Kentucky News Now

JAILERS WITHOUT JAILS

41 Ky. counties have jailers but no jails

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has 41 elected county jailers without jails to run.

An inquiry by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and WFPL radio found that the outdated system costs taxpayers nearly $2 million.

Michael Jackson, a National Institute of Corrections program specialist, says Kentucky is the only state with elected jailers.

Jailers with no jails are paid salaries set by county officials with boundaries set by the state of between $20,000 and $70,398. In addition, responsibilities vary from county to county.

Most jailers without jails say they have enough responsibilities to keep them busy full-time, but a few also hold down other jobs.

KCIR and WFPL report that some have suggested merging the jailer's office with that of the sheriff, but the idea hasn't gained traction.

PYONGYANG MARATHON

KSU student wants to run in Pyongyang Marathon

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky State University freshman hopes to do something only a few Americans have done — compete in a 10K (6.2 miles) race in reclusive North Korea.

Duncan Adams, an 18-year-old liberal studies major from Lawrenceburg, says he's crowd-funding to raise money for the Pyongyang Marathon in April, despite heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea following allegations that officials from the Communist country hacked into Sony Pictures prior to its release of a controversial film that pokes fun at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

It would be the first international experience for Adams. It would also be his first competitive race.

Adams says he plans to "casually train" for the event, but is chiefly interested in witnessing the country's massive festivities for its former late-leader Kim Il-sung.

CAB DRIVER SHOT

Police investigate shooting of cab driver in Cincinnati

(Information in the following story is from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati police are investigating the assault and shooting of a Kentucky cab driver who survived an early-morning attack.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports events leading to the shooting began after midnight Saturday when driver Abdninasir Warsame (ab-dee-NAS'-er war-SAHM'-ay) picked up two men in Newport, Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati.

Police say once the cab got to downtown Cincinnati one man got out claiming he was going to get the cab fare while a second man hit Warsame with the butt of his gun and told him to drive.

Police say Warsame was then shot through the chest by the second passenger who then jumped from the moving cab.

An 18-year-old suspect is being held in Hamilton County jail on preliminary charges of aggravated robbery and drug abuse.

SUPERINTENDENT SUSPENDED

Montgomery schools superintendent suspended by board

The superintendent of Montgomery County schools has been suspended by his board, but they have not said why.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the state auditor in Dec. 2013 found school officials made "unreasonable modifications" in hiring Josh Powell's wife as director of special projects. Powell told the paper the hiring was handled properly.

Powell was previously ordered to undergo training after he admitted to "failing to ensure appropriate certification for all those in his employ" when he served as superintendent for Union County schools.

Powell has a hearing with the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board next week.

Wayne Young is an attorney representing Powell. He did not know why Powell was suspended on Wednesday. He also says the board decided not to renew Powell's contract, which ends June 30.

BUDGET

Rare budget changes could impact pensions, cancer research

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Legislative leaders want to make changes to the state's $9.6 billion budget to plug a hole in the state's struggling retirement fund for public school teachers and build a cancer research facility at the University of Kentucky.

Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo filed a bill on Friday that would borrow up to $3.3 billion to help the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System make its monthly $144 million benefit payments. And Republican Senate President Robert Stivers wants to give the University of Kentucky up to $150 million to build a research building for its Markey Cancer Center in a state that has one of the highest cancer rates in the country.

Each proposal would require a 60 percent vote to pass.

NEWSPAPER APOLOGY

Elizabethtown newspaper apologizes for made-up quote

(Information in the following story is from: The News-Enterprise, http://www.thenewsenterprise.com)

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — The News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown has fired two people, issued a retraction and apologized to the local sheriff after it attributed a statement to him that he never made.

The paper reported Thursday on page A1 that Hardin County Sheriff John Ward says people go into law enforcement "because they have a desire to shoot minorities." It has since corrected the story headlined "Law enforcement to be honored for service."

According to an apology by Editor Ben Sheroan the statement was added during the editing process and the people involved have been fired. The reporter was not responsible for the mistake, and the sheriff says nothing like what was reported.

Sheroan says he and his staff "share the outrage and disgust" expressed by many in the community at the error.