Kentucky News Now – August 3rd 2015

BODY FOUND

Body of man found in Nicholas County lake

(Information in the following story is from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com)

CARLISLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities believe they've discovered the body of a man who went missing in Lake Carnico in Nicholas County.

A man was reported missing on Saturday. Rescue crews searched the lake until late Saturday night, then resumed early Sunday. Officials say the body of a man was discovered around 11:30 a.m.

His name has not been released.

Witnesses said a man swam out into the lake to get an inner tube, started to bob up and down, and then disappeared into the water.

Lake Carnico is a 114-acre reservoir that was constructed in 1962.

FANCY FARM-SEXUAL HARASSMENT

GOP looks to sexual harassment settlement for advantage

FANCY FARM, Ky. (AP) — Republicans are using a $400,000 state payment to settle sexual harassment claims in their campaign to wrest control of the governor's mansion and state House of Representatives from Democrats.

The Legislative Research Commission approved the settlement in June after two state employees said former Democratic Rep. John Arnold touched them inappropriately and said Democratic Rep. Johnny Bell fired one of them in retaliation for filing a lawsuit. A third employee said Democratic Rep. Will Coursey demoted her after she complained about some inappropriate comments. All three have denied the allegations.

Republican nominee for governor Matt Bevin used the settlement to criticize House Majority Caucus chairwoman Sannie Overly, who is also the running mate for Democratic nominee for governor Jack Conway. Overly declined to answer questions about the settlement.

HOSPITAL LOCKDOWN

Hospital patient not believed to pose a health risk

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A spokeswoman for Kentucky's health department says a patient being treated for an undisclosed illness at a hospital is not believed to pose a risk to the public's health.

The emergency room at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville was locked down Saturday as the hospital evaluated a patient for what officials called a potential public health risk. Hospital spokesman Jeremy Cocanougher said Saturday afternoon the hospital did not have definitive information "that would either rule in or rule out that there is a risk to the community." He did not disclose the nature of the illness or the identity of the patient.

Later Saturday, Gwenda Bond, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said the patient likely does not pose a threat to the public.

FANCY FARM-DOWN BALLOT

AG candidates take hard-hitting campaign to Fancy Farm

FANCY FARM, Ky. (AP) — Democrat Andy Beshear and Republican Whitney Westerfield are taking their hard-hitting campaign for attorney general to Kentucky's biggest political stage at the Fancy Farm picnic.

Beshear on Saturday told the shouting crowd he has a record of winning complex cases as an attorney, while his opponent's law practice included debt-collecting cases. Westerfield said his prosecutorial background prepared him for the job, and said Beshear would need on-the-job training.

The attorney general's race highlighted speeches by down-ballot candidates.

Beshear is the son of Gov. Steve Beshear. Westerfield, a state senator, said it makes no sense to elect another Beshear.

Andy Beshear poked fun at Westerfield for a personnel file that suggested as a young prosecutor, the Republican sometimes put personal interests including pedicures ahead of his job.

FANCY FARM-GOVERNOR

Bevin saves jabs for Fancy Farm at annual political picnic

FANCY FARM, Ky. (AP) — Matt Bevin turned Kentucky's famous political circus on its head on Saturday by ignoring his Democratic opponent and saving his jabs for the event itself.

The Republican nominee for governor criticized the politician speaking at the 135th annual Fancy Farm picnic as childish and celebrating divisions. The event is a storied tradition in Kentucky politics for pitting political foes against each other in front of hostile crowds in a contest of insults.

Democratic nominee for governor and Fancy Farm veteran Jack Conway attacked Bevin with familiar one-liners not from liberal talking points but from some of the state's most prominent Republican politicians. Bevin famously challenged McConnell in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in 2014 only to lose badly.

Bevin said the jabs will do nothing to solve Kentucky's problems.