Kentucky News Now

SCHOOL EVACUATED-KENTUCKY

Teen indicted in Louisville school shooting

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a Louisville teenager who was accused of firing a gun that hit a student in a high school hallway this fall.

The case had been in juvenile court, and the teenager has not been identified. The indictment returned Monday will move the proceedings to Jefferson County Circuit Court, where his identity will become public.

The Courier-Journal said the 16-year-old was charged with first-degree assault, wanton endangerment, unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a handgun by a minor and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. He is being held on $30,000 bond.

The 15-year-old who was shot continues to recover.

The incident prompted the evacuation of the 1,400-student Fern Creek High School on Sept. 30.

CLEAN WATER-COAL

Judge rejects coal firm's settlement with state

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A judge has rejected a settlement between the state of Kentucky and a coal mining company over water quality monitoring violations from several years ago.

Frasure Creek Mining was accused of falsifying reports on water discharges from its eastern Kentucky mining operations, which are required by law. In December 2010, state officials reached a $310,000 proposed settlement with the company, but environmental groups argued that the fines were not high enough.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd later allowed the groups to intervene in the case.

On Monday, Shepherd rejected the proposed settlement, writing in a ruling that it "fails to impose penalties that would deter this conduct."

The same environmental groups filed another court motion earlier this month against Frasure Creek, alleging the company had resumed filing false reports.

BUS DRIVER ARRESTED

Bus driver arrested for driving under influence

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say a charter bus driver has been charged with driving under the influence and wanton endangerment while hauling 50 students, teachers and parents back to eastern Kentucky from a field trip in Louisiana.

State Police Trooper Billy Gregory says the driver, Holly M. Brown of Louisville, was arrested during a stop at a Washington County convenience store on Sunday. She's also charged with failure to have a prescribed controlled substance in a proper container.

Gregory says state police were alerted by a sheriff's deputy who found the bus parked at the convenience store.

Brown was operating a bus owned by Miller Transportation. The group was headed to Elliott County.

The company says it is cooperating with investigators.

Jefferson County Public Schools officials say Brown has been a bus driver for the system.

GUN CONTROL-MARYLAND

21 states including Kentucky push to overturn Maryland gun-control law

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Twenty-one states including Kentucky are asking a federal appeals court to overturn provisions of Maryland's gun-control law that ban 45 assault weapons and limit gun magazines to 10 rounds.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led the coalition in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, last week.

The brief says the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep firearms in homes for self-protection.

The other states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

A U.S. District Court judge in Baltimore upheld the provisions in August.

The state of Maryland has until Dec. 31 to respond to the filing.

PASSPORT HEALTH PLAN-NEW OFFICE

Passport Health Plan to open eastern Ky. office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Passport Health Plan says it will open a new office in eastern Kentucky by early next year that will employ about 40 people.

The nonprofit company manages Medicaid plans for more than 200,000 Kentuckians. Company officials announced Monday they plan to open a 4,100-square-foot office in Prestonsburg as part of Prestonsburg Village.

The Louisville-based Passport Health Plan has been contracting with the state to provide Medicaid benefits since 1997. The company began administering Medicaid plans statewide in January.

Company officials announced the new office on Monday during the executive board meeting for the Shaping Our Appalachian Region initiative. The initiative, started by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, seeks to help the region's economy move beyond its dependence on the coal industry.

SEIZURE PATIENT-SINGER

Seizure patient to perform concert at U. of Kentucky Hospital to thank doctors

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Northern Kentucky University student who beat leukemia at 6 years old, then developed seizures that threatened her future as a singer is performing for her doctors and patients this week in Lexington.

Celeste Shearer of Hart County underwent surgery after University of Kentucky physicians determined removing the diseased part of her brain was her best option. Her desire to be a singer and performer made it necessary to preserve her brain function in those areas.

The doctors kept Celeste awake to listen and respond to music, helping doctors define which areas of her brain needed to be preserved.

That was a year ago. Now Shearer is seizure-free and a college freshman. She will say thanks Wednesday at UK Hospital with a concert there for doctors and patients.

TROOPS RETURN

Transportation company returning to Fort Campbell

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — About 140 soldiers will return to Fort Campbell for a late Thanksgiving with family members.

The 594th Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is scheduled to arrive at the military post on the Kentucky-Tennessee state line at about 7:20 p.m. CDT Thursday.

The unit, an arm of 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, spent nine months deployed to Kuwait where they provided transportation support units.

The soldiers also provided logistical support against the Islamic State, a terrorist group that has seized territory in Iraq and Syria.

KENTUCKY'S LAST CHANCE

Kentucky prepares for rival and No. 24 Louisville

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky began this month one game from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2010 and now the Wildcats' are trying to avoid a fourth consecutive losing season.

That's what a five-game slide can do to a football program.

There's not lack of motivation for the Wildcats (5-6), coming off a bye entering Saturday's rivalry game at No. 24 Louisville (8-3). Not only will Kentucky try to salvage a .500 finish and enter the bowl picture, there's the matter of winning the Governor's Cup.

The rested Wildcats face a huge obstacle against the surging Cardinals, who beat Notre Dame 31-28 on Saturday for their second straight win.

Formerly played early in the year, the showdown for Bluegrass State bragging rights now wraps up the regular season