Kentucky News Now

KENTUCKY REVENUE

Kentucky tax collections rebound in October

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's tax collections rebounded in October after a slow start to the fiscal year that has left state officials worried.

The State Budget Office report Monday forecast a $135 million revenue shortfall when the fiscal year ends next June. But The Courier-Journal said that was softened somewhat by the October receipts.

State officials collected $33.2 million more in October than they did in the same month a year ago, a 4.6 percent increase. That increase is more than the growth of the first three months of the fiscal year combined.

The state saw big increases in its two largest sources of revenue. Individual income tax collections jumped 4.8 percent while sales tax collections rose 6.3 percent. Year to date, property and corporate income taxes have both declined from last year's levels.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said the state's low collections are cause for concern. But he called October's numbers encouraging and said there is no reason at this point to panic.

LUNG CANCER

Collaborative to fight lung cancer being announced

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky leads the nation in cases of lung cancer, and those involved in a new effort called Kentucky LEADS Collaborative hope to attack that.

The project's name stands for "Lung Cancer. Education. Awareness. Detection. Survivorship." Representatives from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and the Lung Cancer Alliance will join others Wednesday in Frankfort to announce the collaborative.

The project is supported by a $7 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's Bridging Cancer Care initiative.

Officials say the collaborative is intended to focus on reducing the impact of lung cancer in Kentucky through provider education, early detection and screening, and patient and caregiver support.

Kentucky has more cases of lung cancer than any other state, with a mortality rate nearly 50 percent higher than the national average.

KENTUCKY BAPTISTS-TV ADS

Kentucky Baptists create TV ads

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention has produced two television ads to promote church attendance.

Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood unveiled the 30-second ads on Tuesday at the convention's annual meeting in Bowling Green.

Chitwood says he got a lot of requests for TV ads from church members who noticed effective ads by the Mormon church.

The new ads are being made available free to Kentucky Baptist churches, associations and other ministries for use in their local TV markets.

One ad tells the story of churchgoer Wayne Brown, who struggled with alcohol addiction before turning his life around and attending church. A narrator in the second ad says "Maybe it's time to rethink church."

The spots were created by oneMission.tv, an Atlanta-based company that specializes in Christian advertising.

KENTUCKY BAPTISTS

Kentucky Baptists kick out gay-friendly church

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Baptists have voted to sever ties with a Louisville church that is open to performing same-sex marriages.

Baptist leaders from around the state gathered Tuesday in Bowling Green for the Kentucky Baptist Convention's annual meeting. They voted overwhelmingly to end their longstanding relationship with Crescent Hill Baptist Church.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Jason Crosby, has said the church is open to performing same-sex marriages and ordaining gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual members. Crosby made a plea Tuesday to allow the church to remain a part of the convention.

KBC President Chip Hutcheson gave an update on Campbellsville University, which has moved to end its covenant agreement with Kentucky Baptists. Last month, the central Kentucky university appointed a board of trustees without the Baptist Convention's approval.

MINE INSPECTOR-BRIBERY

Former mine inspector faces state ethics charges

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A former state mine inspector indicted on accusations of taking bribes from a state lawmaker is now facing charges from the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

The commission charged Kelly Shortridge with four counts of violating state ethics laws, citing his alleged part in a scheme with Democratic state Rep. W. Keith Hall. A federal grand jury has indicted Hall for paying Shortridge more than $46,000 to ignore safety violations at some mines Hall owned. Shortridge is accused of trying to extort more money from Hall and for lying to federal agents.

Both Hall and Shortridge have pleaded not guilty in federal court. The ethics commission unveiled a formal complaint against Shortridge that could lead to a civil penalty after a formal hearing.

Hall represented Pike County for 14 years before being defeated in the May primary.

REMAINS RECOVERED

Ky. remains to be sent to Tenn. for further study

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (AP) — A preliminary autopsy on remains found in central Kentucky has found no evidence of foul play, but the bones will be sent to the University of Tennessee where they will undergo further evaluation.

Anderson County Coroner Dr. Mark Tussey told the Lexington Herald-Leader that there was "no obvious evidence of trauma" on the remains that were found in a rural area Saturday by deer hunters. Tussey said he is still working to determine the identity of the person.

He said a forensic anthropologist at UT's Anthropology Research Facility will examine the remains to look for any "subtle signs of foul play."

Since Kentucky's forensic anthropologist, Dr. Emily Craig, retired in 2010, the state contracts with UT for those services.

SNOW DAY-LEARNING

13 districts may have non-traditional snow days

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — "Snow day" may have a different meaning for students in some Kentucky school districts this year.

The state has approved waivers for 13 districts allowing them to continue with class even if students can't make it to school — in most cases using online access.

WDRB-TV says Kentucky education officials briefed lawmakers on the plan Monday in Frankfort.

Education Department officials can approve up to 10 snow learning days for each district.

This year, all school districts could apply for the waivers because of a change in state law. The waivers previously were only for districts that missed more than 20 school days.

The districts that qualified are Boyle, Grant, Jessamine, Johnson, Lawrence, Leslie, Owsley, Pike, Taylor, Todd, Washington and Wolfe counties and Corbin Independent.