Kentucky News Now – May 13th 2015

FELONY CASES-PROJECT

Report: Felony cases program speeds up court process time

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A preliminary report shows felony cases going through a new Jefferson County court program are being resolved more quickly compared to those that are going through the old program.

The Courier-Journal reports that Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine will update council members on Thursday about the pilot project, which is designed to reduce court process time, jail overcrowding and other legal costs.

Last fall, the city received a grant for approximately $334,000 to fund the two-year program.

With the grant, two prosecutors and a paralegal in Wine's office were hired to handle the felonies in two district courtrooms rather than at the circuit court level.

Preliminary findings show "rocket docket" cases — where defendants sign a guilty plea agreement — were resolved a week earlier than those not in the program.

RAND PAUL SON-DUI

Rand Paul's son pleads guilty to DUI in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The son of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.

News media outlets report that William Hilton Paul entered the plea Tuesday in a Kentucky district court. The reports also say the University of Kentucky senior was ordered to pay $718 in fines and court fees and attend a safe-driving program. His license will be suspended for 45 days.

Rand Paul is seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

William Paul was charged in 2013 with underage drinking, disorderly conduct and simple assault against a female flight attendant. Those charges were dropped. Later that year, he was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol at Keeneland Race Course.

A campaign spokesman said in an email that Paul doesn't comment on private family matters.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER DEATHS

2 charged in 2013 deaths of mother, daughter in Perry County

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — Two eastern Kentucky men have been charged in the deaths more than two years ago of a woman and her daughter, whose bodies were found after their home burned.

Kentucky State Police said 32-year-old Matthew S. Minks of Happy, Kentucky, was charged with two counts of murder and 30-year-old Ronnie M. Everage of Hazard was charged with two counts of complicity to commit murder.

Police said an armed robbery investigation Monday in Hazard produced information that led to the arrests.

They are charged in the deaths of 64-year-old Sandra K. Melton and 35-year-old Suzy Melton, both of the Scuddy community of Perry County. Police said the Meltons' bodies were found Jan. 13, 2013, in the debris of a fire at their residence, and both deaths were ruled homicides.

CENTURY ALUMINUM-LOCKOUT

Union workers locked out at aluminum smelter

HAWESVILLE, Ky. (AP) — About 570 union workers at an aluminum smelting plant in western Kentucky are locked out after rejecting a final contract offer.

The workers at Century Aluminum's Hawesville plant were locked out Tuesday morning. The Gleaner reports it was the fourth rejection of a contract offer.

The plant was expected to continue operations during the lockout.

United Steelworkers Local 9423 said on its website that on May 4, 84 percent rejected the company's "last, best and final offer." Workers rejected a modified version of that on Monday.

Century vice president for North America Operations John Hoerner says the company negotiated with the union for more than three months.

The union workers at Century's Sebree aluminum smelter ratified a five-year contract in July.

CONWAY-GAS PRICES

Conway: Anti-competitive practices lead to higher gas prices

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has sued Marathon Petroleum Co., accusing the company of anti-competitive practices leading to higher gas prices in the state.

Conway said Tuesday that Marathon's monopoly of wholesale gas supplies has been allowed "to run rampant" in Kentucky.

The company says it disputes the allegations and will vigorously fight the suit in court.

Conway is the front-runner in the state's Democratic primary for governor next week. Conway says the federal lawsuit isn't politically timed, saying he has a duty to act when consumers are being treated unfairly at the pumps.

The suit continues an adversarial relationship between Conway and Marathon. Conway started investigating gas prices early in his first term in 2008.

The suit, among other things, seeks to end supply agreements that Conway says prevent competition.

KENTUCKY-DISASTER DECLARATION

President Obama issues disaster declaration for 57 Kentucky counties from winter storms in March

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — President Barack Obama has declared a disaster from winter storms in early March in Kentucky.

The president ordered federal aid for state and local recovery efforts for areas affected by snow storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides during the period of March 3 to March 9.

Counties eligible for the assistance are Anderson, Bell, Bourbon, Boyd, Breathitt, Bullitt, Butler, Calloway, Carter, Casey, Clay, Daviess, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Hancock, Harrison, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Metcalfe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Spencer, Trigg, Washington, Webster, Whitley and Woodford.

FERRY CLOSED

Western Kentucky ferry closed due to mechanical problem

HICKMAN, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky ferry that is the only direct route between Kentucky and Missouri has closed until further notice due to a mechanical issue.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the Dorena-Hickman Ferry closed shortly before noon Tuesday. A marine mechanic is being called in to determine what repairs are needed, but it's not yet known how long the ferry will be out of operation.

The ferry connects Kentucky 1354 at Hickman with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Missouri.

The cabinet says Kentucky and Missouri are the only border states that aren't directly connected by a road.

KENTUCKY-BARNHART

Kentucky's Barnhart among 4 named as top athletic directors

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart is among four winners of the Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year award chosen by the National Association of College Directors of Athletics.

Barnhart was named along with TCU's Chris Del Conte, Connecticut's Warde Manuel and Baylor's Ian McCaw in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. The honor comes after 18 of the Wildcats' 22 varsity sports helped earn a best-ever 11th place Directors' Cup finish last year, with seven finishing in the top 10 of their respective sports.

Kentucky student athletes also achieved a department-wide GPA of 3.0 or better last academic year to meet one of Barnhart's main objectives. The school also has several building projects in progress, including a $120 million renovation of Commonwealth Stadium expected to be completed by next season.

PREAKNESS-BARBARO'S OWNERS

Barbaro's owners back at Preakness with Divining Rod

Roy and Gretchen Jackson are heading back to the Preakness as owners for the first time since Barbaro's fateful trip to Pimlico nine years ago.

They're heading to Baltimore with their latest entry, Divining Rod.

Barbaro captured a nation's attention after winning the Kentucky Derby when he tragically broke down at the start of the second Triple Crown race and bravely fought to recover from the devastating leg injury. Barbaro was euthanized eight months later and people still remind the couple of how much the fallen champion meant to them.

Roy Jackson says, "We still think about him," but stressed they've moved on, citing Divining Rod as an example. The colt enters Saturday's 140th Preakness with two wins in five starts including the Coolmore Lexington on April 11 at Keeneland.