CPR TRAINING

CPR training bill passes Kentucky House

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's public high schools would be expected to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to students under a bill that has passed the state House.

The measure would require that the CPR training be included in health education curriculum.

The bill cleared the House on a 94-1 vote Thursday and now goes to the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Jeff Greer of Brandenburg says training more people in CPR will save lives.

Greer, the bill's sponsor, says CPR training is crucial in rural areas where no hospital is nearby and it can take paramedics some time to reach a person stricken with a heart attack.

PREGNANT WORKERS

Kentucky House OKs workplace bill for pregnant workers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House has passed a bill that would require employers to make reasonable accommodations for their pregnant workers.

Those accommodations for pregnant workers could include longer or more frequent breaks, modification of equipment, appropriate seating, modified work schedules and temporary transfer to less strenuous roles.

The measure passed the House on a 95-0 vote Thursday and now goes to the Senate.

The bill's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Joni Jenkins, says it would provide clear-cut guidelines for employers and employees in protecting and supporting pregnant workers.

She says the result could help minimize litigation dealing with such workplace issues.

MAGEE RETIRING

Hall of Fame harness driver Magee set to retire this weekend

CRETE, Ill. (AP) — Hall of Fame harness driver Dave Magee is set to retire after competing in the final race of his 40-year career Saturday night at Balmoral Park.

The 61-year-old driver enters his final weekend of driving with 11,868 victories and more than $100 million in purses earned.

Magee has been the leading driver multiple times at tracks, including Balmoral, Maywood, Hawthorne, the former Sportsman's Park in Chicago and Quad City Downs.

Among his top winners are Anniecrombie in the 1988 Breeders Crown championship and Mr. Dalrae in the 1984 Canadian Pacing Championship. Other major stakes winners include Odds Against, Keystone Raider, Continentalvictory, Staying Together and Color Me Best.

Magee will become an Indiana racing official in the spring.

MOTHER CHARGED-POISONING

Prosecutor: Mom craved attention, poisoned child with salt

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A prosecutor says a woman accused of poisoning her 5-year-old son with salt did it because she relished the attention that a sickly child brought her.

The prosecutor also suggested that the mother eventually killed the boy because she feared he would start telling people she was making him ill.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Murphy presented her closing argument Thursday in the case against 26-year-old Lacey Spears of Scottsville, Kentucky.

She's charged with murder and manslaughter in the 2014 death of Garnett-Paul Spears.

Murphy said Spears craved the attention of family, friends and especially doctors.

Defense lawyer Stephen Riebling described Spears as a caring mother who was devastated by her son's death. He also tried to cast doubt on the medical examiner's finding that high salt was the cause of death.

FIRE DEATHS

3 killed in residential fire in Greenup County

GREENUP, Ky. (AP) — Three people have died in a fire in northeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police say one of the victims of the Greenup County fire late Wednesday was a 6-year-old, identified as Jensyn Archey. Also killed was 48-year-old Wilma Osborn. The third victim hasn't been positively identified.

Autopsies are scheduled for Thursday in Frankfort.

Police believe the three victims were related and lived at the home that burned in the Load community.

Foul play isn't suspected. The investigation is continuing.

HIGHWAY SHOOTING

Man killed in Louisville highway shooting identified

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The person killed in a highway shooting in Louisville has been identified.

Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Rita Taylor told The Courier-Journal that 42-year-old Mukhtar Ahmad (MOOK'-tar AHK'-mahd) of Louisville died of a single gunshot wound to the torso.

Police said Thursday they believe the shooting was an act of road rage.

Police said Ahmad was driving an SUV southbound on Interstate 71 at mile marker 7 when the driver of a van alongside him opened fire Wednesday morning. The SUV ran off the road and crashed into a guardrail.

Officers found Ahmad dead in the driver's seat. Bullet holes had pierced the window.

Police charged 43-year-old Christopher L. McCullum with murder.

MINE INSPECTIONS

US mining regulators cite Va. coal mine after Jan. visit

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Federal mine inspectors say they issued 176 citations during a January inspection of mines, including 31 at a Virginia coal mine.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration on Thursday released the results of its inspections last month. The inspections occurred at 13 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines.

The monthly inspections focus on mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement because of a poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.

On Jan. 13, MSHA conducted an impact inspection at Mill Branch Coal Corp's Osaka Mine in Wise County, Virginia. As a result, inspectors issued 31 citations, among other findings.

MSHA said its inspectors found hazardous conditions that exposed miners to potential ignitions, fire and explosions, and the risk of developing black lung and other respiratory diseases.

LOCAL OPTION

GE supports local option sales tax bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — One of Louisville's largest companies says it supports a bill that would let local voters temporarily raise sales taxes to pay for public projects.

The bill has passed the House of Representatives but faced a hurdle in the state Senate after a group of 30 businesses sent a letter to lawmakers saying they oppose the bill because it could increases energy costs by $24 million each year. Residential power bills are exempt from sales taxes, but industrial power bills are not.

GE Appliances was one of the companies listed on the letter, but spokeswoman Kim Freeman said the company did not know about the letter and that they support the bill because it would give voters a choice to pay for important infrastructure projects.

 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

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