Kentucky News Now – September 2nd 2015

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky clerk, citing God, defies courts anew on gay marriage

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — A county clerk denied marriage licenses to gay couples again on Tuesday in direct defiance of the federal courts, and vowed not to resign, even under the pressure of steep fines or jail.

"It is not a light issue for me," Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis said later through her lawyers. "It is a heaven or hell decision."

April Miller and Karen Roberts, tailed by television cameras and rival activists, were there when the doors opened Tuesday morning, hours after the Supreme Court rejected the clerk's last-ditch request for a delay. They hoped Davis would accept that her fight was lost and issue the licenses in Rowan County, but were turned away.

Davis, an Apostolic Christian, stopped issuing all marriage licenses in June rather than comply with the Supreme Court's legalization of gay marriage nationwide. Gay and straight couples sued, saying she should fulfill her duties as an elected official despite her personal religious faith. Davis faces a federal court hearing Thursday over her refusal to issue the licenses.

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY POLITICS

GOP nominee for governor says he supports county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Republican nominee for governor said he absolutely supports a county clerk that is refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Matt Bevin told reporters on a conference call that he supports Kim Davis' "willingness to stand for her First Amendment rights." He said as governor he would work to change the law so people could download marriage license forms on the Internet and then return them to their county clerk to file just like any other document.

Bevin criticized Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for refusing to call a special session of the state legislature to pass a law changing how the state issues marriage licenses. He also criticized Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway for declining to defend the state's same-sex marriage ban in federal court. Conway is now the Democratic nominee for governor.

CONGRESS-PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Senate leader: Not enough votes to defund Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Republican says it will take a new president before Congress can cut off federal funds for Planned Parenthood.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says Republicans lack the votes to halt the payments. He says that since President Barack Obama won't sign a bill ending the federal dollars that flow to Planned Parenthood, blocking that money will have to await the next president, who takes office in January 2017.

Secretly recorded videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing their provision of tissue from aborted fetuses to researchers have prompted Republicans to try cutting off its federal money. Last month, a bill to do that fell six votes short in the Senate.

McConnell made the comments in an interview with Kentucky TV station WYMT, recorded on Monday.

HOLIDAY PATROLS

Police patrosl to increase for long Labor Day weekend

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police officers will be out in force to crack down on drunken driving during this coming Labor Day weekend.

State police say patrols will be increased during the holiday period running from Friday evening through Monday night.

Last year, state police say there were six alcohol-related highway deaths in Kentucky during the Labor Day holiday.

Across the state, law enforcement officers arrested 55 people for DUI during the same period.

In addition to statewide DUI enforcement, state police will conduct traffic safety checkpoints in an effort to enforce all traffic laws. State police say special attention will be given to seat belt use, vehicle safety, insurance compliance and registration violations.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Counties added for assistance after July storms in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Small Business Administration says additional counties have been added to those eligible for assistance following severe weather in July.

The presidential disaster declaration covers Breathitt, Carter, Fleming, Johnson, Perry, Rowan and Trimble counties. They are eligible for physical and economic injury disaster loans from the SBA.

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in these adjacent counties are eligible for economic injury disaster loans: Bath, Boyd, Carroll, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Henry, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Morgan, Nicholas, Oldham, Owsley, Robertson and Wolfe in Kentucky; and Clark and Jefferson in Indiana.

The SBA has approved more than $1 million in loans for Kentucky residents affected by the storms.

To apply online, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela . The deadline for physical property damage is Oct. 12. Economic injury applications are due May 12.

DOWNTOWN BLAZE

Fire in downtown Hazard displaces 35 families

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — A large fire that broke out in a building in downtown Hazard has been contained.

Media report the blaze at the building that houses the Peking Chinese Restaurant as well as apartments was reported Tuesday at around 5 a.m. No injuries were reported, though about 35 families have been displaced.

Hazard Police Department Deputy Chief said a portion of Main Street is closed as well as some businesses, though municipal offices remain open. He says people are being asked to avoid the area if possible so firefighters can continue their work.

First Presbyterian Church is providing temporary shelter to those in need.

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE

Kentucky historians urge removal of Jefferson Davis statue

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Dozens of historians from 16 colleges and universities in Kentucky have called for a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis to be removed from the state Capitol.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that 72 current and former history professors signed a letter recently sent to Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Historic Properties Advisory Commission, urging officials to take down the statue.

The commission voted 7-2 in early August to keep the statue in the Capitol, where it stands with statues of four other prominent Kentuckians. The panel also voted to establish a committee to give the statues more historical context

Confederate symbols have come under increased public scrutiny since the June 17 massacre of nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.

TEACHER CHARGED

Former Paducah teacher pleads guilty to sex count

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — A former Paducah middle school teacher accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female 14-year-old student could spend three years behind bars after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.

The Paducah Sun reports that 24-year-old Chelsea Rose, a former teacher and cheerleading coach at Reidland Middle School, pleaded guilty Monday in McCracken Circuit Court to a charge of prohibited use of an electronic communication device to procure a minor in a sex offense.

As part of the plea agreement, Rose's sentence would run concurrently to any sentence that could be imposed in a related case ongoing in Marshall County. Additionally, Rose will have to register as a sex offender and undergo a sex offender assessment.

A judge must still approve the terms of the plea agreement.

CHURCHILL DOWNS-RENOVATIONS

Churchill Downs upgrading premium clubhouse seating

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs plans to offer more premium seating with an $18 million project expected to be done in time for next year's Kentucky Derby.

The Louisville track said Tuesday the project will modernize its Turf Club and other premium clubhouse areas.

The track says the project will increase premium seating capacity by 41 percent, from 1,886 to 2,660, in areas being upgraded. It says total reserved seating for the Derby will increase from 57,880 to 58,654.

Derby attendance reached a record this year, with more than 170,000 people watching American Pharoah start his run to the Triple Crown.

The track says the interior renovations will begin after its fall meet wraps up in late November.

It's the latest in a series of renovations at the track that opened in 1875.