Kentucky News Now

IN GOD WE TRUST

'In God We Trust' signs now hang in Capitol meeting rooms

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State lawmakers will debate legislation in committees next year beneath "In God We Trust" signs.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports state officials hung the new signs in 11 committee rooms in the Capitol and Capitol Annex, where legislators have offices and meeting rooms. Legislators approved the signs in March.

The ACLU of Kentucky and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State are not happy about the signs, but say there is little chance a judge would order them removed.

President Dwight Eisenhower established "In God We Trust" as the country's national motto in 1956. The slogan has appeared on U.S. currency since 1864. The motto is also displayed in the state House and Senate chambers.

FATAL CRASH

1 dead, 3 injured in fiery Madison County crash

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say one person was killed and three others injured after a fiery crash on Interstate 75 in Madison County.

According to WKYT-TV, a car crossed a median on Saturday and struck a van, which caught fire.

Deputies who arrived on the scene say the driver of the van was still inside of the vehicle while it was burning.

Authorities say the van's driver, a male, was taken to University of Kentucky Medical Center where he later died from severe burns. A mother and two children from the car were also taken to the hospital.

Officials say the mother and a 12-year-old suffered life threatening injuries, while a 5-year-old was treated for minor injuries.

No names have been released. Authorities say the crash is still under investigation.

FATAL SHOOTING

Argument between neighbors results in fatal shooting

RUSSELL SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say a 19-year-old man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his neighbor in Russell County.

State police said Saturday that 34-year-old Jason Adam Willis was killed in the pre-dawn shooting.

Police say Willis and his neighbor, Trevor Robertson, became involved in an argument, and Robertson retrieved a shotgun from his residence. Police say Robertson shot at Willis, striking him in the upper torso. Willis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say Robertson was arrested and charged with murder. He was being held in the Russell County Detention Center.

Police did not say what sparked the argument and say the investigation is continuing.

PIPELINE FIGHT

Central Ky. residents worry over pipeline's possible use

(Information in the following story is from: The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger, http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews)

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Residents and local officials are seeking answers about a plan to reuse an existing Kentucky pipeline to transport highly flammable liquids.

Federal regulators are considering the proposal to repurpose a 1,000-mile pipeline that runs from Ohio to the Gulf Coast. The pipeline would convert from carrying oil and natural gas to natural gas liquids.

The pipeline traverses 18 counties in Kentucky, including 20 miles in Boyle County.

The Advocate-Messenger in Danville reports officials in Danville are planning a workshop next month and have invited federal officials and the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney says he hopes the workshop will provide information about the complicated topics of fracking and the transportation of natural gas liquids.

PLAYHOUSE DISPUTE

Lexington neighborhood association sued in playhouse dispute

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Federal officials are accusing a Kentucky neighborhood association of discriminating and retaliating against a family that built a therapeutic playhouse for their son who has cerebral palsy.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the Justice Department sued the Andover Forest Homeowners Association in Lexington and EMG Management Services, which is hired by the homeowners association to manage the neighborhood.

The lawsuit claims the defendants violated the federal Fair Housing Act by failing to make reasonable accommodations for George and Tiffiney Veloudis and their toddler son.

Nathan Billings, a lawyer for the homeowners association, says his client hasn't seen the lawsuit. But Billings says they are confident the complaint will be dismissed once a judge hears the facts.

Trip Redford, a lawyer for EMG, says his client has not seen the complaint and declined comment.

AIR BOARD-PENALTY

Rubbertown chemical plant fined by local air board

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A chemical plant in Louisville's Rubbertown district has agreed to pay a $27,000 penalty to the Metro Air Pollution Control District.

The Courier-Journal reports that district officials brought the enforcement action against American Synthetic Rubber Co. after documenting excess releases of butadiene and toluene on several occasions in the last four years.

District documents show that included 1,130 pounds of butadiene that leaked during a malfunction of pollution controls in January 2010, and 7,205 pounds of butadiene that leaked in January 2014, due to a problem caused by cold weather.

The district also alleged the company failed to repair leaking equipment in a timely manner, and failed to follow proper reporting procedures.

The company does not admit to any wrongdoing, according to its agreed order with the air pollution board

YAK FARM

Yaks take up residence in Menifee County

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

WELLINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has more beef cattle than any state east of the Mississippi River. But there's a new bovine in the Bluegrass thanks to a Menifee County man raising yaks, those shaggy pack animals from Asia.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Greg Dike tends to 44 yaks on 32 acres. He says they have the potential to supplement the incomes of small farmers who don't have a lot of acreage.

Half the herd belongs to him; the rest belong to a joint-venture partner in Ohio who will market meat from the yaks that Dike raises. They hope to sell yak steaks directly to specialty restaurants in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

Raising yaks is a sideline for Dike, who is executive director of the Habitat for Humanity office in Morehead.