Kentucky News Now, November 12, 2013

KENTUCKY BAPTISTS

Kentucky Baptists in Paducah for annual meeting

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — Baptist church leaders are in Paducah for the annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

The all-day meeting Tuesday at Lone Oak First Baptist Church will include the election of a president and votes on resolutions. One of the resolutions seeks to honor Albert Mohler for his 20 years as president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.

The event will also include a brief update from the president of the Baptist-affiliated Sunrise Children's Services, which operates homes for abused children around the state. Last week, the Sunrise board of directors voted down a proposal to open its employment to gays.

The annual meeting was preceded by several days of outreach events in Paducah, including a ministry visit with inmates at the McCracken County Jail.

KENTUCKY SENATE-ENDORSEMENT

College Republicans get behind Mitch McConnell

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has received the endorsement of the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans.

The group's central committee voted unanimously to support McConnell at a retreat in Elizabethtown last weekend.

Chairman Wesley Scott said Monday that McConnell has fought for Kentucky values during five terms in the Senate. Scott said he's confident McConnell will continue to do so.

McConnell is seeking re-election to a sixth term next year. He faces Louisville businessman Matt Bevin in Kentucky's May primary. The winner of the McConnell-Bevin matchup will likely face Democratic front-runner Alison Lundergan Grimes in next fall's general election.

McConnell said he's grateful for the support from the college Republicans who play an influential role in Kentucky politics.

VETERANS-FARMERS

Promotion of veteran-raised ag goods goes national

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky-based promotional campaign featuring a special brand for farm goods produced by military veterans is spreading nationwide.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said Monday the California-based Farmer Veteran Coalition has been enlisted to run the Homegrown by Heroes program across the country. The coalition promotes agricultural careers for veterans.

To back the initiative, the Farm Credit System announced a $250,000 commitment to fund the program.

Comer launched the program in Kentucky last January. It offers a logo that identifies farm products produced by Kentucky military veterans. It's seen as an incentive for consumers to buy the products and for retailers to stock them on store shelves.

Farmer Veteran Coalition Executive Director Michael O'Gorman says he wants every farmer veteran in the country to get the same recognition.

POLICE CRUISER-WOMAN STRUCK

Police: cruiser strikes woman crossing Ohio street

(Information in the following story is from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com )

CINCINNATI (AP) — Police are investigating a crash involving a police cruiser that struck a woman as she was crossing a Cincinnati street.

A preliminary Cincinnati police report says 36-year-old Natalie Cole was not in a marked crosswalk when she was hit Saturday night.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that investigators say Officer Orlando Smith was driving the cruiser with the emergency lights and siren activated while responding to a call for help from an officer holding two suspects at gunpoint.

Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell said Monday that preliminary investigations indicate Smith was operating his cruiser in an acceptable manner.

Blackwell also said that Cole, of Dayton, Ky., was upgraded back to stable condition from critical condition Monday afternoon.

RAND PAUL-SC

US Sen. Rand Paul again visits South Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is back in South Carolina, the site of the first-in-the South GOP presidential primary in 2016.

But the Kentucky senator said Monday he won't make a decision on getting into the race for at least a year.

The Kentucky Republican spoke at a party fundraiser in Charleston and then met with reporters. Paul told about 75 people at the fundraiser that the GOP, to win the White House, must become a party that looks like the rest of America, appealing to young people and minorities.

Paul later said he will probably stay out of the South Carolina GOP U.S. Senate primary in which incumbent Lindsey Graham faces two challengers

On Tuesday, Paul speaks to the Corps of Cadets at The Citadel, South Carolina's military college.

FIRE DEATH

Woman dies of injuries from fire

LIBERTY, Ky. (AP) — Police say a central Kentucky woman injured in a weekend blaze has died.

Kentucky State Police said that 49-year-old Debbie Cooper died early Monday morning from injuries suffered in the house fire.

Police said Cooper's home in Liberty caught fire Saturday. She was flown from Casey County to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington.

Police said in a statement that investigators are still trying to find the cause of the blaze but don't suspect foul play.