Kentucky News Now – September 14th 2015

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky clerk case divides religious liberty advocates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Having failed to ban same-sex marriage, many religious conservatives are now working to carve out protections for business owners and others who object to it on religious grounds.

To some of them, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis is a hero for her willingness to go to jail rather than issue marriage licenses. But others think Davis' position as a government official makes her exactly the wrong figure to rally around.

Prominent Christian commentators have suggested Davis' case could drive away support for religious liberty issues by stirring up anger at a public servant who refuses to do her job.

Davis was released from jail Tuesday after a deputy clerk began issuing marriage licenses. Davis says she will return to her office Monday but has not said what she will do.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES-KENTUCKY

Improving economy hurting 2-year college enrollment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky education officials say the state's improving economy is causing declines in community college enrollment, leading to staff reductions and budget cuts at the two-year institutions.

Officials with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System recently told The Courier-Journal that enrollment is expected to fall to about 81,000 this fall -- a 25 percent reduction from its peak of 108,301 in 2011.

KCTCS President Jay Box said that has forced the state system to slash $36 million in expenses this year, including cutting 262 teachers and staff member positions, and reducing programs and offerings.

After flocking to community colleges to earn degrees and new skills during a recession that once produced unemployment rates as high as 10.9 percent in Kentucky, officials say students are increasingly being lured away amid jobless rates that in July dipped to 5.2 percent.

TN-AIR SHOW CRASH

Louisville pilot killed during airshow crash in Tennessee

ONEIDA, Tenn. (AP) — A pilot has been killed after his single-engine plane crashed while performing in a Tennessee air show.

Authorities say Jay "Flash" Gordon of Louisville, Ky., was killed when his L-39 Albatros crashed about 4:30 p.m. Saturday while participating in an airshow at Scott County Municipal Airport in Oneida. Gordon was the only person aboard.

Witnesses said they saw the plane go into a nose dive but didn't think anything of it until they saw a puff of smoke moments later.

Festival officials said in a statement that "... Jay was a member of the Derby Festival and Thunder family" who helped keep the airshow going. The said "his passion for flying and love of Thunder will truly be missed."

The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

2016 GOP TAXES

GOP tax proposals tilt to rich despite populist rhetoric

DENVER (AP) — Some Republican presidential candidates are talking a populist game, but their tax plans favor the wealthy.

Jeb Bush was the latest to offer one, and his plan last week has some ideas targeting the middle class and working families.

But even a sympathetic analysis showed that most of the plan's benefits would accrue to the wealthiest.

Democrats contend that fits with Republican politics, where conservatives rush to outdo each other in their zeal to cut taxes for corporations and the rich. B

Conservative economists note that any federal income tax cut will inevitably favor higher earners because they already pay such a large share of taxes.

And conservatives say cutting federal income taxes is the best way to spur growth that will help all in the United States.