Kentucky News Now – May 28th 2015

GOP GOVERNOR-KENTUCKY

Kentucky Republicans look to put election review behind them

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky election officials are preparing to review the results of the state's Republican primary for governor.

Former U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin leads state agriculture commissioner James Comer by 83 votes in unofficial results. Comer did not concede and requested a recanvass, which is different from a recount in that it reviews the vote totals from electronic voting machines.

The recanvass is set to begin Thursday morning.

Comer could ask a judge to order a recount, or an examination of individual ballots, but Comer would have to pay for that himself.

The winner will address the state's Republican donors and activists at a dinner on Saturday night, kicking off a general election campaign against Democratic nominee Jack Conway.

FANCY FARM-EMCEE

Matt Jones to host Fancy Farm political speaking this year

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones will host the political speaking at Fancy Farm this year.

Jones will introduce the candidates and make remarks as the emcee of the 135th annual St. Jerome Catholic Church picnic that has become the premiere political event in the state. The picnic is known more for the crowd than the speeches, as supporters holler and heckle in equal measure throughout the event.

The highlight of this year's event will be speeches from the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, who are both vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

Jones, whose Kentucky Sports Radio show is broadcast on more than 30 stations statewide, called it a tremendous honor. He said he hopes to bring the uniqueness of Fancy Farm to a new audience.

POLICE SHOOTING

Man killed in Richmond by police was shot 8 times

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police documents say a Lexington man who died in an officer-involved shooting last year was pointing a stun gun at police when he was shot eight times.

The Lexington Herald-Leader says 29-year-old Jesse Aaron Gibbons was pointing what officers thought was a firearm but was actually a stun gun that fell into Gibbons' vehicle during a struggle with a Lexington police officer.

Police released documents this week in response to an open records request from the newspaper.

Gibbons died Sept. 13 after a standoff in Richmond.

The investigation revealed that eight officers from three agencies discharged their weapons. The investigation didn't specify which officers shot Gibbons because all fired the same caliber gun and virtually the same type of hollow point bullets.

A Madison County grand jury decided last month not to indict anyone in the shooting.

CYCLIST DEATH

Man charged in Lexington cyclist's death pleads not guilty

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — The man accused of hitting and killing a Lexington bicyclist has pleaded not guilty to murder and hit-and-run charges.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports 29-year-old Odilon Paz-Salvador entered his plea in Scott District Court on Tuesday.

Paz-Salvador is charged with murder, wanton endangerment, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failure to render aid after the death of 57-year-old lawyer Mark Hinkel.

Witnesses say Hinkel was struck head-on, landing in the bed of Paz-Salvador's pickup on Saturday during the Horsey Hundred cycling event in Scott County.

Paz-Salvador traveled three miles with Hinkel in the truck before Georgetown police spotted Hinkel and stopped Paz-Salvador.

Hinkel died shortly after at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.

The judge kept bond for Paz-Salvador at $100,000.

SCHOOL FOOD

Grants available for school fruit and vegetable program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Education is taking applications for grants for a program that helps schools buy fresh fruits and vegetables to serve to students.

The department says more than $2.9 million is available through the federal program for the 2015-2016 school year. The deadline to apply is June 8.

The level of funding provided to a school depends on its enrollment.

Schools receiving grants must be elementary schools or be able to separate out elementary school students in a K-12 program. The schools must operate the National School Lunch Program and have 50 percent or more of its students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. As much as possible, priority will be given to schools with the largest proportion of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

DISASTER LOANS

Small Business Administration approves more than $1M for Ky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — More than $1 million in disaster assistance loans has been approved for Kentucky residents affected by weather last month.

The U.S. Small Business Administration says it has approved $1,051,900 for 42 disaster loans.

The assistance is for physical and economic injury for those affected by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides from April 2 to April 17 in Bath, Bourbon, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Rowan and Scott counties in Kentucky.

Also, SBA economic injury disaster loans are available for small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in these adjacent counties: Anderson, Boyd, Bullitt, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Garrard, Grant, Greenup, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Lewis, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Rockcastle, Shelby, Spencer and Woodford in Kentucky; Clark, Floyd and Harrison in Indiana; and Wayne in West Virginia.

DISABILITY FRAUD

Several in eastern Ky. to have disability payments suspended

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Attorneys say federal officials have sent notices that they intend to suspend payments for some clients of an eastern Kentucky disability lawyer, citing suspected fraud.

Media report hundreds of people who were represented by disability lawyer Eric C. Conn could be affected.

A report released in 2013 by congressional investigators accused Conn of scheming with a judge to improperly approve more than 1,800 cases from 2006 to 2010. Conn has not been charged and has denied the allegations.

His attorney, J. Kent Wicker, told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday that an investigation had concluded "without any finding of fraud or other misconduct."

Attorney Mark Wohlander, who was consulted about the disability notices, says the loss of Social Security benefits could cause serious hardships for some families.