Kentucky News Now

STUDENT SPEECH

Student free-speech bill passes Kentucky Senate

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill touted by its supporters as providing a guide to Kentucky's public schools on the religious and political free-speech protections of students has passed the state Senate.

The bill, which advanced on a 30-4 vote Thursday, is backed by The Family Foundation. Its executive director, Kent Ostrander, says it puts "a stake in the ground" for the free speech and religious liberty of students.

The measure is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky. ACLU Program Director Derek Selznick says it's an unneeded attempt to overregulate something that has First Amendment protections.

The measure wades into controversial subjects such as students wanting to thank God at public school events or wanting to pray before athletic events.

The bill now heads to the Kentucky House for consideration.

AQUEDUCT CANCELS

Big A cancels Friday's racing program

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Racing Association has canceled Friday's races at Aqueduct due to expected frigid temperatures and strong wind gusts.

There has been no racing at the track since Saturday. The Sunday and Monday programs were canceled because of cold weather and sub-zero wind chill conditions. No racing was scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday's card was wiped out by the winter chill.

The latest cancellation is the 13th this winter at Aqueduct.

Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday.

PLANE STALLS

Plane stalls on runway at Blue Grass Airport

(Information in the following story is from: WLEX-TV, http://www.wlextv.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A small plane lost power on the runway during takeoff at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, leading to flight delays.

WLEX-TV in Lexington reports none of the three passengers on board was injured Thursday. The plane remained on the runway after the incident, which led to delays of other flights.

The plane was cleared off the runway by 5 p.m. It was headed to Michigan when the engine died.

CHARITABLE GAMBLING

Charitable gambling bills clear Senate committee

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two bills designed to help the state's struggling charitable gambling industry have cleared a state Senate committee.

The first bill would let people play an electronic version of the popular paper pull tab games used by many charities. Local charities said they hope the games, played on a tablet-like device, will attract a younger set of customers to replace the shrinking number of Bingo players.

The second bill would clarify that so-called Internet sweepstakes cafes are illegal in Kentucky. The cafes let people purchase Internet access for the chance to win cash prizes while playing online casino-style games. The businesses operate outside of the state's gambling regulations. A recent attorney general's opinion said the cafes are illegal, but local government leaders say the law is unclear and difficult to enforce.

FROZEN WARRANT

Kentucky town has had enough of the 'Frozen' weather

HARLAN, Ky. (AP) — The cold might not bother Disney's Queen Elsa, but it's wreaking enough havoc in Kentucky that a police department announced a joke warrant for the popular "Frozen" character's arrest.

Police in the small, rural town of Harlan posted a Facebook message Wednesday about Elsa.

They wrote: "Suspect is a blonde female last seen wearing a long blue dress and is known to burst into song 'Let it Go!' As you can see by the weather she is very dangerous."

Police soon posted another message, telling residents that all kidding aside, they should take the weather seriously and be careful.

A massive system dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of Kentucky. Bitterly cold temperatures moved in Wednesday night and were likely to stay for several days.

TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS

Bill to put transgendered bathrooms in public schools fails

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill that would have banned transgendered students from choosing which bathroom to use at public schools has failed to pass a state Senate committee.

The proposal was in response to a Louisville school's decision to allow students to use the restroom of their sexual identity. The proposal received six of the seven votes required to advance to the Senate floor in the Republican-controlled committee. Two Republicans were absent.

The bill would have allowed transgendered students to use a separate bathroom. But Henry Brousseau, a 16-year-old transgendered student at a private school in Louisville, told lawmakers the bill was hateful because it would single him out from his peers.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said the committee could reconsider the bill before the end of the session.

T25-LOUISVILLE-JONES

Pitino: Jones' suspension is over with No. 12 Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rick Pitino has ended Louisville guard Chris Jones' suspension for violating unspecified team rules after coach says the Cardinals' senior point guard met conditions for reinstatement.

Louisville basketball spokesman Kenny Klein said Thursday via text that "coach Pitino said Chris has done what he needed to do and his suspension is over."

Pitino's decision follows Wednesday's 69-59 loss at Syracuse, Louisville's third in four games. After that loss, Pitino said Jones could return Saturday against Miami (17-9, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), but only if he responds in the manner expected

Freshman Quentin Snider scored 13 points in place of Jones, who did not travel after being suspended Tuesday.

Jones leads No. 12 Louisville (20-6, 8-5) with 3.7 assists per game and is third in scoring (13.6 points).