Kentucky News Now

KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE

Lawmakers make little progress in legislature's final days

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers appear to be making little progress on proposals affecting teacher pensions and heroin abuse as the legislature reconvenes for the final two days of the 2015 session.

Republican senators broke off negotiations Monday morning on a Democratic-backed bill that would borrow $3.3 billion to bail out the struggling Kentucky Teachers Retirement System. Sen. Joe Bowen said senators were waiting on a key piece of financial information before offering a counterproposal but declined to elaborate.

House and Senate negotiators continued to debate behind closed doors on a proposal to combat the state's rising number of heroin overdose deaths. Democratic state Rep. John Tilley said the two sides were struggling to overcome philosophical differences about how long people should be sentenced to prison for drug offenses.

CONGRESS-POWER PLANTS

GOP lawmaker from Kentucky targets Obama climate plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans, led by a Kentucky lawmaker, are targeting a key element of President Barack Obama's strategy for fighting climate change. The opponents are proposing a bill to delay the Obama administration's plan to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants.

Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky unveiled a draft bill Monday that would allow governors to veto compliance with the federal rule if the governor determines it would cause significant hikes for electricity or harm reliability in the state.

The bill also would delay the Environmental Protection Agency's climate rule until all court challenges are completed.

The measure does not block the EPA rule outright, as previous GOP bills have intended, but Whitfield said he is confident the measure would protect states and consumers. Whitfield chairs the House Energy panel's energy and power subcommittee.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

Barber sworn in as Kentucky Supreme Court justice at Capitol

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The newest member of the Kentucky Supreme Court has been sworn in as a justice.

David A. Barber was joined by his wife, children and grandchildren at the ceremony Monday in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the state Capitol. Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr., other Supreme Court justices and House Speaker Greg Stumbo were among those speaking at the event.

Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Barber to serve as the justice from the 7th Supreme Court District in eastern Kentucky. Barber was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Justice Will T. Scott, who is running for governor.

Barber was a Court of Appeals judge from 2000 to 2007 and has been an attorney in private practice and public service for more than 33 years.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER-BARR ENDORSEMENT

Andy Barr endorses Ryan Quarles for agriculture commissioner

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has endorsed Ryan Quarles in the Republican primary for state agriculture commissioner.

Quarles is a Republican state representative from Georgetown running against fellow state Rep. Richard Heath of Mayfield. In a news release from the Quarles campaign, Barr said he endorsed Quarles because his background in agricultural economics and international trade has prepared him for the job. Quarles is an eighth-generation farmer and studied agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky.

The winner of the May 19 primary will face Democrat Jean-Marie Lawson Spann in the November general election. Current Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer is not seeking re-election. Comer is running for governor instead.

HUMANA-CONCENTRA-SALE

Humana selling Concentra unit for about $1.06 billion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Humana Inc. of Louisville says it will sell its Concentra Inc. unit to MJ Acquisition Corp. for just under $1.06 billion in cash.

The Concentra unit, acquired by Humana in December of 2010, is a provider of occupational health, urgent care and physical therapy services.

MJ Acquisition is a joint venture between hospital operator Select Medical Holdings Corp. and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe XII, L.P., a private equity fund.

The sale is expected to close during the second quarter.

The health insurer said its 2015 profit outlook remains set at between $8.50 and $9 per share.

INTERSTATE RESTRICTION

Bridge inspections prompt lane closures on I-75

CORBIN, KY. (AP) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says to expect some lane closures on Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky this week.

The cabinet says the right lane of northbound I-75 at the Laurel-Whitley county line at mile point 27.9 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday for bridge inspections.

On Wednesday, the right lane of southbound I-75 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to finish the inspections.

The cabinet says there may be delays during the closures and asks motorists to use caution in the work zone. Inclement weather or other circumstances may alter the date and duration of the work.

The work is occurring during Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, when the cabinet urges motorists to use extra caution and slow down in work zones.

SCHOOL BUS-CHILD KILLED

10-year-old hit by school bus dies in southeastern Kentucky

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP) — A southeastern Kentucky sheriff says a 10-year-old boy was hit by his school bus and killed as he returned home from school.

Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said the boy was pronounced dead at the scene Monday afternoon. Harrell said one or both of the child's parents were waiting for him and saw him get hit.

Harrell called the wreck "pure accident" and said the bus driver was distraught afterward and taken to a hospital.

He said the boy cleared the bus but somehow went into the ditch line and came back under the wheels.

The child's name hasn't been released.

Harrell said about 20 other children were on the bus at the time and were returned to their homes.

The wreck happened around 4 p.m. EDT about nine or 10 miles east of Williamsburg.

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER-SALE

Louisville Slugger maker announces deal to sell iconic brand

The company that makes Louisville Slugger bats has announced a deal to sell the iconic brand to rival Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Wilson's deal to acquire the global brand, sales and innovation rights from Louisville Slugger's parent, Hillerich & Bradsby Co., still requires approval by H&B shareholders.

Under terms of the agreement announced Monday, H&B will become Wilson's exclusive manufacturing partner for wood bats. H&B will continue to manufacture wood bats at its factory in Louisville, Kentucky.

Financial details were not immediately announced.

H&B's Bionic Gloves division and Powerbilt golf brand are not part of the deal.

H&B has made Louisville Slugger bats since 1884. H&B CEO John A. Hillerich IV says the decision to sell the brand was difficult, but says the company believes it needs to pursue a new business model.