Kentucky News Now – February 16th 2016

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Study adds to debate over bill to push back start of school

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Supporters of legislation to push back the opening date for many Kentucky school districts are pointing to a study claiming the early return to school costs the state millions of dollars.

The Lexington Herald-Leader says the travel industry commissioned the study to support a bill to prevent districts from starting classes before late August. Many districts resume school in early August, cutting nearly of month of potential business for the travel industry.

Sen. Chris Girdler of Somerset is sponsoring the bill, which would set the opening date for schools no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26.

Some groups are opposed to the legislation. Kentucky Education Association spokesman Charles Main says the bill would take away the flexibility for school districts to set their own dates for starting school.

VALENTINE'S DAY-WEDDINGS

Couples marry in Valentine's Day speed weddings

(Information in the following story is from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com )

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — Romance was in full bloom as three couples were married in speed weddings in what's become a Valentine's Day tradition in Paducah.

The Paducah Sun reports each wedding took about 10 minutes with retired McCracken Circuit Judge Jeff Hines officiating.

The weddings took place at Paducah's River Discovery Center near the Kentucky city's riverfront.

Julie Harris, the center's executive director, says the weddings have become a Valentine's Day tradition and include both new marriages and vow renewals. The speed weddings were scheduled for the fourth year in a row.

The first couple, Megan Ross and Kody Keeling, married after more than five years of dating. They decided to do something simple to say "I do." The newlyweds said they didn't have a lot of money for a big wedding.

KENTUCKY SENATE

Health care, economy focus of Paul's town hall events

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul says he will help Gov. Matt Bevin get a waiver from the federal government this summer to begin charging Medicaid recipients for their health insurance.

That will be part of Paul's message this week as he visits 18 cities in four days, his first major trip in Kentucky since ending his presidential campaign. The town hall-style events begin in Scottsville on Tuesday and end in Radcliff on Saturday. Paul has had similar trips in recent months, but this time he won't be dogged by questions about his other campaign.

Paul is favored to again win the Republican nomination, where he could face Democrat Jim Gray in the fall. The Lexington mayor is the most well-known of the seven Democrats vying for the nomination.

RABBIT HASH-FIRE

Rebuilding Rabbit Hash General Store could be long process

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

BURLINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Supporters of the Rabbit Hash General Store say it could be a long process to rebuild the approximately 185-year-old landmark following a fire.

The clapboard store in northern Kentucky was destroyed by the Saturday night fire.

Bobbi Kayser, a member of the Rabbit Hash Historical Society Board of Directors, tells The Kentucky Enquirer the store was insured, but officials don't know how much of the damage will be covered.

The Rabbit Hash Historical Society is an all-volunteer organization that only receives money via donations. Kayser says most of its money was depleted after a July landslide damaged a building on the property.

The historical society's vice president, Don Clare, says the rebuilding will have to be done with care to preserve the building's status on the National Register of Historic Places.

TRIPLE HOMICIDE

Man arrested in triple homicide in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville police say they've arrested a man in the deaths of three people found at a home.

Media outlets report 26-year-old George Slaughter was arrested at an apartment late Saturday and charged with three counts of murder and tampering with physical evidence. His hometown wasn't released.

Police spokeswoman Alicia Smiley says the victims were found early Saturday while officers were responding to reports of a shooting.

She says the officers found two men and one woman dead inside the home. Smiley says police believe one of the victims may have lived in the home. The victims' names weren't released.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENTER

Groundbreaking set next month on Owensboro college's center

(Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com )

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Ground is scheduled to be broken next month on the final phase of Owensboro Community & Technical College's long-delayed Advanced Technology Center.

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports a ceremony is scheduled March 4 in Owensboro for the center that is scheduled to open for classes in fall 2017.

The project was first proposed in 1996 when community leaders asked then-Gov. Paul Patton for funding. But construction didn't begin until 2006 on the project's 65,000-square-foot first phase and it was completed two years later.

The $12 million second phase of the project required $3 million in local funding, plus $500,000 for equipment.