Kentucky News Now – May 6th 2015

COMER-ABUSE ALLEGATION

Comer calls abuse allegations untrue, vows to stay in race

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Republican candidate for governor James Comer has flatly denied he abused his college girlfriend, one day after she outlined several accusations in a letter to a newspaper and threatened to bring down his campaign two weeks before Election Day.

In a letter to The Courier-Journal, Marilyn Thomas said Comer hit her and drove her to a medical clinic to receive an abortion. On Tuesday, Comer acknowledged dating Thomas and said the two mutually ended their relationship in the 1990s. He said he never hit her and never drove her to an abortion clinic. He said the last time he saw her was in 2001 in New York City, when the two had dinner and she gave him a gift.

Comer is one of four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor. The election is May 19.

KENTUCKY-CALIPARI

On website, Kentucky coach Calipari says 'no' to platooning

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky nearly made history last season with a two-platoon system. Now coach John Calipari says the strategy is history.

Calipari said Tuesday on CoachCal.com that he was happy to make the strategy work but added that "last season was an absolute outlier." Kentucky began 38-0 before its quest to become unbeaten national champions ended with a Final Four loss to Wisconsin.

Calipari said platooning is not how he likes to coach and added, "We wrote the book on platooning this year, but I hope we stick it on the shelf and never have to use it again."

Seven Kentucky players have entered the NBA draft. Forwards Alex Poythress and Marcus Lee and guard Tyler Ulis return to a Wildcats squad expected to use conventional rotations next season.

HEMP-KENTUCKY

Ky. hemp production rising in second year of crop's comeback

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky agriculture officials say the state's hemp production will surpass 1,700 acres this year as the crop's comeback starts to attract investment from processors looking to turn the once-banned crop into products.

One of those investors is Andy Graves, CEO of Atalo Holdings. Graves said Tuesday his company has invested $1.5 million in gearing up to process hemp into oil and food products.

Graves says his company will process nearly 550 acres of hemp this year at its facility in Clark County in central Kentucky.

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says 121 participants — including 24 processors — will be involved in the second year of testing hemp as a potential cash crop. He says 1,742 acres of hemp will be planted this year, up from 33 acres last year.

FATHER CHARGED

Hardin father pleads not guilty in death of 6-month-old son

BENTON, Ky. (AP) — A Hardin father has pleaded not guilty in the death of his 6-month-old son.

The Paducah Sun reports 30-year-old John Mikulich IV pleaded not guilty Monday on a wanton murder charge after his son died at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville

Mikulich was arrested March 14 after Marshall authorities found the baby floating in a bathtub. The child survived for 11 days in a coma before being taken off life support.

At a preliminary hearing, Marshall County sheriff's detective Matt Hillbrecht testified that Mikulich had been under the influence of some type of drug while watching the baby and his 2-year-old brother.

Hillbrecht says Mikulich changed his story several times when explaining why the baby was in the bathtub.

The charge of wanton murder carries a possible life sentence.

DELIVERY DRIVER STABBED-ROBBED

Pizza deliveryman stabbed, carjacked; calls for new pizza

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville pizza delivery driver who was carjacked, robbed and stabbed still managed to get the pizza delivered, calling the restaurant for a fresh pie while he was being treated in the hospital emergency room that ordered the food.

The Courier-Journal reports 19-year-old Josh Lewis was delivering a pizza from Spinelli's Pizzeria to Norton Hospital emergency room when a man stabbed him in the back, robbed him and stole his black Jeep Cherokee on Sunday afternoon.

The pizzeria's regional manager says Lewis called the restaurant while being treated at the same emergency room to ask co-workers to make the interrupted delivery.

The manager says Lewis, a college student from Detroit, is in stable condition and recovering from a collapsed lung at a different hospital.

A police spokesman says officers are still looking for the suspect and Lewis' truck.

BIKE TRACK

Covington former impound lot soon to become BMX bike track

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Construction has begun on Covington's former impound lot to transform it into a BMX bike track.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports more than 175 dump trucks worth of dirt have been brought in. The dirt will soon get molded into a BMX bike track full of hills and curves.

The lot, located in the Latonia neighborhood, already had a building, fence and lights installed.

Jason Reser, president of NKY BMX Development Inc., says the track will be ready in about five months. The nonprofit is building and managing the track.

Reser hopes the track can host major competitive races, including one national BMX race per year that could draw 6,000-8,000 people.

Reser plans to have the track open four days a week, 40 weeks a year.