Kentucky News Now – May 12th 2015

ABSENTEE VOTING

More than 5,100 have voted absentee in May 19 primaries

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — More than 5,100 people have already voted in Kentucky's May 19 primaries for governor.

The secretary of state's office said 3,388 people have voted absentee in person and another 1,766 have cast absentee ballots by mail. Another 1,820 absentee ballots have been issued but not returned yet.

Tuesday is the deadline to request mail-in absentee ballots from your local county clerk. For mail-in votes to count, the clerk must receive the ballot by 6 p.m. local time on Election Day. May 18 is the last day to vote absentee in person.

This primary is unusual because while there is an open seat for governor, likely Democratic nominee Jack Conway faces little opposition. Four candidates are seeking the Republican nomination in a tight, contentious race.

MARINE-HAZING

Marine convicted 1 count of hazing; rank is reduced

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A decorated Marine from Kentucky who was accused of humiliating and physically abusing those under his command has been found guilty of one count of hazing.

Officials say Staff Sgt. Dustin A. Barker of Scott, Kentucky, was convicted Thursday in a military court in Norfolk, Virginia, of hazing and dereliction of duty.

Barker was accused of multiple counts of hazing Marines under his command in 2013 at bases in Virginia and in Cuba. But Barker was convicted on only one hazing charge, in which prosecutors said he ordered one Marine to punch another hard enough to make him urinate blood. The incident happened at the Navy's base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Barker was a platoon sergeant with the Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment.

The Marines said Monday that Barker was sentenced on Friday to a reduction in rank, to sergeant.

AIRPORT GUN

Kentucky man cited after gun found in bag at W.Va. airport

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Tri-State Airport police have cited a Kentucky man after a a loaded gun was found in a carry-on bag.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration says the 380-caliber semi-automatic gun was detected by a TSA officer staffing a checkpoint X-ray machine at the airport.

Airport police cited the Catlettsburg, Kentucky, man on weapons charges and confiscated the gun.

The TSA said Monday in a news release that the man told officers a relative put the gun in the bag. The man said he didn't know the gun was in the bag.

The incident occurred on Saturday.

POLICE SHOOTING

Suspect's family contacted law enforcement before chase

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Before a Bardstown man allegedly stole a pickup truck and rammed three police cruisers in a Mother's Day chase, authorities say his family had contacted law enforcement to express concern about the man's mental condition.

The 25-year-old suspect was shot during the confrontation Sunday and is in intensive care at University of Louisville Hospital.

Three officers suffered minor injuries. All four involved are white.

Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin said Monday the suspect smashed a vehicle into a Bardstown auto dealership and stole the pickup. McCubbin said the chase began when the suspect drove erratically and yelled at an officer.

Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly says his office was contacted by the suspect's family within 24 hours before the incident.

Mattingly says the suspect was clam, coherent and showed no aggression when deputies interviewed him.

VETERANS' SCHOLARSHIP

Murray State creates scholarship specifically for veterans

MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Murray State University has created its first scholarship specifically designed to support veteran students.

The Paducah Sun reports the scholarship, named Operation Graduation, will become available starting with the fall 2016 semester and will help recipients offset the cost of textbooks.

Chris Jeter, assistant registrar for Veterans Affairs, says some veterans receive financial assistance for textbooks depending on their G.I. Bill benefits, but it rarely covers the full cost. He says every student who is a veteran will be eligible to apply for the scholarship once it begins.

Operation Graduation is another step for Murray State as it continues to build a veteran-friendly campus. For 2015, USNews.com placed the university sixth on its list of Best Colleges for Veterans-South region.

WORKER KILLED

Worker killed at Louisville aluminum plant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville Metro Police say a worker at an aluminum plant has been killed in an accident.

Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell told media the victim suffered blunt force trauma to the head on Monday morning while attempting to retrieve equipment from a machine inside Cardinal Aluminum. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mitchell said the accident occurred in an area where painting takes place. The worker's name was not immediately released.

Police and a crew from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

ELK TRANSFER-TICK DISEASE

5 Kentucky elk brought to Wisconsin die of tick disease

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says five elk recently transferred to the state from Kentucky have died from a tick-borne disease.

The agency said Monday the elk died last month in a quarantine pen in Jackson County. The dead elk included one adult cow, which carried an unborn calf, and four yearlings.

The DNR says the animals died of a disease caused by parasites spread by ticks, including the deer tick.

State wildlife officials presume the elk were bitten by ticks after their arrival in Wisconsin. The dead animals were part of a shipment of 26 elk brought to Wisconsin in late March as part of a reintroduction effort.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the elk are being held until they complete their quarantine, probably in early June.

OBIT-MOREHEAD ST-MULLINS

Morehead State football assistant Mullins, 45, dies

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Morehead State announced that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Craig Mullins has died of cancer. He was 45.

Mullins had spent the past two seasons with the Eagles after 16 years in the same positions at NAIA Georgetown College. He helped the Tigers reach four straight national finals from 1999-2002 with championships in 2000 and 2001. Mullins was chosen AFCA NAIA assistant coach of the year in 2011.

Morehead coach Rob Tenyer said Monday in a release that Mullins "was a humble man with integrity who touched everyone he crossed paths with."

Mullins was a four-year letterman at Georgetown and three-time all-conference selection. He also served as strength coach and was a kinesiology professor.

He is survived by his wife, Heidi, and sons Cade and Coy. Funeral arrangements are pending.