Kentucky News Now

GRADUATION RATE

Graduation rate higher in Kentucky than US overall

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Education says the latest figures on statewide graduation rates are in, and Kentucky's rate is higher than the national mark.

The National Center for Education Statistics figures show Kentucky's graduation rate in the 2012-13 school year was 86 percent. The state Department of Education says only nine states have a higher rate and six are tied with Kentucky.

The national rate is 81 percent.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says efforts are being made to keep students in school to help them be better prepared for college or a career. Holliday said in a news release that the college/career-readiness rate of Kentucky students is now 62.4 percent, up from 34 percent in 2010.

KINDERGARTEN READINESS

Tests show half of Ky. kindergarteners not ready for school

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A statewide readiness test has found that half of kindergarten students began class in the fall without having basic skills to help them succeed.

The results released Wednesday were similar to last year's findings.

Education Commissioner Terry Holliday told The Courier-Journal that change "involves a systemic, cultural shift" and that takes time.

The data found wide variations among students depending on their experiences before kindergarten.

Almost 70 percent of those who were in childcare tested as ready while 38 percent of those in a home setting tested as ready. Almost half of those in state-funded preschool or in a Head Start program tested as ready. Students could be listed in more than one category.

GOVERNOR-FORUM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Four of Kentucky's five announced candidates for governor will participate in a forum at the Kentucky Press Association on Friday.

Republicans James Comer, Hal Heiner and Will T. Scott along with Democrat Geoff Young are scheduled to attend the forum moderated by former political reporter Al Cross. Democrat Jack Conway is not coming, citing a scheduling conflict.

The forum starts at 9 a.m. at the Mariott East in Louisville and is scheduled to end by 10:15 a.m. Each candidate will get one minute for an opening statement, followed by questions from Cross and the audience.

Comer, the state agriculture commissioner, officially filed for governor on Thursday. Scott filed last week. Heiner has not filed yet, but is already airing TV commercials.

Candidates have until 4 p.m. on Jan. 27 to file for statewide office.

GOVERNOR-COMER

Comer files for Kentucky governor

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican James Comer has officially filed to run for governor.

The first-term agriculture commissioner has been raising money since September along with running mate state Sen. Chris McDaniel from northern Kentucky. But Thursday marked the official start of his 2015 campaign.

Comer is the second Republican to file for governor following former state Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott. Former Louisville Metro Councilman Hal Heiner also plans to run but has not officially filed yet.

Attorney General Jack Conway and former congressional candidate Geoff Young are the only Democrats to have filed so far. Candidates have until 4 p.m. Jan. 27 to file for statewide office.

TREASURER

Democrat Neville Blakemore files to run for state treasurer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Louisville businessman Neville Blakemore has filed to run for state treasurer as a Democrat.

Blakemore is the chairman of Great Northern Building Products, which sells construction equipment. He has raised more than $200,000 for the May 19 Democratic primary.

Blakemore said he is running for treasurer because the state needs someone with experience running a small business to balance the state's checkbook. While some have proposed eliminating the treasurer's office, Blakemore said it should remain independent with an independent staff so it can hold other public officials accountable.

Blakemore is the fourth person to file for the seat being vacated by Democrat Todd Hollenbach, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Other candidates include Democratic state Rep. Rick Nelson, former Democratic Rep. Richard Henderson and Republican Allison Ball.

MISSING TEENS-CRIME SPREE-MOTHER ARRESTED

Mother of teen found in Florida pleads not guilty

LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (AP) — The mother of one of the two teenage sweethearts from Kentucky who are suspected in a multistate crime spree has pleaded not guilty to custodial interference.

Sherry Peters is accused of taking her daughter, 13-year-old Cheyenne Phillips, from her father's house without custodial rights.

She appeared in court Thursday.

WLKY-TV reports that Peters asked for a bond reduction, but the judge kept bond at $50,000 cash and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. Peters will be assigned a public defender.

Authorities say Phillips was found with her boyfriend, 18-year-old Dalton Hayes, on Saturday night in a stolen truck in Florida.

Hayes agreed to return to Kentucky to face charges, and Phillips will face charges in juvenile court.

LAWMAKER ARRESTED

Attorney: Lawmaker can't be charged with DUI during session

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Prosecutors should dismiss DUI charges against state Sen. Brandon Smith because the state constitution prohibits lawmakers from being arrested during the legislative session, Smith's attorney argued in court papers filed Thursday.

Smith, a Republican from Hazard, was arrested and charged with DUI on Jan. 6, the first day of the 2015 legislative session. According to a citation filed in Franklin County Circuit Court, Smith blew a .088 in a portable breath test. A person is presumed drunk when the alcohol to blood ratio is .08 and above.

Attorney Bill Johnson has filed a motion for the charges to be dismissed because section 43 of the Kentucky Constitution says lawmakers cannot be arrested when the legislature is in session or when they are traveling to and from the Capitol. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12.

MISSING GIRL

Uncle accepts plea deal in 1999 death of Bullitt County girl

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A Bullitt County man has accepted a plea deal in the death of his niece, who disappeared from her driveway more than 15 years ago.

The Courier-Journal reports 56-year-old Stanley Dishon entered an Alford plea Thursday to first-degree manslaughter in the 1999 death of 17-year-old Jessica Dishon. In an Alford plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence for conviction.

He was originally charged with murder.

WLKY-TV said the prosecution recommended a 20-year sentence. Sentencing is in March.

A retired judge mediated the agreement between Bullitt County prosecutor Mike Ferguson and Dishon's attorney, Melanie Foote Hollingsworth.

A neighbor was charged with killing Dishon in 2001 but was freed a couple of years later when a judge declared a mistrial, and the charges were dismissed.

INMATE DEATH

Long-serving Ky. inmate dies behind bars

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky prison inmate has died behind bars after serving 54 years for a 1960 murder conviction in the shooting death of a store clerk.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lisa Lamb told WRDB-TV (http://bit.ly/1BGIy8x) that William Gaines Smith died last month at University Hospital in Louisville.

The station reports he was among the longest-serving inmates in the state when he died at age 76.

He was convicted of killing 62-year-old Olin Alexander, a liquor store clerk in Lexington.

OBIT-WENDELL FORD

Wendell Ford, ex-Kentucky governor, US senator, dies at 90

Wendell Ford, a former governor and U.S. senator who was the dominant figure in Democratic politics in Kentucky for 30 years, has died. He was 90.

Glenn Taylor, president of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory in Owensboro, says Ford died Thursday morning at his home. He said arrangements are pending.

Ford retired in 1998 rather than run for a fifth term in the Senate. He was the Democratic whip, the party's No. 2 leadership post.

He said it was important to represent his constituents' views, including protecting the coal and tobacco industries. Ford was known in some Washington circles as "the Senator from Coal."

Ford once responded to critics by saying: "If they want to criticize me, that's fine. But Kentucky is beautiful women, fast horses, bourbon whiskey, cigarettes and coal. I represent Kentucky, and that's what I represent."