Kentucky News Now

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Beshear sets agenda for final year in office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear used his last State of the Commonwealth address to lay out an aggressive agenda for his final year in office that includes a statewide smoking ban, requiring more children to ride in booster seats and protecting heroin users who seek help from minor drug charges.

Beshear has presided over some of the most challenging economic times in recent memory, overseeing more than $1.6 billion in state budget cuts during the economic recession. But the governor sounded a more optimistic note this year, highlighting the state's recent economic successes to set the table for the Democratic Party's nominee for governor.

With Republicans in control of the state Senate and Democrats clinging to an eight-seat majority in the House, Beshear called in prepared text for lawmakers to put aside their partisan affiliations to pass laws that would benefit the state.

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH-HEALTH

Beshear confident Kentucky can pay for Medicaid expansion

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear says hospital Medicaid revenues have jumped $450 million while Kentucky has added more than 5,000 new health services jobs during the first year of the state's embrace of the federal Affordable Care Act.

Beshear touted those numbers in prepared text of his final State of the Commonwealth address as evidence the state will be able to pay for the nearly half-million new people who now have government-funded health insurance through the state's expanded Medicaid program.

The federal government is paying for 100 percent of those new enrollees during the first three years of the expansion. But Kentucky taxpayers will begin paying a portion of the bill in 2017. Beshear said he will release an analysis of the state's Medicaid expansion in the next few weeks.

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH-SMOKING

Beshear urges lawmakers to pass statewide smoking ban

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear used his final State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night to urge lawmakers to pass a statewide workplace smoking ban.

Beshear said in prepared text that Kentucky has one of the highest smoking rates in the country, accounting for about $2 billion in health care costs annually. He noted that two-thirds of states already have smoking bans and half of Kentuckians live in cities and counties with local smoking bans.

Historically, Kentucky farmers owe much of their prosperity to the tobacco crop, which has created a strong tobacco culture in the state. Last year, a statewide smoking ban failed to get a vote in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. But House Speaker Greg Stumbo told reporters Wednesday the body will vote on the ban in 2015.

HEROIN

Senate panel OKs bill to combat heroin use

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill aimed at tackling Kentucky's growing heroin problem has cleared a legislative committee and appears on a fast track in the state Senate.

The measure advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

The bill would funnel millions of dollars into treatment programs at county jails and community mental health centers to try to free heroin users from addiction.

It calls for tougher punishment for traffickers, who would have to serve at least half their sentences before being eligible for parole.

The bill's supporters included Jessica Tomlin, whose sister died of a heroin overdose. Tomlin says her sister would have benefited from a jail-based treatment program while she was incarcerated.

Senate President Robert Stivers says the bill is scheduled to be voted on in the Senate as soon as Thursday.

LAWMAKER ARRESTED

Kentucky lawmaker charged with DUI

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a Kentucky lawmaker has been charged with driving under the influence after being stopped by a state police officer in Frankfort.

Kentucky State Police Sgt. Michael Webb says Republican Sen. Brandon Smith of Hazard was stopped by the state trooper for speeding at about 9 p.m. EST Tuesday.

Webb said Wednesday that after making contact with Smith, the trooper suspected the senator had been drinking and arrested him on a DUI charge.

Webb says the senator cooperated with the trooper but refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Webb says Smith also was cited for driving 20 mph over the speed limit.

Senate Republican spokeswoman Teresa Hill says Smith declined comment on the matter Wednesday.

Kentucky lawmakers convened their annual legislative session on Tuesday.

HOUSE SPEAKER

Stumbo re-elected Kentucky House Speaker

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Rep. Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg was re-elected to a fourth term as Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Stumbo was the only person nominated and was elected by acclimation. The former state attorney general ousted former Speaker Jody Richards of Bowling Green in 2009 and has held the office ever since.

Richards, who has run for governor twice, was elected Speaker Pro Tem. He replaces Rep. Larry Clark of Louisville, who stepped down after holding the post for 21 years.

After hinting he may run for governor this year, Stumbo told reporters on Tuesday he had no plans to run.

House lawmakers had little work to do on Wednesday while they wait for the Democratic leaders to make committee assignments.

CONGRESS RDP-MCCONNELL

McConnell blasts veto threat, asks Obama to work with GOP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says President Barack Obama is obstructing the change American voters want by threatening to veto the first bill introduced in the new, Republican-controlled Senate.

Despite that disagreement over approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, McConnell held out hope Wednesday that Republicans could work with Obama on issues such as trade agreements, infrastructure improvements and rewriting tax laws.

In his first major speech since becoming Senate majority leader, the Kentucky Republican held out hope of working with the Democratic president on bigger efforts. He said those included protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security, balancing the budget and whittling away the national debt.

But McConnell says Obama is the only one who can lead Democrats to compromise and get things done.

ARMY REDUCTIONS

Communities make case to stave off cuts at Fort Knox

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Officials and residents from communities that surround Fort Knox have argued to stave off further cuts at the central Kentucky Army post.

The News-Enterprise reports more than 500 people attended a listening session at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center Elizabethtown on Tuesday about possible reductions. The Army has said that the post could lose 4,100 soldier and civilian jobs if maximum cuts are reinstated in 2016.

The Army is taking comments from a total of 30 communities near different installations, including Fort Campbell, before deciding on what cuts to make.

The newspaper reports local officials touted the high quality of life and the community support offered to soldiers based at Fort Knox.

The post lost its only combat brigade, which included 3,000 soldiers, last year.

MUHAMMAD ALI HOSPITALIZED

Boxing great Muhammad Ali released from hospital

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A family spokesman for Muhammad Ali says the boxing great has been released from a hospital after recovering from a severe urinary tract infection.

Ali spokesman Bob Gunnell says the three-time world heavyweight champion is back home after being released from an undisclosed hospital Tuesday night. Ali has been waging a battle with Parkinson's disease for years.

Ali was hospitalized in December with what was initially believed to be a mild case of pneumonia. But Gunnell says doctors later determined that the 72-year-old Ali was suffering from a severe urinary tract infection and not pneumonia.

Gunnell says Ali has fully recovered and is looking forward to celebrating his birthday on Jan. 17 with family and friends.

He says the Ali family appreciates the outpouring of support and well wishes.