Kentucky News Now – June 22nd 2015

BODY FOUND

Police investigating body found in Bullitt County

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

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Shepherdsville police are investigating the body of a man found on an exit ramp off Interstate 65 in Bullitt County.

According to WKYT-TV, Bullitt County 911 began receiving calls around 3 p.m. on Saturday about injuries near the rest area of mile marker 112 on I-65.

When officers arrived, they found a white male lying on the ramp with multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified the man as 45-year-old Aaron Michael Jerrell of Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Police say they're conducting a homicide investigation.

A person who was at the scene is being questioned.

GAY MARRIAGE-PLAINTIFF

Lead plaintiff ready to help if marriage ruling goes his way

CINCINNATI (AP) — If the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, the lead plaintiff in the historic case says he'll be able to help out with the expected surge of couples wanting to wed.

Jim Obergefell (OH'-burk-uh-fel) of Cincinnati says he has gotten ordained online in preparation. He says he wanted to be able to offer to perform marriages for others as "a nod" to his own proposal to his partner immediately after the high court's 2013 ruling that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.

He and his dying partner, John Arthur, were unable to wed in their home state because of Ohio's 2004 ban, so Arthur's aunt got ordained and officiated their wedding in a medically equipped plane on a Maryland tarmac.

Arthur died three months later, and shortly after, Obergefell began the legal challenge titled James Obergefell, et al, v. Richard Hodges, et al, that is before the high court. (Hodges is the director of the Ohio Department of Health.)

Obergefell, a real estate salesman, has been in Washington awaiting the decision. If the court rules for same-sex marriage, he said recently by email, "I imagine I'll be out celebrating."

GAY MARRIAGE-GETTING READY

Couples, officials, foes readying for US gay marriage ruling

CINCINNATI (AP) — Gay couples are making wedding plans despite home-state bans. Marriage license bureaus are staffing up for potential rushes. And opponents of same-sex marriage are exploring their options as the nation awaits a decisive ruling from the Supreme Court.

The justices are expected to announce their decision any day now. If they rule against state laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, couples in states where same-sex marriage is banned say they're ready to end their wait.

One Cincinnati couple plans to head immediately to the courthouse. A Tennessee pastor plans to perform multiple weddings within days.

License bureaus say they're preparing for anything. And opponents say they will continue to defend their definition of traditional marriage.

CANCER-PLANT RESEARCH

Biologist looks at plants in cancer battle

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

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — An assistant professor of biology at Western Kentucky University-Owensboro is looking at the use of plants in the battle against cancer.

Chandra Emani told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer that he hopes to find a potential cure for the disease using plant-based medicines.

Currently, he and his research team are working with basil, ginger, neem and tobacco.

He said those particular plants have metabolites in them, which have been shown to have some action against cancer.

Emani said individual extracts from the plants have been tested. He said those are being tested against pancreatic, colon, lung, cervical and breast cancers and "we saw they have an action across the board."

FATAL CRASH

2 killed in tractor-trailer accident identified using DNA

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities have identified the driver and passenger of a tractor-trailer killed when the rig struck a bridge support column on an eastern Pennsylvania interstate earlier this month.

The Lehigh County coroner's office said 42-year-old Virgil Perry and 38-year-old Sharon Newsome of Tomahawk, Kentucky, were killed in the June 1 crash.

Authorities said Perry was driving the tractor-trailer on Interstate 78 in Upper Saucon Township on June 1. Police said the truck hit the center median and then a support under the Route 309/Route 145 overpass before catching fire.

Authorities said another truck then struck the first one, but that driver was uninjured.

The coroner's office said that because of the condition of the remains, DNA testing was required to make positive identification of the victims.

JUDGE SUSPENDED

Kentucky judge faces 15-day suspension

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

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — A northern Kentucky judge is facing a 15-day suspension from the bench for misconduct.

The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission says Campbell County District Judge Gregory T. Popovich violated five canons of the state Code of Judicial Conduct. The commission issued its findings Thursday.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports the charges stem from a DUI case. During a 2014 status hearing in the case, the judge said it appeared the assistant prosecutor, Cameron J. Blau, was helping the defense with its case. The incident was recorded on video.

The statements in open court occurred when Popovich was locked in a tight re-election race with Blau.

An attorney for Popovich, Mark Arnzen, says the judge disagrees with the commission's decision and is evaluating whether to appeal.

SEWAGE OVERFLOWS-FINE

MSD pays $228,000 fine for sewage discharges

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Metropolitan Sewer District quietly paid a $228,000 fine earlier this year for illegal sewage discharges as part of its ongoing program to curb overflows into local waterways.

Jeff Cummins, director of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Division of Enforcement, says the enforcement action covered 389 violations totaling 3.6 million gallons of spills, discharges or overflows.

The Courier-Journal reports that half of the fine in February went to the state of Kentucky and the other half went to the U.S. government. The Louisville newspaper says it learned of the penalty on Friday, after filing an open records request.

The penalty is the latest in a string of enforcement actions under a 2005 legal agreement that was updated in 2009 and runs for 19 years.