Kentucky News Now

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-SCOTT

Scott opens race for governor by backing expanded gambling

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Will T. Scott has selected former sheriff Rodney Coffey as his running mate and has endorsed expanding gambling as a way to raise money to meet Kentucky's public pension obligations.

Scott introduced the former Menifee County sheriff as his running mate at a campaign kickoff Tuesday in Louisville.

The ticket matches two eastern Kentuckians, but Scott says his ideas will appeal to voters statewide.

Scott, a Pike County native, endorsed a constitutional amendment legalizing casino-style gambling. He said most of the money should be earmarked to pay down the state's unfunded pension liabilities.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear made expanded gambling a centerpiece of his campaigns but has been unable to get gambling legislation through the General Assembly.

Scott also made a pitch for charter schools in his announcement.

SAME-SEX DIVORCE

Ky. judge grants divorce to same-sex couple

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A judge in Kentucky has granted a divorce to a same-sex couple despite the fact the state doesn't recognize gay marriage.

The Courier-Journal reports the ruling by Jefferson Family Court Judge Joseph O'Reilly is the first of its kind in the state.

The case involves Alysha Romero and Rebecca Sue Romero, who were legally married in Massachusetts.

Lawyers argued that the women should be able to divorce in Kentucky, where they live now, instead of having to move back to Massachusetts.

O'Reilly said in his ruling that not allowing the divorce would violate a guarantee in the state constitution that all people should be treated as equals.

The ruling comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to hear any gay marriage cases.

COAL MINE SAFETY

New federal rule seeks to reduce machine-related coal deaths

PRINCETON, Ind. (AP) — Federal mine safety officials have issued a new rule aimed at reducing crushing and pinning deaths caused by mining machinery.

The rule requires coal-digging machines called continuous miners to be fitted with a sensor system that can shut off the digger if a miner gets too close.

U.S. Assistant Labor Secretary Joe Main visited a mine in southern Indiana on Tuesday to see a demonstration of the safety technology, which is called a proximity detector. The detectors are already in use at the Alliance Resource Partners Gibson North mine that Main visited.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration says 35 miners have been crushed or pinned to death by the mining machines since 1984. The new rule takes effect March 16.

RAND PAUL

Paul, Booker will continue push for sentencing reform

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A pair of unlikely allies in the U.S. Senate said they will continue to push the new Republican majority to allow juveniles charged with nonviolent crimes to expunge their criminal records.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke via video conference to a forum at Sullivan University on Tuesday about the Redeem Act the pair sponsored last year.

Paul, who is likely to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2016, said the country's criminal justice system does not treat everyone the same and the result is convicted felons are often denied the opportunity to vote and work.

Booker said he was fortunate to serve in the Senate with Paul and hoped the two could convince Congress to pass the law.

ARMY REDUCTIONS

Agency urges attendance at Fort Campbell meeting

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky agency is urging people to attend a meeting this month at Fort Campbell where Army officials will take public comment on possible personnel cuts.

The community listening session is set for Jan. 20 at Fort Campbell's Family Resource Center.

The Kentucky New Era reports the Pennyrile Area Development District is asking community leaders and residents to attend the meeting in support of the sprawling post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.

Officials in Clarksville, Tennessee, have also urged area residents to attend and show support for the post.

To meet smaller operating budgets, the Army is projecting a nationwide reduction in personnel strength from 490,000 to 450,000, and possibly as low as 420,000. The reductions would affect both military and civilian positions.

CHURCH ABUSE

Retired priest denied shock probation

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — A judge has denied shock probation for a former western Kentucky priest who pleaded guilty last year to first-degree sexual abuse in the 1970s.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington denied the request last week from the Rev. Louis Francis Piskula, who is now 75. Shock probation allows inmates to be released after serving one to six months of their sentence.

The case involved a minor under the age of 12 while Piskula was serving at Blessed Mother Catholic Church in Owensboro.

Piskula was priest at several Catholic parishes in Owensboro, Murray, Paducah and Whitesville. He was ordained in 1975 and retired in 2002.

He was sentenced in August to five years in prison after pleading guilty in June.

OFFICER KILLED

Kentucky State Police ask for information in officer death

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — More than 19 months after Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and hit with multiple shotgun blasts, Kentucky State Police are asking again for the public's help in finding his killer.

State police Lt. Jeremy Thompson said at a news conference Tuesday in Bardstown that the lack of an arrest is frustrating for everyone. The Lexington Herald-Leader said Thompson asked the public to come forward with any information that might help solve the case.

He said there is a total of $218,000 in rewards available to anyone who provides information that leads to arrest and conviction.

The 33-year-old officer was shot May 25, 2013, after he stopped to pick up tree limbs on a highway exit ramp.

KENTUCKY MUSEUM DIRECTOR

New director named to the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University has a new director.

He is Brent Bjorkman (BYORK'-man), who has been interim director since August.

Bjorkman is also a clinical assistant professor in the Folk Studies Department at Western and director of the Kentucky Folklife Program.

He has worked around the country in public folklore areas, including as folklife specialist with the Kentucky Folklife Program, associate director of the American Folklore Society and executive director of the Vermont Folklife Center.

Bjorkman is also a member of the American Folklore Society executive board and is an adviser to the Kentucky Oral History Commission.