Highway Fatalities Up

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Kentucky State Police preliminary statistics indicate that 15 people died in 11 separate crashes on Kentucky’s roadways from Monday, September 24th through Sunday, September 30th. Eleven of the victims were traveling in motor vehicles, and six were not wearing seat belts. Through September 30th, preliminary statistics indicate that 543 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2012. That is six more than reported for the same time period in 2011.

Fall Forest Fire Season Underway

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...The Kentucky Division of Forestry says the fall forest fire season began Monday and runs through December 15th. Division Director Leah MacSwords says, in addition to the drought, the spring tornadoes have left many woodlands damaged, creating additional 'fuel' for wildland fire and increases the danger to firefighters. Outdoor burning is illegal between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland. Officials say extinguish all fires completely, never leave a fire unattended and always extinguish fires if conditions become too windy. Allow hot ashes from woodstoves and fireplaces to cool before disposing outdoors. Extinguish smoking materials properly. Put out cigarettes, cigars, or pipes only in cleared areas free of vegetation or flammable material. Avoid parking cars, trucks, or recreational vehicles on dry vegetation. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees, which is hot enough to start a wildfire.

Conway... Attorneys General Association Co-Chairman

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Attorney General Jack Conway is now co-chairman of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, serving alongside California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Conway also serves as co-chairman of the National Association of Attorneys General consumer protection committee and substance abuse committee.

Supreme Court Rejects KY Death Row Inmate's Case

{Louisville, Kentucky}...Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case of Kentucky death row inmate 39 year old William Harry Meece. A jury condemned Meece to death for the 2006 killing of 50 year old Joseph Wellnitz, his 40 year old wife, Beth, and their 20 year old son, Dennis, in Adair County. Prosecutors say Meece and the Wellnitz's daughter, Meg Wellnitz Appleton, planned the murder plot to collect a $550,000 inheritance. Appleton pleaded guilty in January 2005 to complicity to murder. Meece denies taking part in the attack.

Baby Possibly Died From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

{Harlan, Kentucky}...Harlan County Deputy Coroner James W. Rich says preliminary results indicate 9-month-old Jazmyne Whitehead, who was found dead in a home near Cumberland in Harlan County Friday evening may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Rich says fumes from a gasoline-powered generator being used to produce electricity for the mobile home apparently reached a high enough concentration in the living room to kill the child. Rich says a baby can be overcome by a lesser concentration of the deadly gas.

KY Man Charged In New York Bank Fraud

{Louisville, Kentucky}...Louisville businessman Wilbur Anthony Huff made an initial court appearance in Louisville Monday after being indicted in Manhattan on conspiracy to commit bank bribery, fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors say the arrest was part two in an investigation in New York in a $100 million scheme that contributed to the collapse of a Park Avenue Bank. The government says Huff evaded more than $50 million in taxes owed to the IRS and diverted millions to pay for his homes, farm, designer clothing, jewelry and luxury cars. Defense attorney David Lambertus told a judge Huff would agree to stop conducting banking and investment business at least until he appears in court in New York on October 10th. Park Avenue Bank Senior Vice President Matthew L. Morris and New York investments executive Allen Reichman have also been indicted.

Beshear Raises Awareness To Tax Amnesty

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...During a Capitol press conference Monday, Governor Steve Beshear tried to raise awareness of Kentucky's offer of amnesty to delinquent taxpayers, saying they can pay up without fear of penalties or prosecution. Lawmakers authorized the amnesty offer earlier this year at the request of Beshear, who expects it to reap $61 million for the cash-strapped state. The money will be used to help balance a two-year, $19 billion budget that requires most state agencies and programs to be cut by 8.4 percent. Kentucky has a list of nearly 170,000 people and businesses behind on their tax payments.