Conway Seriously Considering Governor’s Race

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway says he's taking a very, very serious look at running in the 2015 election to replace Governor Steve Beshear. Conway spent about $10 million in three statewide campaigns in the past five years, largely on TV advertising, and Conway had about twice that much spent against him, making him a familiar face to nearly every family in Kentucky.

Man Fatally Struck By Train

{Danville, Kentucky}…Police say 38 year old Kevin Jackson was attempting to walk cross a bridge in Danville Saturday when he was hit by a train, throwing him about 70 yards from the bridge. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

School Boards Insurance Trust To Disband

{Lexington, Kentucky}…Officials announced Monday in Lexington that the financially troubled Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust will disband on June 30th, forcing school districts to search for new providers of workers compensation, property and liability insurance policies. The Kentucky School Boards Association had turned the insurance program over to the Kentucky League of Cities about two years ago. KLC Executive Director Jonathan Steiner says a financial review revealed the insurance program had fiscal woes that were worse than first believed. The closure means financial consequences for all of the state's 174 school districts, which will have to come up with some $60 million to cover the cost of past insurance claims.

McConnell Optimistic About Afghanistan

Senator Mitch McConnell said Monday he's optimistic about Afghanistan and favors a residual U.S. force after combat troops leave in 2014 of about 10,000. McConnell, who traveled with Republican Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ted Cruz of Texas and Deb Fischer of Nebraska, says, after meetings with military leaders, including General John Allen, he left the country with a genuine sense of optimism.

No Shortages Of Flu Vaccines

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Gwenda Bond, a spokeswoman for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services, says the flu outbreak has been widespread in Kentucky for five weeks, which is earlier than usual, but health officials are not aware of any shortages of flu vaccines. A northern Kentucky  man died recently from complications of the flu. The flu is causing sporadic absences among workers at the UPS air hub in Louisville, and the University of Kentucky is planning to announce some temporary restrictions on visiting patients at its hospitals to limit exposure to the flu.

Former Pain Clinic Owner Arrested

Forty-four year old Ernest William Singleton, a former Kentucky pain clinic owner who operated in Georgetown and Dry Ridge, was arrested Monday in central Kentucky and charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and conspiracy to launder funds from October 2010 until this month. Attorney General Jack Conway's office says no doctors were named in the indictment, but state regulators have taken disciplinary action against five doctors affiliated with the two clinics. Singleton closed his pain management centers in Georgetown and Dry Ridge in Kentucky, and opened a clinic in Jeffersonville, Indiana after Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill last year to try to curtail prescription abuse.

Man Sentenced For First-Degree Robbery

{Catlettsburg, Kentucky}…Friday, 29 year old Roger Kittle, Jr. was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing a woman’s purse while she was loading a wheelchair into her car in the parking lot of the Ashland Children’s Clinic in January. A Boyd County Grand Jury indicted Kittle and 22 year old Heather Griffith, both of Ashland, on first-degree robbery charges. Griffith is expected to plead guilty to the same charge later this month.

Paul Charged With Assault

Assault charges have been filed against 19 year old William Paul, the son of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. William Paul was recently arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina and charged with underage drinking and disorderly conduct. Local police say it's possible Paul was served alcohol on his flight from Lexington, but US Airways denies the claim. Paul is now accused of assaulting a flight attendant. 

Homeland Security Advises Disabling Java

In response to concerns raised by computer security experts, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advising people to temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid potential hacking attacks. Experts believe hackers have found a flaw in Java's coding that creates an opening for criminal activity and other high-tech mischief. Oracle Corp. bought Java as part of a $7.3 billion acquisition of the software's creator, Sun Microsystems, in 2010.

ARH Seeks To Add Defendants To Lawsuit

{Lexington, Kentucky}…Attorneys for Appalachian Regional Healthcare are trying to add the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as defendants in its lawsuit filed in April 2012 against Coventry Cares and the state of Kentucky. In a motion filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Lexington, ARH alleged the federal agency's failure to scrutinize the Cabinet for Health and Family Services has resulted in an unstable managed-care system that is heading toward eventual collapse. In November 2011, more than 540,000 Medicaid members from 104 Kentucky counties were moved to Kentucky Spirit, Coventry Cares and WellCare. Under managed care, the state pays the companies a set fee per patient regardless of the amount of services the patient needs. 

Chamber of Commerce Endorses Industrial Hemp

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Friday, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce joined a growing list of high-profile supporters, including U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie, Andy Barr and John Yarmuth and U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who want to let Kentucky farmers grow industrial hemp. Bills have been filed in the House and Senate that would license farmers to grow the plant, a close cousin to marijuana, if the federal government lifts its ban on the crop. Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has spent much of the past year aggressively lobbying state and federal leaders to lift the ban on hemp. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said Friday that many Democratic and Republican senators remain uneasy with legalizing industrial hemp, and he did not know if the measure would pass the Senate.

Jury Acquits Father

{Bowling Green, Kentucky}…Friday, a jury in Bowling Green acquitted 22 year old Bryan Daniels of murder and other charges in the death of his toddler son, 22 month old Kayden Daniels. Police say the toddler died after he drank drain cleaner called Liquid Fire from a cup that had been setting on a table at his Wayne County home. Prosecutors alleged Bryan Daniels knew the cup contained Liquid Fire, but was impaired and left it where the child could reach it. Daniels' attorney said the death was an accident, and his client thought the cup contained juice.

Teen Allegedly Threatens Judge, Others

{Harlan, Kentucky}…Michael A. Collins, who was a student at the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan County, has been charged with threatening to kill two federal judges and a federal prosecutor. Collins is accused of telling a counselor he planned to graduate in December, spend Christmas with his family and then begin shooting everyone involved in the prosecution of his father, John Collins, who was sentenced in October 2011 to 11 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Deputy U.S. Marshal Rick Kelley says there was good reason to believe Collins threatened to kill Judge David Bunning, prosecutor Jason Denny and U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Atkins. Collins told the counselor he would target police who arrested his father, the prosecutor, the judge, and his father's defense attorney, whom he felt hadn't done a good job, along with people at Limewire, which apparently was the source of child porn John Collins had gotten and which notified authorities.

Supreme Court To Hear Instant Racing Appeal

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…The Kentucky Supreme Court voted Friday to hear an appeal brought by Governor Steve Beshear's administration and Kentucky horse race tracks involving instant racing at Kentucky Downs in Franklin and Ellis Park in Henderson. The Family Foundation had challenged instant racing and won before the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

Legislature Adjourns

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…The Legislature has adjourned after a weeklong organizational session in which the House and Senate chose their leaders. Democratic state Representative Greg Stumbo was re-elected as House speaker and Republican Senator Robert Stivers was elected as Senate president. Lawmakers are scheduled to return February 5th to begin passing legislation. 

Festival Can Use Monroe's Name

{Louisville, Kentucky}…Friday, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that a nonprofit organization can use legendary bluegrass musician Bill Monroe's name to promote The Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Music Festival. Judge Joy A. Moore, writing for a three-judge panel, concluded that Ohio County officials intended to grant the festival's director the right to use Monroe's name, but failed to formalize the agreement.

Death Row Inmate Loses Appeal

{Louisville, Kentucky}…Friday, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that death row inmate 40 year old William Harry Meece, Kentucky's only Jewish inmate on death row, could pray in his cell. Meece had claimed that it was a burden to pray in his small cell and that prison policies kept him from covering up the toilet or praying near it. The court disagreed, saying Meece can pray near a toilet and cover it with a sheet. Meece sued the state in 2007, alleging prison officials violated his legal religious right to observe the Sabbath by refusing to move him alone or with other inmates to a religious facility. Meece is awaiting execution for the deaths of three people in Adair County in 1993.

Clinton Coming To Owensboro

{Owensboro, Kentucky}…Former President Bill Clinton will be in Owensboro on March 6th, attending a fundraising reception and dinner for the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center. Ford presided over Clinton's first inauguration in 1993 as chairman of the Congressional Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center is a nonprofit organization that sponsors a variety of educational programs to help encourage young people to take an interest in politics, government and public service. A thousand dollars and you could have dinner with Clinton.

Jury Gets Murder Case

{Bowling Green, Kentucky}…Jurors will begin deliberating Friday in a case involving the death of a toddler. Bryan Daniels was indicted on charges including murder and making meth after his son, 20-month-old Kayden, died on May 30, 2009 after he ingested a type of drain cleaner called Liquid Fire left in a coffee cup inside a mobile home where Daniels and Kayden's mother, Alisha Branham, then 14, had been staying. Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard Jr. ruled Thursday that there was no proof that Daniels made meth on the day his son died. The trial was moved to Bowling Green after a jury could not be seated in Wayne County.

Groups Focus On Statewide Smoking Ban

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 29 percent of Kentucky adults smoke. Nationally, 19 percent of adults smoke. The Smoke-Free Kentucky Coalition, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are spending $93,000 to sponsor an advertising campaign urging Kentucky to go smoke-free. The groups say Kentucky has a lot to be proud of but not the large number of smokers or the lung cancer rates, and it needs a statewide smoking ban. House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he would support such a measure.

First Lady Promoting "Shop & Share" Day

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Kentucky's first lady, Jane Beshear, is promoting the 5th annual "Shop & Share" day, a domestic violence shelter benefit set to take place February 2nd at Kroger and Food City stores in Kentucky. The one-day event allows shoppers to purchase necessities for shelters and donate them in the store. Last year, the combined goods and monetary donations for Shop & Share day were estimated at more than $782,000. Beshear says this year's goal is to collect more than $1 million in combined donations. Contributions will be given to the 15 Kentucky Domestic Violence Association shelters across the state.

General Fund Shows Substantial Gain

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…State Budget Director Mary Lassiter reported Thursday that Kentucky's General Fund revenue rose substantially in December. The monthly review shows General Fund revenue up by 4.9 percent and Road Fund receipts 6.2 percent higher. Total General Fund revenue for the month was nearly $946 million. Road Fund revenue was more than $162 million. Property tax collections grew 12.1 percent, individual income tax receipts were up 10.1 percent, and sales tax revenue rose 1.7 percent. Corporate income tax revenue fell by 11.6 percent. Coal severance tax receipts were down 18.7 percent. And collections from the state's cigarette tax were flat.

Kentucky Education…Ranks 10th

According to the Education Week magazine published Thursday, Kentucky has climbed to 10th place nationally in the 2013 Quality Counts survey of states' education performance. Kentucky has jumped 24 places in the Quality Counts annual report over the past two years. The state ranked 34th in 2010 and climbed to 14th last year. Maryland ranked first in the 2013 survey for the fifth straight year. Recent Kentucky advances include the General Assembly's passage of Senate Bill 1 in 2009, which revamped the state student-testing system, and the adoption of tough new common core content standards in 2010.

Primary Care Providers Losing Medicaid Funding

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…State health officials announced Wednesday that, beginning February 1st, 155 of Kentucky's 273 primary care providers will lose $60 million in supplemental Medicaid payments because they no longer have the correct federal designation. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services notified the Cabinet for Health and Family Services of the change in December. The process for medical providers to apply for the correct federal designation takes between 90 and 120 days. UK Healthcare owns one of the centers that will lose its supplemental Medicaid payments.

Stumbo Defends Health Care

{Frankfort, Kentucky}… State Senator Julie Denton, R-Louisville, introduced legislation Wednesday that would require Governor Steve Beshear to get legislative approval before implementing the health insurance exchange or opening the state's Medicaid program to additional recipients. The operation of the health insurance exchanges alone, she said, could be some $40 million a year, and expanding the Medicaid rolls could add another $170 million a year. Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Kentucky stands to receive some $2 billion a year from the federal government, and he believes the state "would be ill-served" not to take full advantage of the health care reforms that would expand Medicaid coverage to some 400,000 additional uninsured Kentuckians. Stumbo says he will oppose efforts by Republican lawmakers to impede two key parts of the Affordable Care Act, and he believes it will have little chance at passing in the House.

USA Harvest Founder Indicted

{Louisville, Kentucky}…A federal grand jury in Louisville has indicted USA Harvest founder 63 year old Stan Curtis with mail fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors say Curtis, who founded the organization in 1989 as Kentucky Harvest of Louisville, took $183,354 from the charity and charged another $370,000 in personal travel expenses. Curtis is due back in court on January 31st.

Murder-Suicide In Pulaski County

{Somerset, Kentucky}…Fifty-four year old Billy E. Baugh and 53 year old Shirley Baugh were both found dead at their home off Edwards road just outside of Somerset, shortly after noon Wednesday. Police say the couple died as the result of an apparent murder-suicide. Investigators say Billy Baugh apparently shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. The shooting comes on the same day as a funeral scheduled for the couple’s son, Clarence Baugh, who was killed in a Lincoln County car accident over the weekend.

Kentucky House Elects Leaders

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…For the first time, Kentucky House members have elected a woman to serve in a leadership post. Sannie Overly of Paris was chosen as caucus chairwoman Tuesday, ousting Robert Damron of Nicholasville.

Other Democratic House leaders were re-elected: House Speaker Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg, Majority Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook, Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark of Louisville and Majority Whip Tommy Thompson of Owensboro.

Republican Representative Jeff Hoover of Jamestown was re-elected minority floor leader, Representative Bob DeWeese of Louisville was re-elected as Republican caucus chairman. And Representative Bam Carney of Campbellsville was elected Republican whip to replace former Representative Danny Ford, who retired.

Kentucky Teachers…Among The Best

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced Tuesday that 268 Kentucky teachers were awarded the prestigious National Board Certification in the class of 2012. National Board Certified Teachers are recognized as among the best teachers in the profession. Kentucky is ranked 7th in the number of teachers earning National Board Certification in the class of 2012.

Rupp Arena Locker Rooms Renovated

{Lexington, Kentucky}…During a tour of the renovated locker room complex at Rupp Arena Tuesday, DeWayne Peevy, UK's executive associate athletics director, said Joe Craft, the coal magnate behind the Joe Craft Center and the Wildcat Coal Lodge, will donate the majority of the $2.5 million that has been raised to date for the Joe Craft Basketball Suite. Also, $1 million has been given by Sarah Healy and the late Jerry Healy of Lexington, whose names adorn the entrance to the circular, wood-panelled locker room. The cost of the entire project is estimated at roughly $3.1 million. Peevy says most of the fundraising was done by men's basketball coach John Calipari.

Dutrow Appeal Rejected

{Albany, New York}…Tuesday, the Court of Appeals in New York refused to hear an appeal by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. on his 10 year ban from the sport for drug violations. The state Racing and Wagering Board's 2011 decision to ban him from New York's thoroughbred tracks had been stayed pending appeals. Dutrow faced brief New York suspensions for drug violations in 2003, 2004 and 2008. Dutrow trained Big Brown to Derby and Preakness wins in 2008.

Businessman Donates School Alarms

{Somerset, Kentucky}…Kentucky businessman, David Morris, who is president of Modern Systems Inc., says he will donate high-tech alarms to every school in Pulaski County. Morris says he was inspired to make the offer after attending a local prayer vigil for victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Modern Systems is going to be installing a panic alarm, or duress alarm, system in the schools at no cost, directly or indirectly to the school systems. Morris says crews will begin installing the devices in the next month and the process would take about three weeks.

Subcommittee Approves "Pill Mill Bill" Regulations

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Monday, the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee approved 12 proposed regulations that govern the implementation of a controversial 2012 law to tackle Kentucky's prescription drug-abuse problem. The law was designed to halt doctors and pain management clinics that push addictive pills for profit rather than good medical care. It expanded Kentucky's prescription monitoring system and required that any new pain clinic must be owned by a licensed medical practitioner. Some health care providers say legitimate medical care got entangled in the law. The rules adopted by the subcommittee will go to the legislature's health and welfare committees for consideration during the 2013 General Assembly session that begins Tuesday.

School Officials Worry About Possible Cuts

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…The federal fiscal cliff was averted, but an agreement that delayed decisions about major spending cuts until late February has some Kentucky school officials worried. According to numbers from the Congressional Budget Office and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, if Congress doesn't reach a compromise on the scheduled spending cuts, Kentucky's 174 school districts will lose $61 million a year in federal support during the next decade. The state now gets $481 million a year from the federal government for education programs. Nancy Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education, says the vast majority of planned spending cuts would not likely go into effect until July.

General Assembly To Discuss Military Voting

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…At a joint news conference Monday, incoming state Senate President Robert Stivers said a recommendation from Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to make sure soldiers serving overseas can cast ballots in elections at home will be designated Senate Bill 1 in the General Assembly session that begins Tuesday. Grimes and other secretaries of state traveled to the Middle East last year to review the status of military and overseas voting. 

Paul Urges Reduction In Foreign Aid

During his first visit to Israel, Monday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul called for a gradual reduction of American foreign aid. Israel is among the largest recipients of American assistance, while it gets about $3 billion a year in military aid. Paul said the U.S. can't afford to keep sending money overseas, even to allies like Israel, and it would be harder to be a friend of Israel or defend Israel if the the U.S. were out of money. While Paul acknowledged he's expressing a "minority opinion" and doubts Congress will cut aid in his lifetime, he insists Washington should first cut aid to countries with strained ties to America, such as Pakistan and Egypt.

County Jail Closes

{Whitley City, Kentucky}…Kentucky Department of Corrections officials have closed the McCreary County Jail and moved its 47 inmates to the Laurel County Detention Center. The state ordered the shutdown on December 11th, saying officials did not properly report escapes and citing four incidents involving six inmates between January and June 2012.

Coca-Cola Plant Expanding

{Middlesboro, Kentucky}…A Coca-Cola plant and warehouse in Middlesboro is expanding. Regional Sales Manager Bobby Abbott says the company sold a million plus cases of Cumberland Gap water last year, making shipments from Florida to Michigan along the way, and the water takes up half of the current warehouse and continues to grow. The plant will grow by about 24,000 square feet, and Abbott hopes construction will be done by June or July.

Son Of Senator Paul Charged With Intoxication

{Charlotte, North Carolina}…Nineteen year old William Hilton Paul, the son of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, was arrested Saturday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. Officials at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office say Paul was intoxicated when he arrived at the airport and was possibly served alcohol during the flight. He was charged with three misdemeanors: underage consumption, disorderly conduct and being intoxicated and disruptive.

Senators Want Coal Exports Reviewed

U.S. coal exports hit a record of an estimated 124 million tons last year. Friday, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski asked U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to determine if companies have violated federal leasing laws and are shortchanging federal and state governments out of millions of dollars by paying royalties on the coal's mine price, then exporting it overseas at a higher price through affiliated brokers.  National Mining Association spokeswoman Carol Raulston says companies believe they are complying with the law. 

Churchill Downs Considering Legalized Gambling

{Louisville, Kentucky}…Governor Steve Beshear has pushed for years to legalize casino-style gambling in Kentucky. As the Kentucky Legislature prepares to begin meeting Tuesday, officials at Churchill Downs say, if expanded gambling is approved in Kentucky, it is important that the company own and operate any casino located in Louisville. Brett Hale, Churchill's senior vice president for corporate and government relations, says, if another company was allowed to run a casino in the Louisville market, 138 years of racing heritage and Kentucky Derby tradition will be put at risk.

Beshear Seeks Tax Reform

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Governor Steve Beshear is hoping that, when lawmakers convene in Frankfort Tuesday for a 30-day legislative session, common ground can be found to produce a package of tax reforms. A commission appointed by Beshear last year to recommend tax reforms has proposed changes it predicts would generate $659 million a year in new revenue. The proposals include raising taxes on pensions, assessing a 1 percent utility tax on residents and businesses, increasing the cigarette tax by 40 cents to $1 a pack, expanding the 6 percent sales tax to include more services, though the task force did not identify which services it had in mind, and placing a $17,500 cap on an individual's itemized deductions.

Lawmaker Focuses On Human Trafficking

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…When the General Assembly convenes Tuesday, some lawmakers will push to strengthen Kentucky's human trafficking law. The state has prosecuted 16 cases since human trafficking became a crime in 2007, but advocates say the law is weak and doesn't do enough to punish perpetrators or protect victims. Representative Sannie Overly, D-Paris, says she plans to sponsor a bill similar to one she introduced last year that would increase training for law enforcement and use money from those convicted of such crimes to pay for victim services. Overly's bill passed the House last year, but stalled in the Senate.

General Assembly To Examine Pension System

{Frankfort, Kentucky}…Kentucky's pension system could be the toughest problem facing the 2013 General Assembly. For many years, governors and legislators knowingly failed to put enough money in the state pension fund at the Kentucky Retirement Systems which is responsible for providing lifetime pensions to 117,000 current, former and retired state employees. The $11 billion Kentucky Retirement Systems has only 44 percent of the money it needs to meet future obligations to state workers, local government employees and state police. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, says he wants the legislature to dedicate a funding source to shore up the pensions, possibly a higher cigarette tax or the closure of some tax breaks.

KSP Conduct Marijuana Bust

{Ashland, Kentucky}…Kenneth Woods, Irvin Woods, Curtis Maynard and Ashly Leak, all of Ashland, were arrested Friday and charged with drug trafficking after Kentucky State Police conducted a search of an apartment inside a building along the 800 block of Bath Avenue and found drugs. KSP had been notified by the U.S. Postal Service which had flagged a suspicious package from Arizona that contained 11 pounds of marijuana.