Kentucky News Now – May 29th 2015

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-RECANVASS

Review shows Bevin holding lead in Kentucky GOP primary

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State election officials say there are no changes to the vote totals from Kentucky's Republican primary for governor.

A review of absentee ballots and tallies from electronic voting machines confirms that Louisville businessman Matt Bevin leads state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer by 83 votes.

But Comer can still challenge the results in court. He has until Friday to ask a judge to order a recount. But it will be expensive, and Comer will have to pay for it himself. The state Board of Elections will not certify results until June 8.

Thursday's review appeared to end one of the closest elections in state history. It sets up a race between Bevin and Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway in a rare off-year election that serves as a precursor to the 2016 presidential contest.

SEWAGE LEAK

Sewage leak hurting eastern Kentucky marina

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fishtrap Lake marina operator Johnny Thacker says business has been terrible since raw sewage started pouring into a river that feeds into the eastern Kentucky lake.

The leak began in early March when a sewage line in Virginia was clogged by rocks and debris, causing the sewage to leak through underwater manholes into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. Sewage is still pouring into the river, but repair crews are making progress in unclogging the mess.

In the meantime, Thacker says he doesn't see anyone swimming in the lake southeast of Pikeville. Nearly half his pontoon slips are empty and his Memorial Day weekend business was off some 40 percent.

Kentucky officials say they weren't notified of the leak until May 13, more than two months after it started.

COAL REPORT-WEST VIRGINIA

Huge drop in West Virginia coal production forecast

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia University researchers predict that state coal production will drop 39 percent compared with the industry's last high point in 2008.

The WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research released a report Thursday assessing coal production outlook over the next 20 years.

The forecast says production will fall from 115 million short tons in 2014, to 104 million short tons this year, to 98 million short tons in 2016.

Despite a moderate rebound from 2017 to 2020, production would drop to less than 96 million short tons in 2035. West Virginia produced 158 million short tons in 2008.

A 29-percent drop would hit the already struggling southern coalfields by 2035. Northern coalfields production would only drop somewhat.

The report attributes coal's continued downfall to various economic, environmental and regulatory factors.

TRAIN FATALITY

Woman dies in crash involving train in southwest Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities have identified a woman who died after her SUV was hit by a train in southwest Louisville.

WAVE-TV said Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jack Arnold identified the woman as 56-year-old Robin Wolfe. The station said she was leaving a church picnic when she was hit.

Police said the woman attempted to cross the tracks when she was hit by a Norfolk Southern Line train at 8:45 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. A police spokesman said there are no crossing arms at the intersection, but several witnesses did tell officers they heard the train blow its whistle.

Wolfe was alone in her vehicle at the time of the crash.

The Courier-Journal said Wolfe was a retired Indiana teacher who had taught in Crawford County and Lanesville.

JET SKI PASSENGER MISSING

Body of missing jet ski passenger found in Kentucky River

HARRODSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Authorities in Mercer County have found the body of a man witnesses say went missing from a jet ski in the Kentucky River.

Multiple media outlets report the body of 34-year-old Mike McCarty was found Wednesday afternoon, three days after authorities say McCarty fell off a jet ski.

Mercer County chief deputy Scott Elder says McCarty's body was found near where he is believed to have fallen into the water, close to the Jessamine and Mercer County lines.

Rescuers had been searching for McCarty since he went missing Sunday. Rescue crews brought in sonar equipment, divers and a cadaver dog to help with the search.

Elder says McCarty was not wearing a life jacket.

The medical examiner's office in Frankfort will perform an autopsy on McCarty's body.

SEC SCHEDULE FORMAT

SEC increases permanent home-and-home rivals in basketball

Kentucky and Florida will play twice a season every season in the Southeastern Conference's new basketball schedule format that includes three permanent home-and-home opponents.

The SEC announced the tweak to its scheduling Thursday.

Each of the 14 SEC teams will play at each other at least once, and also have five home-and-home opponents. Three will be the same every season and two others will rotate.

Previously, SEC basketball schedules were built around one permanent home-and-home rival with the other four rotating yearly.

Kentucky's three permanent home-and-home opponents will be the Gators, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Florida also will play Georgia and Vanderbilt every season.