Kentucky News Now

HEALTH OVERHAUL-AUDIT

Health officials overstated Medicaid expenses, audit finds

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — In its first year of Medicaid expansion, Kentucky health officials were plagued by a series of accounting errors that resulted in overstating state and federal expenses by more than $500 million, according to an audit released Wednesday.

The report by Democratic Auditor Adam Edelen said the Cabinet for Health and Family Services did not adequately review its finances before reporting them to the state's Finance and Administration Cabinet. While many errors were caught before the state issued its final report, several mistakes did get through, including overstating $500 million in state and federal expenses and overstating federal revenue by $424 million.

In response to the audit, health officials pledged to correct the problems. A cabinet spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment. Kentucky was one of 29 states to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act.

LRC DIRECTOR

Search for new LRC director in limbo

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The search for a new director of the Legislative Research Commission remains in limbo after a proposal to set up a search committee was defeated by a panel of top Kentucky lawmakers.

The fact-finding and service agency has been without a permanent director since 2013, when then-director Bobby Sherman resigned. Marcia Seiler has been serving as temporary director.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo's proposal to create a search committee was defeated on a party-line vote Wednesday. Eight Democrats supported the motion, while eight Republicans opposed it.

Republican Senate President Robert Stivers said lawmakers first need to receive a completed performance audit on the operations of Kentucky legislative staff.

Stivers said a search for an LRC director would be premature without the complete report.

A draft report showed low morale and poor management practices.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Lawmaker who fired state worker added to harassment lawsuit

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — One of the top-ranking Democrats in the Kentucky House of Representatives has been added to an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit in Franklin County.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate on Wednesday added state Rep. Johnny Bell of Glasgow as a defendant in a case brought by a former state worker against the Legislative Research Commission and former Democratic lawmaker John Arnold.

Yolanda Costner is seeking damages after she says the Legislative Research Commission did not prevent Arnold from sexually harassing her. Bell became Costner's boss last month when he was elected House majority whip. Bell soon dismissed Costner, an action Costner said was to retaliate against her for filing the lawsuit.

Bell's attorney, Charles English, declined to comment, saying he would file a response in court soon.

DEATH PENALTY

Death penalty foes press case with lawmakers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Death penalty opponents looking to make inroads with Kentucky lawmakers are getting help from a former death row inmate who was exonerated with DNA evidence.

Kirk Bloodsworth, a Maryland man who spent more than eight years in prison until his release, visited the Kentucky Capitol on Wednesday to endorse efforts to abolish the death penalty.

Bloodsworth calls capital punishment a social injustice due to the potential that innocent people will be put to death. He says being confined in a tiny prison cell without parole is a better punishment.

Kentucky has executed three people since 1976 and 34 inmates are currently on death row.

Bills introduced by Democratic Sen. Gerald Neal and Republican Rep. David Floyd would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without parole.

HUNGER DRIVE

Political rivals put aside differences to support food banks

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two of Kentucky's biggest political rivals put aside their differences Wednesday to urge people to donate to their local food banks.

Attorney General Jack Conway and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer spoke at a news conference at the Kentucky Capitol. Conway is the likely Democratic nominee for governor in November. And Comer is one of four Republicans seeking his party's nomination for governor.

Conway said Kentucky ranks 14th highest in the nation for food insecurity for children and urged people to donate to food banks.

Comer encouraged people to donate a portion of their state tax refunds to the Farms to Food Banks program, where the state buys surplus produce from farmers and gives them to the poor. Comer said his goal is to collect $82,000 for the program this year.

THOROUGHBRED CENTER-FIRE

Fire damages thoroughbred training center in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Lexington firefighters battled a blaze Wednesday that damaged a thoroughbred training facility.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that no horses were hurt in the fire at the Thoroughbred Center Wednesday morning.

Lexington Fire Maj. Lee Hayden says employees were in the building, but everyone made it out. One worker was slightly injured but declined to go to the hospital.

The fire was reported at 8:17 a.m. Wednesday. Heavy smoke could be seen on video pouring from a building.

Built in 1969, the facility was purchased by Keeneland in 2000. Keeneland expanded, adding more barns that allowed the site to house up to 1,180 horses. It also has two training tracks.

SIGNING DAY-KENTUCKY

Kentucky announces 23 recruits, including 7 from Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Closing last season on a six-game slide after starting 5-1 made Kentucky coach Mark Stoops more determined to recruit prospects he believes will reverse the program's fortunes.

To that end Stoops announced a 23-member class on Wednesday that includes seven prospects from his native Ohio and two from Kentucky. Though lower-rated compared to last year's best-ever top-20 class, the Wildcats remained in the top 50 by Rivals (tied for 35th) and Scout (43rd).

Defense again highlights this year's group with 13 players signed in hopes of shoring up a unit that yielded at least 40 points in five of those six season-ending losses.

Stoops' talent search even expanded into Washington, D.C., and landed defensive back Will Jackson; offensive lineman Levon Livingston; and wide receiver Jabari Greenwood.