Kentucky News Now – January 22nd 2014

KENTUCKY-BUDGET SPEECH

Kentucky governor proposes increase in school funding as part of budget proposal

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear proposed reshuffling state funds Tuesday night to bolster Kentucky's public schools as a priority in a major speech to the Legislature.

Kentucky's higher education system was among the targets for spending cuts in the $20.3 billion, two-year state General Fund budget that Beshear presented to lawmakers.

The second-term Democratic governor outlined his budget priorities in a speech to a joint session of the Kentucky House and Senate. It marks the starting point for nearly three months of haggling as lawmakers craft a budget for the two years starting July 1.

As promised, Beshear found extra money for Kentucky's elementary and secondary education system by recommending $98.6 million in spending cuts.

Beshear aksi recommended that many state agencies, including the governor's office, take a 5 percent budget cut in the first year of the biennium. Those agencies' budgets would remain flat in the second year.

KENTUCKY-BUDGET TRANSPORTATIOn

Ky. governor says his transportation proposal includes new bridges, highway expansions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear says his transportation construction plan proposes about $1 billion in new construction work in each of the next two years.

The Democratic governor told state lawmakers Tuesday night that his proposal amounts to "a lot of pavement" and a lot of jobs.

He said his proposal includes such major initiatives as converting all of the Mountain Parkway into a four-lane highway and moving ahead on the Brent Spence Bridge project in northern Kentucky.

His highway plan also includes finishing the work to turn all of Interstate 65 between Bowling Green and Elizabethtown into a six-lane highway. It also calls for continued funding to support the Louisville Bridges Project and completion of bridges over Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake in far western Kentucky.

KENTUCKY BUDGET-BROADBAND

Beshear offers plan to expand broadband access

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear is proposing a $100 million project to expand high-speed Internet access to every part of Kentucky. It's a key part of his budget plan to expand the state's economy.

He said Tuesday night the project would be financed by $60 million in bonds supported by the state General Fund and $40 million of federal and private funds.

Beshear says Kentucky ranks 46th nationally in broadband availability, and 23 percent of the state's rural areas lack broadband access.

He says the goal is to spread Internet access statewide in the next two to three years.

Beshear says the project's first phase will be in eastern Kentucky. It has more areas without Internet access than any other region of the state.

He says lack of high-speed broadband can exclude areas from landing businesses.

KENTUCKY BUDGET-COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Beshear offers plan to pay for KCTCS projects

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear says the state should authorize $145.5 million in agency bonds to pay for a host of expansion projects at Kentucky's community and technical colleges.

The proposal is part of the governor's two-year state General Fund budget plan he presented to Kentucky lawmakers. He outlined his priorities in a speech to a joint session of the House and Senate Tuesday night.

Beshear says the community and technical college system has grown to about 100,000 students. He says the General Fund can't meet the system's infrastructure needs.

So he says KCTCS leaders recommended issuing agency bonds for up to 75 percent of project costs. The remaining 25 percent will come from local communities and other public or private sources.

COLD WEATHER-SAFETY

Utilities advise customers to use power safely

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities have some advice for Kentucky residents in this week's cold weather.

The utilities say while power outages usually don't require backup power sources, some people do use portable generators in emergencies, but they must be operated safely. Make sure the generator is the right size, and have a licensed electrician ensure it's properly installed and that the wires are isolated from the utilities' electric system. Portable generators must be operated outside and be properly vented. Never refuel the generator while it's operating.

Natural gas also requires precautions. Don't use a gas oven to heat your home as it can create deadly carbon monoxide gas. Be aware of the warning smell, sound and sight of leaking gas, and report any leaks.

Ice on tree branches can cause downed power lines. If you see a downed wire, stay away and call the utility company.

MISSING MAN

Murder warrant filed in case of missing chef

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Lexington police have filed a murder warrant in the disappearance of a chef at the University of Kentucky more than a month ago and have arrested a man on a charge of complicity to kidnapping.

Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts wouldn't release the identity of the person charged, saying to do so could compromise the case.

She told the Lexington Herald-Leader the missing person case is being converted to a homicide investigation.

No one has heard from 32-year-old Alex Johnson since Dec. 20 when he ended a phone call with his girlfriend by saying he needed to answer the door at his home.

Police arrested 42-year-old Timothy Ballard on a charge of complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

Roberts said there could be additional charges in the case.

WATER WOES

Water woes continue to affect eastern Ky. city

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky city continues to experience water supply problems two weeks after subfreezing temperatures hit the area.

The Independent reports residents of Catlettsburg have been experiencing water woes since the Polar Vortex hit earlier this month and something happened that caused the level in the city's water tank to drop quickly. Crews haven't been able to keep the tank filled since then.

Ryan Eastwood, director of engineering and utilities for the city of Ashland, which supplies Catlettsburg with water, said fixing breaks in the system after the subfreezing temperatures rose failed to help.

He says some water crew members have worked 16-hour stretches to try to remedy the situation.

Meanwhile, snow was falling Tuesday and temperatures were expected to drop into the single digits by early Wednesday.

JUSTICE-TOBACCO

Black media seek part of court-ordered tobacco ads

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Black media outlets want tobacco companies to run court-ordered advertisements in their publications as part of a lawsuit charging that the industry lied about the dangers of smoking.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association and National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters filed a brief in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ahead of a Wednesday hearing in the case.

A federal judge in 2006 ordered the industry to pay for the corrective statements in various advertisements in newspapers, as well as on TV, websites and cigarette pack inserts.

The groups argue the ads should be disseminated through their outlets because the black community has been disproportionally targeted by tobacco companies.

The companies and the federal government reached an agreement last week on the details of publishing those statements.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.