Kentucky News Now

SENATE-KENTUCKY-ADS

Democratic ads off the air in Kentucky Senate race

FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) — The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has stopped running TV ads in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, a troublesome sign for Alison Lundergan Grimes in her challenge of Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

In a statement, the committee says it has spent more than $2 million in Kentucky and is still funding get-out-the-vote operations. The committee says it will continue to monitor the race, but it has made no commitment to go back on the air in support of Grimes, who has been pummeled by tens of millions of dollars in attack ads by McConnell and his allies.

The Democratic committee continues to spend heavily in other competitive races in Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia and elsewhere as it tries to prevent Republicans from winning a Senate majority.

HORSE PARK DIRECTOR

New director chosen for Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Horse Park Commission has chosen Gov. Steve Beshear's deputy chief of staff, Jamie Link, as the new executive director of the park.

The park said a start date for Link will be set later.

Link jointed the Parks Department in 1985 as a business manager and was chief executive officer for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

He has been deputy secretary for the Finance Cabinet and the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He was deputy executive director of the horse park in 2006.

Link said in a news release from the park he is looking forward to the post.

The park's competition facilities are home to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the National Horse Show. The park houses the National Horse Center.

INMATE DEATH

Louisville jail inmate dies

(Information in the following story is from: WDRB-TV, http://www.fox41.com )

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An inmate at Louisville Metro Corrections has died after being taken to a hospital for seizure-related symptoms.

WDRB-TV said 31-year-old William Carnes was taken to Louisville from Hopkins County last Thursday on several charges in Jefferson County.

He was taken to University Hospital on Friday. Corrections officials said he was having seizure-related symptoms that afternoon. A news release said he died Monday at the hospital.

An autopsy will be performed. The Louisville police Public Integrity Unit and Metro Corrections are investigating. The jail contract health care services provider will also investigate.

ELECTIONEERING LAW

Judge blocks law banning campaigning near polls

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down a Kentucky law that prohibits campaign activities within 300 feet of polling places.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge William O. Bertelsman on Tuesday comes three weeks before voters go to the polls. The races include the hard-fought Senate campaign between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Bertelsman ruled in a lawsuit brought by a northern Kentucky man who in 2012 allowed campaign signs to be placed at his auto body business. The signs were removed by sheriff's deputies because they were within 300 feet of a polling place at a church. The man responded by suing the state.

The judge ruled that the state law violates the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. He issued a permanent injunction blocking the law's enforcement.

SENATE-KENTUCKY-DEBATE RATINGS

KET: 133,000 watched US Senate debate

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — KET officials say the U.S. Senate debate was the highest rated PBS program in the nation on Monday.

Kentucky Educational Television officials estimate more than 133,000 people around the state tuned in for the hourlong Kentucky Tonight program, where host Bill Goodman moderated a discussion with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes. It is the only scheduled televised debate between the two candidates in one of the country's most closely watched races ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.

KET spokesman Todd Piccirilli said the broadcaster does not get ratings from all of its transmitters across the state. But its estimate comes from ratings in the Louisville market, the largest in the state.

QUARTER HORSE TRACK

Harness track purchase to draw scrutiny

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky horse racing regulators say they will scrutinize a proposal by the Keeneland Association and a partner to purchase a harness track and move its license to build a quarter horse track in the Corbin area.

State Horse Racing Commission Chairman Bob Beck said Tuesday that regulatory approval for the proposal is not guaranteed.

Commission Executive Director John T. Ward says the review will require transparency.

Keeneland is teaming with Full House Resorts in the proposal to purchase Thunder Ridge harness track at Prestonsburg and develop the quarter horse track in southeastern Kentucky.

The developers hope to tap into the Tennessee market by also offering the slot-like Instant Racing game.

Keeneland Chief Operating Officer Vince Gabbert says Keeneland and its partner have an option to acquire a site in the Corbin area.

PIPELINE SUMMIT

Summit on pipeline opposition planned in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Environmentalists are organizing a summit on fracking, pipelines and landowner rights for next month in Lexington.

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth says the Nov. 8 summit was put together by landowners and others who battled the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline. That pipeline was designed to carry natural gas liquids through several Kentucky counties on the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Summit organizer Chris Schimmoeller says the state is destined to have more pipeline projects proposed in the future. He says the purpose of the summit is for pipeline opponents to educate themselves. Bluegrass Pipeline organizers announced in April that they were halting the project.

The summit will be held at the Locust Trace AgriScience Center on Leestown Road.

Online registration is available at http://www.stopbluegrasspipeline.us or http://www.nobluegrasspipeline.com.