Kentucky News Now – February 11th 2014

EXPANDED GAMBLING

Key casino supporter says he lacks Senate support

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A prominent Senate Republican says he hasn't lined up enough support to get a proposed ballot measure aimed at legalizing casinos through the Kentucky Senate.

Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Dan Seum said Monday night he hasn't given up on the issue. But he said he has no plans to seek a vote until he has the votes needed to win Senate passage.

Seum made the comments after Senate Republicans discussed the issue behind closed doors.

Proposals seeking to legalize casinos have been introduced in the Senate and House. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear campaigned in support of expanded gambling as a revenue producer.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said Monday night that Beshear should push an expanded gambling measure in the Democratic-led House if he wants it badly enough.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT-KY

Report: Ky. below national average in AP scoring

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A new report shows over the last decade more students are taking Advanced Placement courses in Kentucky.

But the College Board report released on Tuesday shows the state is below the national average of students in the class of 2013 who scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam. The national average was 20 percent, where Kentucky was 16.3 percent.

A 3, 4, or 5 are the scores typically accepted by colleges for credit and placement.

Over the past decade, the report said the number of students who graduate from high school having taken rigorous AP courses, like world history and physics, has nearly doubled.

The report also showed the improvement states have made over the last decade in students scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam. Kentucky jumped from 7 percent in 2003 to 16.3 last year.

COALFIELD SCHOLARSHIPS

Ky. House passes coal-counties scholarship bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House has voted to expand a scholarship program for students in the state's coal regions.

House members voted 92-0 Monday to send the bill to the Senate.

The measure is aimed at increasing the number of people achieving four-year college degrees in the eastern and western Kentucky coalfields. The scholarships would be awarded to students who, for the most part, attend four-year college campuses in coal counties, in hopes they stay there after getting their degrees.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo says coalfield counties in eastern Kentucky lag behind other parts of the state in the percentage of its residents with four-year college degrees.

The measure seeks to make permanent a pilot project.

The scholarships are funded with coal severance tax money.

SAMARITANS KILLED

2 killed trying to help others in 5-vehicle crash

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com )

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Two people have died in central Kentucky and a third person is charged with aggravated drunken driving after a five-vehicle wreck on Interstate 75.

Kentucky State Police identified the people who died as 22-year-old Meredith L. Buscher of Richmond and 30-year-old Jeffrey Campbell of Louisville. The Lexington Herald-Leader says they were struck Sunday evening after leaving their cars to try to help others in the crash.

Police arrested 56-year-old Bryan M. Mangan of South Bend, Ind. He is also charged with driving on a suspended license and was taken to the Madison County jail.

Police said Buscher and Campbell had left their cars to assist others when they were struck by another vehicle.

Another man, 41-year-old Clifford H. Steinhauer of Fort Thomas, was in serious condition Monday at University of Kentucky hospital.

KENTUCKY BUDGET

Ky. General Fund revenues down slightly in Jan.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Tax collections fell slightly in Kentucky last month, contributing to sluggish overall revenue growth in the first seven months of the fiscal year.

State Budget Director Jane Driskell said Monday that General Fund revenues totaled $831.2 million in January, down 0.9 percent from the same month in 2013.

Driskell says receipts have grown 0.9 percent for the first seven months of the fiscal year.

She says tax collections will have to grow by 3.9 percent in the last five months of the fiscal year to meet the full-year revenue estimate.

Sales and use tax receipts were up 0.6 percent last month. Individual income tax collections declined 9.4 percent from a year ago, and corporate income tax receipts fell 28.9 percent.

Coal severance tax receipts dropped by 14.3 percent last month.

NATURAL BRIDGE TREKS

Natural Bridge hiking series starts March 22

SLADE, Ky. (AP) —Natural Bridge State Resort Park is offering a series of guided hikes starting next month

The hikes will be led by a naturalist and will range from four miles to eight miles.

The first "trail trek" is March 22, followed by hikes on April 26, June 7, Sept. 27 and Nov. 8. The Kentucky Parks Department says the first four will last about three to five hours, with the final event expected to run five to seven hours.

The fee for each trek is $8 per person. The minimum age is 10 years old, and anyone 10 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch if desired.

Preregistration is required by calling (800) 325-1710.