Kentucky News Now

GOP 2016-PAUL-SPEECH

In 2016 kick-off speech, Rand Paul vows to take country back

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kicking off his presidential campaign, Sen. Rand Paul is telling supporters that "we've come to take our country back."

The Kentucky senator on Tuesday formally declared his White House campaign. A tea party favorite and frequent contrarian against his party's establishment, Paul is promising to continue his approach to politics.

During his speech, Paul pledged to scrap "the Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms."

Paul becomes just the second major candidate to declare a presidential bid, but he could face as many as 20 rivals for the GOP nomination. Each is trying to win the right to go head-to-head with Democratic front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Lieutenant governor candidate wants judge to seal deposition

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lieutenant governor candidate Sannie Overly is scheduled to give a deposition this month in a sexual harassment case against a former lawmaker and is asking that her testimony be sealed.

The Democratic state representative from Paris is scheduled to be deposed April 13 by attorney Thomas Clay. Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to consider sealing the deposition.

Clay told the Lexington Herald-Leader he wants to ask Overly about any sexual harassment she might have experienced in the legislature.

Clay represents two women who have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against former state Rep. John Arnold of Sturgis. Arnold has denied any wrongdoing.

Overly did not return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

She is the running mate of Jack Conway, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in May's primary.

GE FIRE

Lawsuit filed over fire at GE's Appliance Park in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A lawsuit has been filed against General Electric over a fire at its Appliance Park last week.

The Courier-Journal says the lawsuit was filed Monday in Jefferson County Circuit Court by a resident who lives near the complex and claims the company was negligent in storing flammable material in its warehouse.

The lawsuit also says residents affected by the order to stay inside suffered harm from "noxious plumes of black smoke" and "excessive amounts of particulate matter."

Plaintiff Alex Ruiz lives 1 ½ miles from the building that caught fire Friday. Ruiz is seeking a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all who live with the shelter-in-place area and anyone else affected by the remnants of the fire.

Derby Industries, which leases space from GE, was also named in the suit.

CUSTODY EXCHANGE-SHOOTING

Man who shot after custody exchange says it was self-defense

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A man who shot his sister's ex-boyfriend after a custody exchange at the Bowling Green police station says he did it in self-defense.

WBKO-TV reports Timothy Woodard's attorney told the station that after the custody exchange on Sunday evening, the two cars pulled out of the parking lot. Then Kenneth Marshall, of Clarksville, Tennessee, jumped out of his car and started charging the car with Woodard and his sister. That's when Woodard fired.

Woodard, of Bowling Green, is being held at the Warren County Jail on a $10,000 bond. He currently is charged with assault.

Marshall told police a different story. He said he exchanged no words with Woodard and the shooting was unprovoked.

Marshall was listed in stable condition at The Medical Center.

The investigation is ongoing.

TENNESSEE WHISKEY WAR

Jack Daniel's turns back 2nd 'Tennessee Whiskey' challenge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jack Daniel's has turned back the latest challenge to a state law that determines which spirits can be marketed as "Tennessee Whiskey."

On Tuesday, Republican state Sen. Ed Jackson, of Jackson, withdrew without debate his bill that sought to repeal the law passed at the behest of Jack Daniel's in 2013.

The subsidiary of Louisville, Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corp. is by far dominant player in the field, producing 11.5 million case of its Old No. 7 brand in 2014. By contrast, the next largest producer, George Dickel, makes about 130,000 cases per year.

Some smaller distillers have chafed at the laws' requirement to filter spirits through charcoal and store it in unused oak barrels in order to label them Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniel's says the law ensures minimum quality standards.

CANADIAN-HALL OF FAME

Derby winner Mine That Bird elected to Canada Hall of Fame

TORONTO (AP) — Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird tops the class of 2015 elected to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

The 2009 Derby winner was bred in Kentucky by Canadian Peter Lamantia and partners. The horse was purchased as a yearling by trainer Dave Cotey for $9,500 on behalf of owners Dominion Bloodstock, Derek Ball and Hugh Galbraith.

Mine That Bird was Canada's 2-year-old champion in 2008 after winning four of five starts. Later in '08, he was sold to Mark Allen and Leonard Blach of New Mexico. After winning the Derby at 50-1 odds, Mine That Bird was second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes.

The horse won five times in 18 career starts and earned more than $2.2 million.

Other inductees announced Tuesday were jockey Stewart Elliott, trainer Roger Laurin, Bob M. Anderson (builder category) and broadcaster Jim Bannon. Elected in the Standardbred category were horses Artsplace and J Cs Nathalie, H. Charles Armstrong (builder), journalist Harry Eisen and driver-trainer Bill Gale.

The induction ceremony is Aug. 5.