Kentucky News Now

GOP GOVERNOR-KENTUCKY

GOP candidates stay out of spotlight on campaign's final day

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Republican candidates for governor wrapped up a nasty primary campaign on Monday with a series of low-key appearances across the state and a new, 60-second television ad.

Hal Heiner started the day at a Shelby County golf course, greeting a few dozen people at the start of a golf scramble. The former Louisville Metro councilman made small talk and urged people to get out and vote on Tuesday.

James Comer had several stops including touring a business in London and meeting with Republican elected officials in Somerset and Glasgow as he seeks to motivate his supporters to get people to the polls.

Matt Bevin did not have any public campaign events listed and a spokesman did not return messages seeking comment. Bevin aired a new 60-second TV spot on Monday that highlighted his jobs plan.

GOP 2016-PAUL

Rand Paul threatens filibuster to block anti-terrorism act

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is vowing to "everything possible" to terminate the terrorism-era Patriot Act, but the Republican presidential hopeful concedes that it may not be enough.

Paul on Monday lashed out at the National Security Agency's bulk collection of American citizen phone records in the name of preventing acts of terrorism. The Kentucky senator made the comments during an event outside Philadelphia's Independence Hall.

Paul acknowledged there aren't enough votes in Congress to block legislation renewing the Patriot Act, but he promised to try to filibuster the measure this week. The surveillance program will expire on June 1 unless Congress acts.

The federal government's surveillance programs could play prominently in the GOP presidential primary contest. Some of Paul's Republican competitors support the programs.

BUS DRAGS GIRL

Mom says daughter dragged by school bus is out of hospital

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The mother of a Louisville girl who was dragged more than 100 hundred feet by a school bus says her daughter is out of the hospital.

Amy Rednour told WAVE-TV that 7-year-old Ally Rednour was discharged from Kosair Children's Hospital on Sunday.

The first-grader was pulled by a Jefferson County Public Schools bus on Friday when her backpack got caught in the door.

Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell says the female driver had stopped to let the girl off at her babysitter's house and closed the door on her backpack. The driver didn't notice the girl was being dragged until a car behind the bus sped up with its horn blaring.

The district said on Monday that the driver has been suspended without pay pending an investigation.

FOSTER HOMES

Report: More foster children should be placed with families

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A new report says Kentucky and other states could do a better job of placing children in the foster care system with families instead of group care.

The Kids Count report, released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Kentucky Youth Advocates, says 18 percent of the 7,211 children put into foster care in 2013 in Kentucky were placed in group settings. The data showed 81 percent were placed in family settings. The report says 30 states do a better job of finding family placements for foster children.

Kentucky Youth Advocates said progress has been made over the last year in placements. In addition, the state has begun to offer more in-home services and has changed how children are assessed when they come into the foster care system.

RECYCLING GRANTS

Grants to expand recycling awarded in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky officials say grants are being awarded across the state to expand recycling and reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills.

The Division of Waste Management says 46 recycling and 25 household hazardous waste grants totaling more than $3.3 million have been awarded.

State officials say the 71 grants are funded with grant dollars from the Kentucky Pride Fund. That fund is generated by a $1.75 fee for each ton of municipal solid waste disposed of in Kentucky landfills.

The grants require a 25 percent local match from the cities and counties receiving the awards. The match can be in the form of cash or "in kind" personnel, educational activities or advertising to promote the program.

MILL SPRINGS BATTLEFIELD

Mill Springs conservation being celebrated this weekend

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — The Civil War Trust and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association are making an announcement during a Memorial Day weekend ceremony in south-central Kentucky.

The Civil War Trust says U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky's 5th District will attend the event Saturday at Mill Springs Battlefield in the Nancy community, west of Somerset. The trust says the event is being held to celebrate recent land conservation achievements at the battleground.

The event begins at 10 a.m. EDT at the battlefield's Visitor Center on Kentucky 80. The Eighth Regiment Band will perform and officials from the Civil War Trust and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association are expected to attend.

Tours will also be available of the Visitor Center and the national cemetery.

The Battle of Mill Springs was fought in January 1862.