Kentucky News Now – September 4th 2015

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

Attorney for jailed Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses: decision unprecedented

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — An attorney for a Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples says the decision to put her behind bars is unprecedented.

Attorney Roger Gannam said of his jailed client, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, that it was "the first time in history an American citizen has been incarcerated for having the belief of conscience that marriage is a union between one man and one woman."

A judge ordered Davis to be jailed after a court hearing Thursday, saying the clerk's religious beliefs don't allow her to disobey the law. Davis told the judge that "God's moral law" conflicts with her job duties.

Davis or her deputy clerks had repeatedly refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis, an Apostolic Christian, stopped serving licenses to all couples gay or straight after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June legalizing same-sex marriage.

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY-COUPLES

Same-sex couples vow to return to Rowan County clerk's offices to seek licenses Friday

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — Gay and lesbian couples vowed to appear at the Rowan County clerk's office for the fifth time on Friday to see if the deputy clerks would keep their promises to grant them wedding licenses.

"We're going to the courthouse tomorrow to get our marriage license and we're very excited about that," said April Miller, who has been engaged to Karen Roberts for 11 years.

As word of the jailing of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis spread outside a federal courthouse Thursday, hundreds of people chanted jubilantly. Supporters of Davis booed.

Rather than be fined, jailed or lose their jobs, five of the six deputy clerks in Rowan's office told a federal judge on Thursday that they would issue the licenses. Rowan's son, Nathan Davis, refused.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER

Report: Koch, Pruitt finalists for education commissioner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A published report has identified the two finalists for Kentucky education commissioner as Christopher Koch and Stephen Pruitt.

The Kentucky Department of Education said it narrowed the list of candidates from five to two after conducting a second round of interviews last weekend but did not name them.

The Courier-Journal reports the other three candidates said they did not make the final list.

Koch is interim president of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and former Illinois state education superintendent.

Pruitt is senior vice president of Achieve Inc., an education reform organization.

The board has said it will commission in-depth background checks on both finalists, a process likely to take several weeks.

Associate commissioner Kevin Brown is serving as commissioner until the board chooses a new leader. Former commissioner Terry Holliday retired last month.

UK-SEX ASSAULTS

Univ. of Kentucky investigated for sexual assault cases

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The University of Kentucky has a joined a lengthy list of universities being investigated by the federal government for their handling of sexual assaults.

The Lexington Herald-Reader reports that UK was added to the list this spring, according to the U.S. Office of Civil Rights. One hundred thirty-two other schools are also being investigated.

Federal officials don't release any details about the investigations until a resolution agreement has been reached.

UK spokesman Jay Blanton confirmed the school had been contacted by the Office of Civil Rights regarding a complaint filed involving a UK student. Blanton says school officials think they handled the matter correctly.

On Monday, UK released results from a campus-wide survey in which nearly 5 percent of UK students reported experiences of sexual assault in the past year.

PATRIOT COAL-BANKRUPTCY

Union makes prospective agreements with Patriot bidders

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The United Mine Workers union says it has reached collective bargaining agreements in principal with the only two bidders for the properties of bankrupt Patriot Coal.

UMW President Cecil Roberts says details of the agreements with Blackhawk Mining and an affiliate of the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund are still being completed.

Roberts says some issues must be resolved in federal bankruptcy court before the agreements are presented to union miners for a vote.

The Virginia nonprofit would acquire the Federal Mining Complex in northern West Virginia, the Corridor G Mining Complex in southern West Virginia and other mining permits for purposes of water quality improvement and land reclamation.

Lexington, Kentucky-based Blackhawk plans to buy other Patriot complexes in southern West Virginia.

Patriot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 12.

PEDIATRIC HEART CARE

UK to resume pediatric heart care services

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Pediatric heart care services will resume at the University of Kentucky as part of a new partnership between UK HealthCare and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

UK officials said Thursday the collaboration will allow more Kentucky children to receive care closer to home. UK HealthCare and Cincinnati Children's signed a letter of intent to move forward with the partnership.

Officials said the first surgical procedure at UK is targeted for late 2016 or early 2017.

UK's pediatric cardiac surgery program was suspended in 2012 following an uptick in child mortality rates.

Under the partnership, a heart surgeon will be jointly recruited and have a primary appointment at Cincinnati Children's in a "two sites, one program" model. The surgeon will be based in Lexington and perform services at Kentucky Children's Hospital.

ADVENTURE GAMES

100-mile trail race set for early October in Kentucky

ELKHORN CITY, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky tourism officials say a 100-mile trail race along the top of Pine Mountain is planned for early October.

The Cloudsplitter 100 is set for the weekend of Oct. 3 and 4. State tourism officials say the event is part of the Kentucky Outdoor Adventure Games taking place during October. Officials say the out-and-back course — as well as the accompanying 100k, 50k and 25k races — will wind along the rocky Pine Mountain Scenic Trail through Pike and Letcher counties in southeastern Kentucky.

The Pine Mountain Scenic Trail traces a geological fault line along the southern Kentucky-Virginia border, stretching from Breaks Interstate Park to near Whitesburg. The trail offers scenic views of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

Officials say the registration deadline for the race is Sept. 27.

AMERICAN PHAROAH-FUTURE

Owner: Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to race one more time at Breeders' Cup Classic

NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of American Pharoah says the Triple Crown winner will run again before he is retired at the end of the year.

Ahmed Zayat tweeted Thursday he has "decided to continue to race American Pharoah! The champ deserves another chance!"

After American Pharoah finished second in the Traver Stakes on Saturday, Zayat said his "gut feeling" was retirement. But after a four-hour meeting with trainer Bob Baffert and others, Zayat decided to keep going. The horse is being pointed to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

American Pharoah's breeding rights were sold to Coolmore's Ashford Stud for an unknown fee, likely in the tens of millions of dollars. Since the horse was still racing, a stud fee has not been announced.

American Pharoah has won eight of 10 races and earned nearly $6 million.