Kentucky News Now – May 21st 2015

GOVERNOR-VOTE REVIEW

James Comer asks for review of election results

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican James Comer has officially requested a review of Kentucky's election results after initial tallies showed him in second place by just 83 votes.

Comer's campaign manager made the request at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday, one day after voters went to the polls to settle Kentucky's divisive Republican primary. Louisville businessman Matt Bevin appeared to declare victory Tuesday night, but Comer did not concede.

Comer asked for a full and complete check and recanvass of every one of the voting machines and absentee ballots from all precincts in the state's 120 counties. Kentucky does not have runoff elections or automatic recounts. By state law, the recanvass would not start until 9 a.m. on May 28.

Bevin and Comer were the top two candidates in the four person primary. Candidates Hal Heiner and Will T. Scott conceded.

The Republican primary focused mostly on character issues because the candidates all agreed on major policy issues. But they disagree with Conway on whether companies can require employees to join a labor union and how to pay for public education.

The general election is Nov. 3.

MCCONNELL-GOVERNOR ENDORSEMENT

McConnell said he will endorse GOP nominee for governor

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said he will endorse Kentucky's Republican nominee for governor once the results are official.

Bevin leads state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer by 83 votes out of the more than 214,000 ballots cast. Comer said he plans to ask state election officials to review the results.

McConnell and Bevin went head to head in last year's Republican primary for Senate, one of the few times McConnell has had meaningful opposition in a primary during his 30-year Senate career. McConnell easily defeated Bevin after a contentious campaign. Bevin refused to endorse McConnell publicly after the race, although he did urge Republicans to vote against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election.

McConnell defeated Grimes and is now the majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

KENTUCKY EXPORTS

KY exports show strong 1st-quarter gain

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State economic development officials say Kentucky's exports were 11 percent higher through the first quarter of 2015 compared to a year ago.

The Cabinet for Economic Development says that ranks Kentucky third nationally for year-over-year export growth.

State officials say that during the first quarter, Kentucky exported more than $7 billion in products, up from $6.4 billion during the same time last year.

Top trade partners include Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and France. Exports to Eastern Europe rose significantly. Kentucky exports to Belgium were up 116 percent and to Russia by nearly 2,400 percent.

Officials say aerospace continues to be Kentucky's largest export. Also making strong gains were the export of motor vehicles and parts, chemicals and engines, turbines and power equipment.

CLEAN WATER WEBSITE

Website lets Kentucky residents check on condition of waterways

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State officials say Kentuckians can now click on a website to find out if their favorite spot on the water is safe to swim or if the fish there are healthy enough to eat.

Kentucky Division of Water says the state's Water Health Portal is at http://watermaps.ky.gov/ .

It's an interactive Web-based map application that allows users to learn about the health of the streams in their area and across the state.

Officials say the Water Health Portal was developed in response to legislation enacted in 2013 that calls for making the information more transparent for people.

US 35 UPGRADE

Ky. company apparent low bidder for US 35 upgrade in W.Va.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Division of Highways says a Kentucky company is the apparent low bidder for a contract to upgrade a section of U.S. 35.

Bizzack Construction, LLC of Lexington, Kentucky, bid $174.4 million to design, build and finance the project.

The 14.6-mile section runs from State Route 869 in Putnam County to County Route 40 in Mason County. It's the final section to be upgraded to four lanes.

The DOH says Bizzack's bid is one of five accepted on Wednesday from contractors. State officials now will review Bizzack's bid.

Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox says in a news release that Bizzack's bid is below the public-private partnership project's estimated cost.

CRASH-INTERSTATE SHUTDOWN

Police identify second driver killed in fiery I-75 crash

MOUNT VERNON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police have identified the second person killed in a fiery a seven-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 earlier this week.

Police said in a statement that 41-year-old Toby Caudill of Glenford, Ohio, who was driving a FedEx Ground vehicle, died in Tuesday's crash. Officer Steven Douglas of state police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement said 34-year-old Jonathan D. Roark of Barbourville, who was driving a passenger car, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police say the wreck involved six 18-wheelers and a passenger car around mile marker 71 in northern Rockcastle County. The interstate was shut down for hours.

Christopher Tucker witnessed the wreck. He told WKYT-TV that traffic was at a standstill when he heard brakes screeching and looked into his rearview mirror to see an explosion.

SEAT BELT ENFORCEMENT

Kentucky State Police part of effort targeting seat belt use

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police officials say the agency is participating in a six-state effort targeting seat belt use and proper child safety seat use.

The combined initiative, called the 6-State Trooper Project, continues through next Monday.

KSP officials say their agency is participating with state police agencies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia and Michigan.

State police say that 61 percent of Kentucky's motor vehicle fatalities in 2014 involved people not wearing seat belts. They say that an unbelted person hitting a windshield in a 40-mph crash would feel the same force as hitting the ground after falling off a five-story building.

KENTUCKY-CALIPARI EXTENSION

Kentucky's Calipari signs 1-year contract extension to 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach John Calipari has signed a one-year contract extension through 2022 that will pay him a total of $54 million.

The contract was signed on May 13 and a copy was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press through an open records request. It replaces the $52.5 million, seven-year agreement he signed last June.

Calipari's latest contract extension follows Tuesday's announcement that he wasn't interested in the coaching vacancy with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans or any other job, adding that he's happy at Kentucky.

Already one of college basketball's highest-paid coaches, Calipari will receive $7 million next season with raises of $250,000 and $500,000 the next two years, respectively, before earning $8 million each over the final four seasons. He will earn a $1.6 million longevity bonus on July 1.

AMERICAN PHAROAH-BREEDING RIGHTS

Breeding rights for American Pharoah sold to Coolmore

NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah has sold the breeding rights to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to Coolmore Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Owner Ahmed Zayat confirmed Wednesday a deal has been reached, but would not disclose the value. Even before the deal, Zayat's son, Justin, said the family had been inundated with offers, many for more than $20 million.

Zayat said even if American Pharoah wins the Belmont Stakes on June 6 and becomes the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, he planned to keep racing the colt through the end of the year.

On Jan. 1, 2016, Coolmore takes control, and American Pharoah would likely be retired. He said he still owns 100 percent of the horse, and will keep an undisclosed share when American Pharoah is retired.