Kentucky News Now

WENDELL FORD-FUNERAL

Biden, Clinton among hundreds who honor former Senator Ford

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Former Kentucky governor and U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford is being remembered for his ability to get things done at the highest levels of government without compromising his love for his state or its people.

Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton were among the hundreds of people who filled the First Baptist Church of Owensboro for Ford's funeral Tuesday. Biden hailed Ford as the rare politician who could listen to and understand people's problems while Clinton credited Ford with wrangling enough votes in the Senate to pass some of the legislation that defined his presidency.

Ford died Thursday at his home in Owensboro. He was 90. He is the only Kentuckian to win consecutive terms as lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator.

TORNADO TOWN-INDICTMENT

Ex-leader of county hit by tornado sentenced to prison

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A former county official in Kentucky has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for raking in more than $100,000 in a kickback scheme that continued after his Appalachian county was hit by a tornado.

Former Morgan County Judge-Executive Tim Conley tearfully begged for mercy Tuesday. Conley acknowledged his wrongdoing and said he wants his life back.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said Conley's crime "feeds into the cynicism" toward government and said there are consequences.

He sentenced Conley to seven years and three months in prison for soliciting and accepting the kickbacks from a bridge contractor. That was at the top of federal sentencing guidelines.

Prosecutors urged a sentence of 11 years and four months.

The 2012 tornado killed six people in Morgan County. They were among 25 who died in an outbreak of twisters statewide.

FRACKING MEETING

Kentucky group to hold meeting on natural gas fracturing

BEREA, Ky. (AP) — An environmental group focused on hydraulic fracturing in Kentucky is meeting in Berea.

The group called Frack Free Foothills says it was formed to keep Kentucky free of the practice known as "fracking." It's a method used to extract natural gas by injecting water, sand and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to release the gas.

The meeting Tuesday at the Russell Action Folk Center in Berea will include a visitor from West Virginia to talk about the effects of fracking in that state. Environmental attorney Tom FitzGerald will also be speaking at the meeting.

Last month, the state of New York banned fracking, saying the potential health and environmental impacts are too great.

JACK DANIEL'S EXECUTIVE

New executive named to lead Jack Daniel's Brands

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Brown-Forman Corp. has announced a new executive has been named to lead its Jack Daniel's Brands.

The Courier-Journal reports Mark McCallum will be an executive vice president and president of Jack Daniel's Brands starting Sunday.

Jack Daniel's is Louisville-based Brown-Forman's flagship brand.

McCallum joined Brown-Forman in 2003. He most recently was president for Europe/Africa, Asia-Pacific and travel retail. He also has been chief marketing officer for the company's spirits brands, chief brands officer and chief operating officer.

Senior Vice President John V. Hayes, who had been global managing director for Jack Daniel's Brands, will be chief marketing officer of Brown-Forman brands, which includes brands other than Jack Daniel's.

The company said Tim Nall will be chief information officer, responsible for business systems and infrastructure globally.

PROMISE ZONE-KENTUCKY

Investments being made in Kentucky's Promise Zone

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Officials say an initiative to improve the economy in southeastern Kentucky has seen successes during its first year.

A statement says the Kentucky Promise Zone has attracted more than $109 million in funding, with investments being made in education, medical facilities, higher education, workforce training and anti-drug initiatives.

The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded a $250,000 grant last year to launch the Promise Zone program in eight counties in southeastern Kentucky: Bell, Harlan, Letcher, Perry, Leslie, Clay, Knox and Whitley. The funding came after President Barack Obama announced that the region was one of five that would be targeted for tax incentives and federal grants under a government "Promise Zone" program.

Under the program, the federal government partnered with communities to create jobs, improve the economy and expand educational opportunities.

AMBULANCE SETTLEMENT

Ambulance company settles federal Medicare claims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Attorney's Office says an eastern Kentucky ambulance company has agreed to pay almost $1 million to settle a case over Medicare claims.

The federal government had alleged that Lafferty Enterprises, doing business as Trans-Star Ambulance Services, filed fraudulent claims with the federal Medicare program by using an ambulance to transport patients in Floyd County when it "was not medically necessary" from 2006 to 2012.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Trans-Star agreed to pay the government $948,000 and will also have to make "substantial internal compliance reforms" and have claims reviewed by a third party for three years.

HOMELESS PROGRAMS

Kentucky homeless programs being awarded $19M from US

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — More than $19 million has been awarded to help homeless housing and service programs in Kentucky.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development announced the grants this week. A total of $1.8 billion was awarded nationwide.

The funds will help with services such as street outreach, client assessment and direct housing assistance.

Funding will also help provide continued permanent and transitional housing for homeless people and services such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.

The Louisville area is receiving almost $9.2 million of the funding, the Lexington area will receive more than $1.5 million and the rest of the state is allocated nearly $8.3 million.

BRIDGE RESTRICTION

Western Ky. bridge restricted on Thursday, Saturday

AURORA, Ky. (AP) — Traffic on the Eggners Ferry Bridge in western Kentucky will be restricted to one lane on Thursday and Saturday.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the U.S. 68-Kentucky 80 bridge will be restricted beginning at about 7 a.m. CST each day to allow concrete to be poured for pier construction on the new bridge. Trucks will park on one lane of the old bridge to deliver concrete for the new structure.

Flaggers will control alternating traffic flow during daylight hours on Thursday and Saturday. The cabinet urges caution in areas where equipment, flaggers and construction workers are close to traffic.

The restriction is expected to last for about six to eight hours each day.

The cabinet says work on Friday will generate heavy truck traffic in the work zone as well.