Friday’s Kentucky News – December 13th, 2013

MOUNTAIN CLOUT

Mountain lawmakers wield power in Legislature

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Lawmakers from the Appalachian region have major clout in Frankfort, occupying six of the top leadership positions in the Legislature.

That influence was on display this week at a meeting of the Legislative Research Commission, which pulls together the top brass from the Senate and House.

Gathered along a table were Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg and Republican Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester, both of whom represent mountain districts.

Other mountain lawmakers in that meeting were House Democratic Majority Leader Rocky Adkins of Catlettsburg, House Republican Minority Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown, Senate Republican Whip Brandon Smith of Hazard and Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Johnny Ray Turner.

No other region of the state has as many lawmakers in leadership.

DRUNKEN DRIVING

Phone app allows reporting of drunken drivers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky motorists who get behind the wheel after drinking may be outsmarted by their phones with the introduction of a new app from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.

The "No DUI Kentucky" application allows other motorists to report a drunken driver with a one-touch dialing feature to contact Kentucky State Police. It also has a blood alcohol concentration calculator and a feature that allows the user to see through the camera to simulate impairment after consuming a number of drinks, from zero to 15.

The app also lists local taxi services, sober ride programs and limousine companies and laws and penalties for driving while impaired.

The app is available to download for free in application sites or at http://www.DriveSoberKy.com.

KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE

Humphrey concedes legislative race after recanvass

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democrat Kim Humphrey has conceded a close legislative race in western Kentucky after a recanvass confirmed Tuesday's vote totals.

Republican Suzanne Miles of Owensboro won the race with 3,568 votes, narrowly besting Humphrey's 3,436 votes in western Kentucky's 7th House District.

The recanvass was completed Thursday.

Miles replaces Democratic state Rep. John Arnold of Sturgis who resigned in September after being accused of sexually harassing legislative staffers at the Capitol.

Republicans, who have been pushing hard to win majority control of the House, see the race as important because it moves them a seat closer to their goal.

The Democratic majority now stands at 54-46.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Former lawmaker won't face sanctions from House

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A former western Kentucky lawmaker won't face sanctions from the House for allegations that he sexually harassed legislative staffers.

A special investigative House committee voted 3-2 along party lines Thursday to adjourn without taking any action against former Democratic state Rep. John Arnold of Sturgis, concluding that it has no legal authority because he has already resigned.

Arnold gave up his seat in the House in September, shortly after the sexual harassment allegations were made public. Legislative staffers Yolanda Costner and Cassaundra Cooper say Arnold had touched them inappropriately and made vulgar comments. A third woman also has filed a complaint.

LOCAL SALES TAX

Local option tax to be discussed by Ky. mayors

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

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (AP) — A forum with northern Kentucky's mayors will explore a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Kentucky cities and counties the authority to impose a local sales tax.

The Kenton Mayors Group will offer information to the region's elected officials, who may consider asking the General Assembly to allow a vote on the constitutional change in November 2014.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports a representative from the Louisville mayor's office is also expected to attend the Saturday forum. Mayor Greg Fischer supports the local option sales tax.

Under current Kentucky law, cities and counties are not allowed to impose sales taxes. But some officials say it's necessary to raise money for local projects when state funding is unavailable.

Crestview Hills Mayor Paul Meier says 37 states already allow for a local option tax.

COAL CANDLES

Coal-themed candles helping unemployed miners

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

HARLAN, Ky. (AP) — A group in Harlan is selling coal-theme candles to help unemployed miners in eastern Kentucky pay their bills.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports a group called Harlan 20/20 is managing the project.

Rie Whitfield and Kathy Bianchi, who are members of Harlan 20/20, say they wanted to come up with a way to help the thousands of coal miners who have been laid off due to a slump in the coal industry.

The candles are black to represent coal, but come in different scents. They are made by the Goose Creek Candle Company in Casey County and sell for $20.

Whitfield and Bianchi say they originally wanted to raise $5,000 with the project, but it became so popular that they've already raised $16,000. Whitfield says their new goal is $20,000.