Kentucky News Now

GAY MARRIAGE-STATE COURT

Central Kentucky judge rejects state's gay marriage ban

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Franklin County judge has ruled in favor of two same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses but put his ruling on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court considers a similar challenge.

Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate on Thursday ruled that Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage violates the right to equal protection.

Oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court case are set for April 28; in the meantime, Wingate's ruling is on hold. The Supreme Court case challenges marriage bans in Kentucky and three other states.

A federal district judge in Louisville struck down the state's marriage ban last year but was overturned by a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, setting up the Supreme Court appeal.

The case before Wingate involved two Lexington couples who were denied marriage licenses by the Fayette County clerk in 2013.

KENTUCKY DERBY-SELFIE STICKS

Coming to the Kentucky Derby? Leave selfie sticks at home

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — For the 160,000 people crammed into Churchill Downs on Derby Day, picture-taking can run neck-and-neck with betting and sipping mint juleps amid a winning field of photo opportunities.

But this year, they'd better not use selfie sticks.

The iconic Louisville track hosting the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2 has banned the pole-like contraptions that allow people a longer reach to snap their self-portraits. Churchill joins a growing list of museums, music festivals and sports venues around the world that are doing so.

Track spokesman John Asher says it's a safety measure to protect the horses and the massive crowd gathered on Derby Day.

WITNESS KILLED

Louisville man sentenced to 35 years in witness slaying

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville man convicted of murder for his role in the death of a woman who was supposed to be a witness against his brother has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Media report 33-year-old Dejuan Hammond was sentenced Thursday in Jefferson County Circuit Court. He was convicted in December in the 2009 death of Troya Sheckles. Hammond maintained his innocence and told Sheckles' family, "I pray one day that you roll away the stones and see how this dark system has failed us."

Judge Angela Bisig called the murder "heinous and cowardly" because Sheckles was targeted for being a witness.

Prosecutors charged that Hammond hired a 16-year-old to kill Sheckles to save his brother, who was charged with capital murder. Defense lawyers argued that officials threatened key witnesses into lying about Hammond to reduce punishment in their own cases.

GOP 2016-KELLEY PAUL

Kelley Paul plans quiet role in husband Rand's 2016 campaign

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Kelley Paul says she'll use her background as a political consultant to provide behind-the-scenes support to husband Rand's 2016 Republican presidential bid.

She said in an interview in South Carolina on Thursday she doesn't plan to have a front office at campaign headquarters but to help her husband with speechwriting and getting his message out.

Kelley Paul sat down with The Associated Press in Charleston during her first solo campaign swing to early-voting South Carolina. She's also promoting her recent book.

The mother of three has long supported Rand Paul's political operation in significant if not always visible ways. But in recent months she's been thrust into a far more public role.

Rand Paul, a Kentucky senator, announced his candidacy last week.

JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME

6 inducted into Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Six new members have been inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Lexington.

Inductees include Ed Reinke, a photographer for The Associated Press in Kentucky for more than 25 years, and WLKY-TV investigative reporter and weekend anchor Steve Burgin. Other inductees were Judy Jenkins, Jeffrey Marks, Mark Neikirk and Landon Wills.

Jenkins was a reporter and columnist for The Gleaner in Henderson.

Marks worked at WHAS-TV and radio before becoming president and general manager of WDBJ Television in Roanoke, Virginia.

Neikirk was with The Cincinnati Post/The Kentucky Post before becoming executive director of the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement at Northern Kentucky University.

Wills was owner, publisher and editor of the McLean County News from 1946 to 1972.

Reinke, Jenkins and Wills were honored posthumously.

EASTERN KENTUCKY-SUSPENSIONS

Eastern Kentucky suspends players from January bar fight

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Eastern Kentucky athletic director Steve Lochmueller has suspended players involved in a January bar fight with players from the University of Kentucky that left an EKU player injured.

The release on Thursday did not specify which players were disciplined from the Jan. 25 incident at Jerzee's, near EKU's Richmond campus, but said their futures at the school will be determined by its Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Lochmueller said in the statement that the school holds students to a high standard and added, "this type of behavior will not be tolerated."

Jeff Scurry, the father of sophomore offensive lineman Colton Scurry, told the Courier-Journal in Louisville that his son was injured in the brawl.

A Madison County grand jury last week declined to indict anyone involved in the fight.