Kentucy News Now – May 27th 2015

RECANVASS DEADLINE

No additional recanvass requests following primary election

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — No other candidates have requested a review of Kentucky's primary election results.

Tuesday was the last day candidates could ask the secretary of state to review the voting machines and absentee ballots in all of Kentucky's 120 counties. A competitive Republican primary yielded two such challenges, one for governor and the other for agriculture commissioner.

Matt Bevin leads James Comer by 83 votes in a race for the Republican nomination for governor that was too close to call on election night. Comer has not conceded and asked for a review the next day.

State Rep. Richard Heath asked for a review after losing to fellow state Rep. Ryan Quarles in the state agriculture commissioner's race by more than 1,400 votes.

The review is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

Ag commissioner nominee proposes western Kentucky office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic nominee for agriculture commissioner Jean-Marie Lawson Spann says she wants to locate a regional office for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in western Kentucky if she's elected.

She said in a news release Tuesday that no decision has been made about a location for the office other than it would be one convenient to everyone in the region. The release said the office is needed because of the region's distance from Frankfort.

Republican agriculture commissioner nominee Ryan Quarles said through a spokesman that he agrees a western Kentucky office should be a priority for the agency. Quarles said he would represent all of Kentucky with attention to the needs of different regions while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

BLACK BEARS

Daniel Boone officials say follow food policy to avoid bears

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — Daniel Boone National Forest officials have some advice on avoiding encounters with black bears.

Store food inside a hardtop vehicle or bear-resistant container. Burning or burying food, trash or other items that attract bears — such as cooking oil, toothpaste and soap — is prohibited.

Otherwise, store food and garbage by suspending it at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from any tree or pole.

Bear-resistant trash cans are available at most developed campgrounds and picnic areas and must be used for garbage disposal in those locations.

Never feed a bear, which is illegal in Kentucky. Also, never approach a bear, and back away slowly if you come upon one. If a bear approaches you, remain upright and make lots of noise. Never lie down or turn your back on an approaching black bear.

SENATE-MCCONNELL

McConnell: 2016 goal is to maintain, not grow, GOP majority

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Mitch McConnell says he expects to maintain but not grow the U.S. Senate's Republican majority next year.

The Senate majority leader said Tuesday the GOP's chances of gaining seats are "pretty slim" because Republicans must defend 24 seats compared to the Democrats' 10. Plus, Republicans will field candidates in several states dominated by the presidential election, including New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois. He said Republicans "regretfully" have an open seat in Florida because Marco Rubio is running for president and not re-election at the same time, as McConnell's fellow Kentuckian Rand Paul plans to do.

McConnell told the Elizabethtown Rotary Club that Republicans have a chance to gain seats in Nevada, where Sen. Harry Reid is not seeking re-election, and Colorado where Republicans defeated an incumbent last year.

GOVERNOR-KENTUCKY

Bevin, McConnell joint appearances will have to wait

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Republicans waiting to see U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell put his arm around his political nemesis Matt Bevin will have to wait a little longer.

Bevin canceled an appearance at the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Tuesday where McConnell, the Senate majority leader, was the scheduled speaker. And McConnell has said he will not attend the state Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner on Saturday when Bevin will be the featured speaker.

The absences seem to highlight a tense relationship between the state's senior senator and its likely Republican nominee for governor one year after McConnell defeated Bevin in the Senate primary.

A spokesman for Bevin said a scheduling conflict forced him to change his schedule. McConnell said he has to return to Washington on Saturday to prepare for a rare Sunday session to vote on the Patriot Act.

TODDLER FOUND DEAD

Body of missing Kentucky 2-year-old found in well

GLASGOW, Ky. (AP) — Police say the body of a missing 2-year-old girl has been found inside a well in western Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police said the body of Laynee Wallace was discovered Monday near Glasgow. Police say Wallace was reported missing last week.

Authorities found the child's body inside a well on property owned by her mother's boyfriend, 25-year-old Anthony Barbour. According to state police, Barbour lived with the child's mother and her daughter in his home near the Barren County and Monroe County line. Barbour was arrested Monday during a traffic stop.

Police said that in addition to a custodial interference warrant that was sought earlier, Barbour was charged with adult kidnapping, first-degree burglary and resisting arrest stemming from his apprehension on Monday.

An autopsy was performed, and results are pending.

It is unclear whether Barbour has a lawyer.