Kentucky News Now

WINTER WEATHER-KENTUCKY

Most of Ky. to get bitter cold temps this week, some snow

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Weather forecasters say parts of Kentucky could get some light snow, with little accumulation.

They say the big concern this week is low temperatures with wind chills close to zero, and below in some places. There's a slight chance of snow Wednesday and Thursday with light accumulation in spots.

Over the weekend, western Kentucky and south central Kentucky were under a flood watch due to warmer temperatures and rains in those areas.

The Kentucky Department of Transportations is still warning motorists to drive cautiously and watch for ponding water near roads.

BODY FOUND

Body of woman discovered in Bullitt County creek

(Information in the following story is from: WHAS-TV, http://www.whas11.com)

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the body of a woman discovered in a creek in Bullitt County.

According to WHAS-TV, the body was discovered on Thursday in Shepherdsville, Ky. It was identified as Jennifer Pike, whose boyfriend had reported her missing two days earlier.

Pike's boyfriend told police the pair had gone to purchase meth and got a bad batch.

Police say the death appears to be accidental, but they're awaiting toxicology reports.

No charges have been filed.

NEWPORT BRANDING

Newport to decide on branding effort

(Information in the following story is from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com)

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — Newport officials are set to decide whether a new branding effort will help bring more people to the northern Kentucky town.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports the City Commission will vote Monday on whether to proceed with a proposed logo and slogan. Business leaders and a local advertising firm have worked for two years on the effort.

The move comes on the heels of another northern Kentucky city using a $120,000 federal grant to rebrand itself. Covington has a new slogan — "Covington's Alive!" — and a new logo as well as signage, promotional videos, merchandise and other materials.

Mayor Jerry Peluso and other officials have shown support for the effort.

VIETNAM VETERAN-SPEAKER

Vietnam veteran brings history to life for students

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — When Dan Tonietti first spoke to students nearly 20 years ago about his experience in the Vietnam War, he was a reluctant participant.

It took some convincing from Tonietti's friend Mike Kinney, a Hardin County Schools teacher then and now a board member, to get him into Kinney's classroom at then-East Hardin High School to share his story.

Almost two decades later, Tonietti still is making appearances to bring history to life for students. He recently spoke to North Hardin High School's junior U.S. history students.

In his presentation, which included personal pictures, his uniform, dog tags and other items from Tonietti's time in service, he answered student questions about his experiences with the draft, what it was like living in a war zone, death and how his family coped.

WINTER WEATHER-MILITARY VEHICLES

Police putting Humvees to good use in bad weather conditions

(Information in the following story is from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Surplus military vehicles gifted to police departments in Kentucky are being pressed into service during the recent winter storms.

Snowed-in emergency service providers and medical professionals are hitching rides on military Humvees, and the vehicles are also helping deliver prescriptions and medical supplies to shut-ins.

Simpson County Sheriff's Detective Eddie Lawson tells the Daily News in Bowling Green that a Humvee was used to bring a caretaker to an elderly woman's house this week. Lawson says the bulky vehicle was also used to pull several stuck cars out of trouble.

Police in Franklin are using their vehicle to shuttle essential police personnel to work. And Scottsville police used Humvees to get to patients in hard-to-reach areas.

INFRASTRUCTURE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky's gas tax shrinks as road needs grow

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's gas tax is shrinking even as its need for road and bridge work grows.

Triggered by automatic reductions pegged to the price of fuel, Kentucky's gas tax dropped 4.3 cents in January and is scheduled to drop another 5.1 cents in April, decreases that amount to a $270 million cut to the state's road fund.

The pressure on Kentucky's road fund comes amid declining federal transportation spending nationwide that is shifting more responsibility for road and bridge maintenance to state and local governments. Federal road spending in Kentucky has remained flat, and state officials have turned to tolls to pay for major bridge projects in Louisville and northern Kentucky.

Some Senate Republicans have proposed freezing the gas tax at its current rate. But the bill faces significant hurdles.