AIRPORT PASSENGERS

Airport sees increase in passengers in 2014

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

HEBRON, Ky. (AP) — For the first time in almost a decade, there's been an increase in the number of passengers flying through the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports the airport had nearly 6 million passengers catch flights in and out of the airport last year. In 2013, it recorded 5.5 million passengers.

It is the airport's first increase in total fliers since Delta Air Lines' massive downsizing began in 2005. According to the newspaper, the airport had 22.5 million who caught flights in and out of the airport that year.

Airport officials say it is an indication that their plan to add low-cost flights and become a multi-carrier facility is starting to work.

REPLICA STORE

Barren County man creates store's replica

LUCAS, Ky. (AP) — When Larry Mesker was a boy, he went with his family to a general store near Temple Hill in eastern Barren County.

The store housed a pot belly stove, an old-time popcorn popper and shelves filled with a variety of items.

The trips were always fun for young Mesker. So when it came time for him to find a place to store his collection of antiques, he decided to build a replica of the old general store he visited as a child.

The store was built in phases, with the main structure finished three years ago, followed by the feed room a year later.

Mesker is currently building an outhouse adjacent to the store.

WENDELL FORD-MEMORIAL

Hundreds gather to mourn former Sen. Wendell Ford

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Hundreds of mourners filled the state Capitol on Sunday to remember the late U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford as a champion of the common man.

Ford died Thursday at his home in Owensboro. He was 90. He is the only Kentuckian to win consecutive terms as lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. Senator.

Ford's funeral is Tuesday, but Sunday at least five governors, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a host of other state and local elected officials attended a public memorial service.

Thomas L. Preston, Ford's senior adviser when he was governor, delivered the eulogy that emphasized Ford's belief that government exists for the sole purpose of serving people.

Ford's body lied in state in the Capitol rotunda for several hours on Sunday. His funeral will be in Owensboro.

TROOPER SHORTAGE

State police has trooper shortage

(Information in the following story is from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com)

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police is about 100 troopers short of its authorized staffing level, due in part to retirements and challenges in finding recruits.

The agency currently has 910 troopers, including 69 new trainees that graduated last week.

Trooper Paul Blanton at state police headquarters in Frankfort told The Messenger Inquirer a recent cadet class had 63 graduates, but there were 62 trooper retirements during the cadet training period.

Blanton says there are also challenges in recruiting eligible applicants, and readying a new cadet class takes a long time.

He says some applicants, like those who have visible tattoos, get disqualified at the start. Still others who become troopers leave the KSP for other law enforcement agencies.

DEADLY MARINE CRASH

2 Marines identified in deadly California helicopter crash

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (AP) — The Marines Corps has identified two pilots killed when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Southern California.

The Marines said Sunday that Capt. Elizabeth Kealey and 1st Lt. Adam Satterfield died from their injuries in the crash Friday at the Twentynine Palms Marine base.

The pilots were the only two people onboard the UH-1Y Huey helicopter.

Lt. Col. James M. Isaacs, commanding officer of their squadron, says the two were outstanding officers and talented pilots.

Kealey, 32, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in 2005 and had earned several awards and medals. She was deployed once in Afghanistan. Satterfield, 25, of Oldham, Kentucky, was commissioned in 2011 and supported training operations in Southern California.

Both pilots were based at Camp Pendleton.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

LRC AUDIT

Stumbo to push for release of LRC audit report

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

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he will push for the release of a nine-month-old performance audit of the Legislative Research Commission.

Stumbo said Friday that he's asking LRC leaders in the House and Senate to put the audit's release on the agenda for their Feb. 4 meeting.

He was responding to an Open Records Act request filed this week by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

A firm was hired last year to audit the agency's performance in response to several scandals, including sexual harassment complaints that forced the resignation of state Rep. John Arnold.

A report from the audit company came in April, but legislative leaders have refused to release it. Leaders have called that report a draft, making it exempt from the Open Records Act.

 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

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