Kentucky News Now

CHILDREN REMOVED

Growing number of Kentucky children being removed from homes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The number of Kentucky children who have been removed from homes because of abuse or neglect has reached nearly unprecedented levels.

The Courier-Journal reports that there are currently 8,208 children who have been removed from their homes and placed in foster or residential care. Five years ago, that number was about 7,000.

Teresa James, commissioner of the agency that oversees child protection in Kentucky, says that statistic is close to an all-time high.

Jefferson County Family Court Chief Judge Paula Sherlock says much of the blame for the trend lies with the public's growing use of heroin.

Kentucky lawmakers this year passed a broad bill aimed at combating addiction and getting more people into drug treatment.

James says the state uses about 3,500 foster homes, and is seeking more.

JUDGE SUSPENDED-KENTUCKY

Kentucky judge accused of threatening police is suspended

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky judge accused of a long list of belligerent behavior including name-calling, unethically presiding over cases, and threatening a "bullet in the head" for the next police officer to pull him over has been suspended.

In all, Pike County Circuit Judge Steven D. Combs faces 10 counts of misconduct. He was temporarily suspended with pay Tuesday pending a final ruling by the state's Judicial Conduct Commission. Another hearing will be held, and the commission's options could include removing Combs from the bench, suspending or reprimanding him.

Attorney Steve Ryan said Wednesday that Combs is disappointed by the suspension. Ryan acknowledges that Combs made some phone calls "he probably shouldn't have," but the attorney also notes that the judge has been re-elected when on the ballot.

USDA-ENERGY PROJECTS

USDA funding 23 Kentucky energy projects with $264,000

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is receiving more than $264,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund 23 applications for improvements in energy efficiency.

The agency's rural development office in Kentucky said in a news release that the projects include a Monroe County cattle owner who will install a solar energy system to generate more than 13,000 kilowatt hours per year. A business owner in Garrard County will install a hybrid solar and thermal energy system that will generate more than 16,000 kilowatt hours per year.

State Director Tom Fern says the grants will help people in agriculture-related businesses improve their operations by becoming more energy-efficient.

DISASTER LOANS

Deadline is July 13 to seek disaster loan for March weather

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Private nonprofit organizations in Kentucky that sustained physical losses from severe weather in March in 57 Kentucky counties have until July 13 to submit disaster loan applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Eligible counties are Anderson, Bell, Bourbon, Boyd, Breathitt, Bullitt, Butler, Calloway, Carter, Casey, Clay, Daviess, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Hancock, Harrison, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Marshall, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Metcalfe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Spencer, Trigg, Washington, Webster, Whitley and Woodford.

The organizations must provide noncritical services such as food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

To apply, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela , call (800) 659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or download an application at http://www.sba.gov/disaster .

KENTUCKY RIVER LOCKS

Stretch of Kentucky River open to navigation again

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An 82-mile stretch of the Kentucky River from Frankfort to its mouth at the Ohio River is navigable with the opening of locks and dams Nos. 1 through 4.

They are open to boaters for the first time since 2007, when major renovation work began.

The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet said in a news release that more than 1,200 people on 295 boats have passed through the locks since they opened Memorial Day weekend. It takes an average of about 20 to 30 minutes to "lock through."

Some celebrations are planned, including a ribbon-cutting on June 26 and River Blast on June 27, both in Frankfort. River cleanups are also planned in different communities along the river and along the Ohio River this Saturday.

For more information, visit http://www.kra.ky.gov .

DOCTOR ARRESTED

Kentucky doctor faces federal drug charges

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A southern Kentucky doctor has been arrested in Tennessee after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, health care fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.

A statement from the Bowling Green Warren County Drug Task Force says 63-year-old Dr. Fred Gott was taken into custody Tuesday morning in Nashville, Tennessee.

The statement says the charges stem from a lengthy investigation that included the seizure of medical records from Gott's office in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2013.

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, Gott practiced medicine in the community for 30 years, focusing on cardiology and pain management.

Records from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure show his medical license was restricted last year.

It wasn't immediately clear whether he has an attorney.

MISSING WOMAN

Crews find body of woman who went missing at park

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) — A coroner says crews have found the body of a woman who went missing during a trip to Cumberland Falls State Park.

WLEX-TV cited the Whitley County coroner in reporting that the body of 24-year-old Nina Parker was found Wednesday morning.

According to media reports, the search effort for the Owensboro woman began Saturday evening after she apparently slipped and fell under the water in the Eagle Falls area, which is about a half-mile from Cumberland Falls. She was with her boyfriend and son when she went missing.

Several agencies along with swift water rescue teams and divers participated in the search.

POLICE DOG BITES GIRL

Officer suspended, dog removed from duty after biting girl

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A police officer has been reprimanded and a police dog removed from duty after the animal bit a child at a Kentucky school last month.

The Kentucky New Era reports that a girl was attacked by the dog, named Eddie, on May 9 outside an elementary school building. The girl suffered cuts to her face and was treated at a hospital.

Eddie's handler, Hopkinsville Officer Jack Lingenfelter, has been removed from the department's K-9 program and suspended for a week without pay.

The decision was announced Monday by police department spokesman Paul Ray after a monthlong internal investigation.

Ray says Eddie has been returned to the Indiana company that trained him. Eddie had been with the force since August.

STUDENTS-BUS RIDES

University of Kentucky ID card holders can ride for free

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — University of Kentucky students, faculty and staff will soon be able to ride around campus and Lexington for free aboard Lextran buses.

The city and the university announced the program Tuesday. UK said the one-year, $160,000 agreement can be renewed.

It takes effect July 1 and gives free trips to riders with a valid Wildcard ID.

A news release from UK said Lextran buses travel throughout and beyond its campus on 21 different routes.

The release said the program is the first of several initiatives planned through the UK Transportation Master Plan.

RIVER CLEANUP

Volunteers gathering Saturday to clean up river banks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Volunteers are stepping up this weekend with trash bags and gloves to help clean up the banks of the Ohio and Kentucky rivers.

The efforts are part of the Ohio River Sweep, which takes place in six states along 3,000 miles of shoreline of the Ohio River and its tributaries. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission says last year, 17,000 volunteers participated.

In Kentucky, 18 counties have dozens of locations with coordinators organizing the Ohio River cleanup. Volunteers will also tackle the 12-mile section of the Kentucky River that touches Fayette County for the Kentucky River Clean Sweep.

The events are both on Saturday. Start times vary by location.

For more information, visit http://www.orsanco.org/images/stories/files/riverSweep/tables/KY2015locations5.pdf for the Ohio River Sweep and http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=809 for the Kentucky River Clean Sweep.