State — praised one another during the campus ceremony. McConnell, 83, is Kentucky's longest-serving senator. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was elected to his seventh term in 2020. His tenure as Senate party leader ended at the start of 2025. He is serving out his current term and has focused on national defense and international issues, including his strong support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. At Tuesday's event, Chao referred to McConnell as her 'best friend and teammate and also the man who is at the center of my life, the man who supported my career in public service.' She called her husband the 'most prolific" Senate party leader in history and said Kentucky continues to 'reap the benefits' from his tenure. 'With the expansion of this archive, his extraordinary accomplishments will continue to inform and inspire leaders for generations to come,' she said. McConnell returned the compliments, saying: 'Spending life with Elaine has been a blessing. Sharing this archive is an honor.' Reflecting on his storied career, McConnell said of his wife: 'She's been my most effective advocate every step of the way. And thank you, again.' UofL President Gerry Bradley said the archives will be an 'invaluable source' for scholars and historians by offering insights into the careers of McConnell and Chao. 'It's not just a record of political history — it's a living resource for students, scholars and citizens who seek to understand and engage with the democratic process,' he said. Originally installed in 2009, the McConnell Chao Archives include a permanent gallery open to the public in UofL's Ekstrom Library. It features exhibits, films and interactive displays about U.S. government, history and politics. The expansion enhanced the facility's capacity and functionality with a newly constructed archive storage room to house the couple's collections. The vast volumes of archived materials are being processed and are not yet available for research. McConnell quipped that his political enemies 'have been deterred from seeing any of this.' Another campus initiative close to McConnell's heart has been the McConnell Center, a nonpartisan academic program at the university that aims to prepare students for future leadership roles. 'The idea here was to try to provide an Ivy League-type experience in a Kentucky place," McConnell said Tuesday. "The point being, so many of our sharpest kids go off to the East and never come back.' For years, the center has lured a long list of U.S. and international leaders to Louisville to give speeches. The program's graduates have pursued a variety of professions — including public service, business and medicine — and many have returned to make their lives and careers in Kentucky, McConnell said.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Louisville shuts down employee groups in response to Kentucky anti-diversity law
Students walk across the University of Louisville campus. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) The University of Louisville has disbanded the UofL Women's Network and four other employee groups in response to a new state law. A former president of one of the disbanded groups criticized the action, telling the Kentucky Lantern it goes further than required by the Republican legislature's new ban on diversity initiatives in public higher education. Ricky Jones, former president of the UofL Black Faculty/Staff Association and professor of Pan-African Studies, said the employee resource groups provided safe spaces for underrepresented people and allowed them to have 'a unified voice to speak to the administration about issues.' Jones criticized administrators at UofL and other universities for bowing to political pressure on decisions about diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. He predicted the assault on diversity in Kentucky higher education will 'get worse before it gets better.' 'Higher education in Kentucky, for Black folk in particular, and for other groups that are being targeted, I think it's a lost cause at this point, unless something drastic changes. And we don't have leadership at these schools that are committed to making those types of changes, so we're in trouble.' In addition to the groups for Black and women faculty and staff, UofL has eliminated the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association; Hispanic Latino Faculty and Staff Association; and the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association. After a review, some university resource groups 'were deemed not to be' in compliance with the new law, said UofL spokesperson John Karman. 'Our Employee Success Center will continue to explore ways to support meaningful engagement and to ensure all UofL faculty and staff are valued and supported,' Karman added. Employee resource groups, or ERGs, were created to 'promote a climate of inclusion and provide a place where employees can come together to network, create a strong sense of community, and share their concerns,' according to a now-removed UofL web page description. Earlier this year, Kentucky's Republican-controlled General Assembly passed House Bill 4, which eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and resources at all public universities and colleges within the commonwealth. The universities were directed to enact changes to meet the law's requirements by June 30, 2025. UofL and Kentucky's other public universities began reviewing policies in the spring shortly after the law was passed. Eastern Kentucky University adopted a viewpoint neutrality policy and a resolution saying EKU plans to comply with the law in May. Before the 2025 legislative session, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University disbanded their diversity offices amid scrutiny of DEI programs nationally. UofL President Gerry Bradley outlined how university administration reviewed programs and resources for compliance with the law in a June 27 email to campus. That included work groups reviewing areas of 'position analysis; policy analysis; admissions, financial aid and scholarships; and athletics.' The work group submitted recommendations to UofL's legal counsel and a Board of Trustees committee. The board considered policy changes during a June 26 meeting. Bradley wrote in his email that decisions to implement changes 'were difficult to make in the face of our work to build a culture of belonging — a culture that supports all, that is welcoming of all and reflects our community of care.' He acknowledged that people 'have felt hurt and abandoned during this process,' adding that he has 'heard your voices and understand the feelings expressed.' 'Let me assure you that I stand by my commitment to support and celebrate all of our community and meet their needs,' Bradley said. 'This matter will continue to spark important and necessary conversations about ideas of belonging, success, access to higher education and more. 'With this challenge comes an opportunity for all of us to remain committed to making the University of Louisville a place where we embrace differences and celebrate uniqueness. We will continue to do so with compassionate and steadfast resolve.' Jones, the UofL professor, said the university's actions speak louder than the president's words. He said the state's new anti-DEI law makes no mention of the kinds of employee groups that UofL ordered dismantled and said administrators chose to be 'more aggressive about anti-diversity moves' than the bill required. 'Either they agree with the uber-conservative legislators coming out of Frankfort who are doing real and meaningful harm to Black people, LGBTQ people and others' or 'they just don't care,' Jones said. 'I think it's just a feeling of hopelessness there right now,' he said. 'It's to the point now even those of us who have spoken out over the years, it's like, 'Speak out for what?' This is over.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Louisville baseball ties mark for best College World Series showing in program history
OMAHA, NE. — With an 11-3 loss to Coastal Carolina at the Men's College World Series on Wednesday, Louisville baseball tied its best postseason showing in program history. The Cardinals made their sixth trip to Omaha for the CWS this month. In five prior appearances, they had never won more than two games. Losing to Coastal Carolina ended Louisville's MCWS run with two victories, one over Arizona and another over Oregon State. Advertisement In 2013 and 2014, U of L went 0-2 in Omaha — first against Indiana and Oregon State then versus Vanderbilt and Texas. In 2007 and 2017, Louisville went 1-2. The Cards beat Mississippi State but fell to Rice and North Carolina on that first trip. In 2017, Louisville beat Texas A&M but lost to Florida and TCU. U of L's best showing prior to this season came in 2019 when it secured victories over Auburn and Mississippi State but got eliminated by eventual national champion Vanderbilt. Parity has been a big storyline in postseason baseball this year. Murray State, with a budget less than one-fourth of the size of its next-closest MCWS competitor, made it to Omaha for the first time in school history. No. 1 overall seed Vanderbilt and No. 2 seed Texas didn't survive the regional round. At U of L, the only player with previous NCAA Tournament experience was senior pitcher Brennyn Cutts, who transferred into the program this season from Indiana State. Advertisement Louisville missed three of the last four NCAA Tournaments before this year's miraculous MCWS run. Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@ and follow her on X @petitus25. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville baseball: Dan McDonnell's club ties mark for best CWS run
