Kentucky News Now – September 3rd 2015

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

GOP Senate president asks for time to change law

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Republican president of the Kentucky state Senate has asked a federal judge to withhold his ruling ordering a county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples against her religious beliefs. The clerk faces a contempt of court hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Republican Senate President Robert Stivers said in a court filing on Wednesday that U.S. District Judge David Bunning needs to give the state legislature time to pass a law that would exempt Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis from issuing marriage licenses.

Stivers noted the state legislature is not in session and won't be until January. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear has declined to call a special session. Stivers said the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in June that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide has completely obliterated the definition of marriage and said the state legislature will need to change several laws in order to comply with the order.

For two months since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the nation, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has cited her Christian faith in refusing to issue licenses, even in the face of Thursday's scheduled court hearing.

GOP 2016-KENTUCKY CLERK

Huckabee supports Kentucky clerk on defying federal courts

ATLANTA (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee supports a Kentucky clerk's refusal to issue marriage licenses because of her opposition to same-sex marriage.

In a statement, Huckabee says he spoke Wednesday morning to Kim Davis to offer "prayers and support."

Kim Davis has refused to issue licenses in Rowan County, Kentucky, since the Supreme Court's decision in June legalized gay marriage nationwide. A federal judge has since ordered her specifically to comply.

Davis calls her refusal a "heaven or hell decision."

Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and a favorite of social conservatives.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul also has expressed support for Davis. Among other GOP rivals, Carly Fiorina and Lindsey Graham have said she should comply with the law.

Other Republican presidential candidates have steered clear of the matter.

LRC DIRECTOR

Legislative leaders interview candidates for LRC director

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Candidates for director of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission have undergone interviews in Frankfort, but there's been no decision on a new leader.

The Lexington Herald-Leader says legislative leaders conducted interviews behind closed doors Wednesday. Republican Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester and Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg declined to identify any of the candidates afterward.

Stivers and Stumbo say they plan to call a special meeting of legislative leaders to hire someone for the position. Legislative leaders hope to have someone in the position by Oct. 1. The General Assembly meets starting in January.

The LRC director oversees nonpartisan support staff for state lawmakers.

The interim LRC director, Marcia Seiler of Louisville, retired at the end of July.

DUI PREVENTION

State finalizing details of new DUI law

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky transportation officials say the state is getting close to finalizing details of a new law that will require some drunken drivers to get ignition interlock devices on their vehicles.

Transportation Cabinet spokesman Chuck Wolfe told The Paducah Sun that the agency is "very close" to finalizing regulations so that the law can go into effect.

The General Assembly voted in March to pass the law, which requires ignition interlock licenses as part of the sentencing for repeat offenders or for first offenders who have an aggravating circumstance such as having a child in the car.

Court officials say they think the devices will help curtail the number of repeat drunken driving arrests.

PASTOR-CHILD PORN

Ex-pastor facing child porn charges to be released from jail

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Louisville Catholic priest facing federal child porn charges will be released from jail on bond.

Stephen Pohl was arrested in Florida last month for accessing child porn on computers at his church.

Pohl appeared in federal court Wednesday, and Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin agreed to release him on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

Louisville Archdiocese officials say the FBI found child pornography on his computer and photos of students from St. Margaret Mary parish, where he was pastor. Pohl has since resigned.

Pohl smiled briefly at family members as he entered the courtroom Wednesday. The 57-year-old will live with his mother while awaiting trial and cannot have computers in the home. He will also wear monitoring equipment.

Pohl is set to be released from the Grayson County Jail on Thursday.

LANDLORD FATAL SHOOTING

Man pleads guilty to killing landlord over $58 electric bill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a Louisville man has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his landlord last summer in a dispute over a $58 electric bill.

The Courier-Journal reports that 55-year-old Anthony Jecker pleaded guilty Tuesday, accepting a plea agreement to serve 25 years in prison on a charge of murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Police say Jecker and 49-year-old James Scott Tolle, of Jeffersonville Indiana, were arguing over the bill in July 2014 when Jecker shot Tolle.

According to WLKY-TV (http://bit.ly/1N9uHND), Jecker told investigators that he paid the bill and said Tolle taunted him into coming out of his Louisville apartment, which was owned by Tolle.

Jecker is scheduled to appear in Jefferson Circuit Court on Oct. 13 for formal sentencing.

KENTUCKY-COMMONWEALTH STADIUM

Barnhart: Kentucky stadium will be ready for season opener

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart says that a fans will enter a finished Commonwealth Stadium when the Wildcats open the season Saturday night against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Work has continued around the clock to complete the $120 million renovation in time for the opener against the Ragin' Cajuns. Several Kentucky sports programs including cheerleaders have helped with the massive cleanup that continued Wednesday with crews putting cosmetic touches on the 61,000-seat facility.

During a news conference with school and city officials outlining traffic, parking and security changes, Barnhart also said the game was close to being sold out. Some work will remain afterward but the AD said, "We're not building for one game, we're building for generations. ... Hopefully, this will extend another 20, 30 years."