Kentucky News Now – October 9th 2015

INFANT ABUSE-CHARGE

Northern Kentucky father accused of gravely injuring baby

INDEPENDENCE, Ky. (AP) — A Northern Kentucky father has been accused of violently shaking his infant son, causing severe injury including hemorrhaging to the baby's brain.

Multiple media outlets report that 24-year-old Casey Radcliffe of Independence was charged with first-degree assault Sunday after investigators say Radcliffe violently shook the 3-month-old baby and left his son in his crib for hours even though it was clear the boy was injured. The infant was in critical condition, as of Wednesday.

The first-degree assault charge carries a 10- to 20-year sentence.

Authorities say medical staff has told them that if the baby survives, he'll likely suffer permanent impairment from the injury.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-COAL

Gubernatorial candidates make pitches to coal group

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin says some Kentuckians seeking public assistance should have to meet certain conditions before receiving government help.

Bevin said Thursday his comments focused on working-aged, able-bodied men and women with no dependents. He says such people should have to meet "very specific expectations" before receiving public assistance. Bevin didn't specify the conditions.

Bevin made the remarks during an appearance before the Kentucky Coal Association.

At a debate earlier this week, Bevin advocated random drug testing for people receiving public assistance.

The coal group heard from both major-party candidates for governor on Thursday.

Democrat Jack Conway pledged to promote Kentucky coal and look for tax incentives to boost production.

The coal group made the candidates' comments available through a live stream on the Internet.

GAY RIGHTS PROTESTERS-KENTUCKY

Charges dropped against Kentucky gay rights activists

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Prosecutors have dismissed charges against three gay rights activists arrested this summer for standing silently in matching orange T-shirts in protest of an event at the Kentucky State Fair.

Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, was arrested in August while demonstrating at the Kentucky Farm Bureau's annual Country Ham Breakfast, which draws many of the state's political heavyweights. The Fairness Campaign has protested the event for years in opposition to the insurance company's political arm, which opposes same-sex marriage and lobbies for other conservative causes.

Two dozen protesters stood silently at the back of the room and refused to sit down.

The Kentucky State Police arrested Hartman and two others.

The Jefferson County Attorney's Office asked a judge Thursday to dismiss the charges. The activists said they intend to file a lawsuit.

DOCTOR INDICTED

Indictment: Doctor falsely reported wedding expenses to IRS

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A pain management physician who practiced in South Dakota for several years has been indicted after authorities accused her of falsely reporting at least $56,000 of wedding-related and other expenses as business costs.

An indictment filed in U.S. District Court in South Dakota charges Heloise Westbrook with impeding the administration of the Internal Revenue laws.

Authorities accuse Westbrook of filing corporate income tax returns with many entries identified as business expenses that were actually related to personal expenses to pay for her wedding.

The indictment states the IRS began auditing Westbrook in 2008.

Westbrook worked in Aberdeen for more than a decade before she moved to Kentucky to work at a Greenville hospital in 2014.

Westbrook didn't immediately respond to a request for comment left at her office.

SCHOOL DISTRICT RESIGNATION

School official criticizes leadership in resignation letter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The top academic officer of Jefferson County Public Schools has submitted a letter of resignation that criticizes leadership of the state's largest district.

Media report that Dewey Hensley said in his letter that working conditions have deteriorated, leading to "marginalized voices, eroded credibility" and more time devoted to managing perceptions than to developing quality schools.

Hensley submitted the letter on Thursday and said his last day would be Friday.

Superintendent Donna Hargens said in a statement that she was "saddened" by Hensley's decision. He called him "an unwavering champion for the success of all students."

As the chief academic officer, Hensley helped the district's effort to improve persistently low-achieving schools and implement new testing mandated by the state.

MERCY KILLING-PLEA

Man who says he killed wife to stop suffering given 15 years

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky man who says he killed his wife to end her suffering has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Ernest "Chris" Chumbley pleaded guilty last month to a manslaughter charge that allowed him to avoid a murder trial. He has been in jail since the August 2013 shooting.

Chumbley called 911 minutes after shooting his wife, Virginia "Jenny" Chumbley, saying she was a cancer patient. He later said she had asked him to die.

Laurel County Commonwealth's Attorney Jackie Steele says the 50-year-old Chumbley was sentenced Thursday in accordance with the plea agreement.

The shooting and Chumbley's statements that it was a mercy killing came amid an ongoing national debate over right-to-die issues. Five states have laws that give terminally ill patients an avenue to end their life.

EXONERATED WOMAN-LAWSUIT

Woman exonerated of murder sues state police detective

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A woman exonerated of a murder after serving eight years in prison is suing a Kentucky State Police detective after she says he framed her.

The Courier-Journal reports Susan King was cleared by the Kentucky Innocence Project, which began investigating her case. King's conviction in Spencer County was vacated last year by the Kentucky Court of Appeals after another person confessed to the 1998 slaying of Kyle "Deanie" Breeden.

In a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court, King says that Detective Todd Harwood lied to a judge to get a warrant to search her house and then omitted key evidence when he testified before the grand jury that indicted her.

Harwood and the state police didn't respond to requests for comment to the newspaper.

BELMONT

Rumble Doll rallies to win Belmont turf feature

NEW YORK (AP) — Rumble Doll rallied to beat Strong Incentive by 1 1/4 lengths Thursday in the $77,000 allowance feature for filly and mare turf sprinters at Belmont Park.

Rumble Doll charged home on a four-wide move for her second victory in her last three races and fifth in 16 career starts. The 4-year-old, ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Robert Falcone Jr., ran six furlongs in 1:08.75 and paid $4.80, $3 and $2.40.

The pacesetting Strong Incentive returned $4 and $2.90, and Lady Kreesa paid $2.60 to show.