Kentucky News Now

HAND TRANSPLANT-FAILURE

Transplanted hand removed in Louisville surgery

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com )

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Bowling Green man who had a hand transplant last week has had the hand removed because it was failing.

Dr. Joseph Kutz (KOOTZ) said in a statement Monday that the 67-year-old man's hand was failing on Sunday and surgeons decided to remove it after consulting with the family.

The Courier-Journal said it's the second time in the Louisville hand-transplant program's 15-year history that a new hand has had to be removed.

The hand was transplanted during a 16-hour procedure on Nov. 25. Recipient Jim Ray was the first hand-transplant patient to receive an experimental therapy using a patient's own fat to stave off rejection.

KentuckyOne Health spokeswoman Barbara Mackovic said doctors don't know whether the experimental therapy had anything to do with the hand's failure.

HEALTHY MEALS

Families urged to share healthy meal Wednesday

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Education is urging families to eat a healthy meal together on Wednesday.

The occasion is the first Family and Consumer Sciences Day, recognizing a discipline that includes areas such as human development, personal and family finance, food science, nutrition and wellness.

The Education Department says benefits to family meals include healthy eating habits and a bond between parents and children; more economical food costs compared with eating out; and improved academic performance, with 52 percent of children receiving mostly A's or B's when their families eat dinner together.

The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences launched the first Family and Consumer Sciences Day, with a goal of 200,000 families preparing and eating a healthy meal together on Wednesday.

LEGISLATURE-TOPICS BOOK

Book on Kentucky legislative topics available

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Some of the main topics that have come up in legislative committee meetings and that the 2015 Kentucky General Assembly may consider are included in a book available to the public.

Legislative Research Commission staff members have prepared 37 issue briefs that are included in "Topics Before The Kentucky General Assembly." The book is available in print and online.

The LRC says the book doesn't represent an exhaustive list of issues that will come up before the legislature but is a balanced look at some of the chief topics that have been discussed by committees.

Printed copies are available at the LRC Publications Office in the State Capitol, Room 83. The publication can be viewed online at http://www.lrc.ky.gov/lrcpubs/IB245.pdf.

The session begins Jan. 6 and is scheduled to adjourn March 24.

STATE SENATE-DEMOCRATS

State Senate Democrats elect new leaders

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State Senate Democrats have elected new leaders after a brutal election cycle that saw their numbers dwindle to historic lows as their counterparts in the House were able to maintain their majority.

State Sen. Ray Jones of Pikeville was chosen Monday as the new minority leader, replacing Sen. R.J. Palmer of Winchester who lost his re-election bid to Republican Ralph Alvarado. Sen. Gerald Neal of Louisville is the new caucus chairman replacing Sen. Johnny Ray Turner of Prestonsburg. And Sen. Julian Carrol of Frankfort is the new minority whip replacing Sen. Jerry Rhoads of Madisonville, who did not seek re-election.

Jones said Senate Democrats will be more vocal in challenging the Republican agenda. He said Democrats have done a miserable job of recruiting candidates and vowed to do better in upcoming elections.

SCHOOL EVACUATED-KENTUCKY

Kentucky teen arraigned on school shooting charges

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville teenager facing multiple charges stemming from a shooting has been ordered to stay away from the high school where the incident took place.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Judith McDonald Burkman on Monday set bond for 16-year-old Andre Banks at $30,000 and told him to have no contact with Fern Creek High School. The judge also entered a not guilty plea for Banks.

Banks is charged as an adult 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.

Police say he shot a 15-year-old inside the school on Sept. 30, but the teen wasn't the target.

The next court date for Banks was set for Jan. 8.

GOVERNOR CANDIDATE

Democrats first to file for 2015 governor's race

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A retired state engineer and a woman arrested after riding her bicycle to school are the first candidates to officially file for the 2015 governor's race.

Geoff Young and Cherokee Schill filed their paperwork with the secretary of state's office just before 3 p.m. EST Monday. Young is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor while Schill is his running mate for lieutenant governor.

Young, who said he worked for the state for 13 years, was last on the ballot in May when he lost to Elisabeth Jensen in the Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District.

Schill received attention from cycling advocates earlier this year when she was arrested for careless driving after riding her bicycle on busy U.S. 127 on her commute to Lexington. Her case is pending.