Kentucky News Now

FATAL CRASH

EKU student killed in traffic accident

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

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a man killed in a traffic accident in Richmond, Kentucky, was a student at Eastern Kentucky University.

According to WKYT-TV, 22-year-old David Nelson Lee was leaving the parking lot of a convenience store Friday afternoon when his car was struck by a van. Authorities say Lee died at the scene.

Clerks at the store say drivers often speed on the road Lee was trying to turn onto.

Authorities say Lee's parents are in Irvine, Texas, but he has grandparents in Irvine and Richmond.

Investigators have not said if anyone will be charged.

CENTRE MENTORS

Centre coeds mentor Boyle Middle School girls

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce in the United States but only a quarter of those women are working in science or mathematics-related fields, a separation that begins around middle school.

Centre College sophomore Ceci Vollbrecht and some of her classmates are doing what they can to reverse the trend — starting with girls at the Boyle County Middle School.

Vollbrecht and her classmates have formed GEMS — Girls in Engineering, Math and Science — a mentoring program that meets after school at BCMS in an effort to grow the scientific interest in the next generation of girls.

GEMS is currently only available at the Boyle County Middle School, but Vollbrecht hopes to someday expand to other schools.

BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK

Breaks park plans more development in Ky.

(Information in the following story is from: Appalachian News-Express, http://www.news-expressky.com)

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky gateway, road improvements, trail shelters and additional campsites could be coming to Breaks Interstate Park in the future.

Those are some of the developments included in a proposed master plan being considered by park officials. The Appalachian News-Express reports the park is holding a meeting on Monday to distribute information and get public input about the plan before it is finalized next year.

The park, which encompasses 4,800 acres, lies on the Kentucky-Virginia border and is supported by both states.

Breaks Superintendent Austin Bradley says the plan reflects requests for more development on the Kentucky side of the park.

The meeting will be held at the Breaks Conference Center in Virginia.

Written comments are also being accepted through Jan. 8 and should be sent to lynn.crump@dcr.virginia.gov.

PATRIOT-MINES

Patriot Coal warns of cuts at Union County mines

(Information in the following story is from: The Gleaner, http://www.thegleaner.com/)

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — Patriot Coal Corp. is warning that substantial cutbacks at its two Union County mines could come in the next two months, affecting as many as 670 workers.

The federal WARN act requires major employers to give 60-day notice of closures or significant layoffs. The Gleaner reports that Patriot gave such notice Friday in respect to its Highland mine at the Union-Henderson county border, as well as the Dodge Hill complex near Sturgis.

Those mines produced approximately 3.9 million tons of coal in 2013.

The company, which emerged from bankruptcy reorganization a year ago, had earlier closed its Henderson County mines.

Union County Judge-executive Jody Jenkins says the announcement has come at the worst possible time, with the holidays approaching.

MCCONNELL SPEECH

McConnell: Senate GOP wants to rein in EPA

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the new Republican-run Senate will try to rein in the Environmental Protection Agency by targeting its budget.

McConnell said Saturday that Senate Republicans will try to insert language into the EPA's budget to put restrictions on the agency. The Kentucky Republican says EPA overreach has hampered job growth in the country and caused an economic depression in eastern Kentucky coalfields.

McConnell made the comments at the Kentucky Farm Bureau's meeting in Louisville.

He told reporters later that he's confident of winning support from some Democratic senators in efforts to curtail EPA.

McConnell says he's optimistic of achieving bipartisan progress on some issues despite his deep differences with President Barack Obama. He mentioned tax reform, trade and infrastructure improvements as possible issues of agreement.

CROCHETING RUGS

Cave City woman crafts rugs, gives most away

CAVE CITY, Ky. (AP) — Bertha Hogan likes to crochet while she watches television. Occasionally, she gets caught up in the activity and forgets the time, sometimes staying up until the wee hours of the morning.

Hogan, of Cave City, is known for crocheting brightly colored rugs made of cotton fabric.

Hogan seldom sells the rugs she makes. Instead, she typically gives the rugs away.

The older the sheets, the easier they are to use, so she visits yard sales looking for sheets she can use. At one time, she bought them from the VA Hospital in Louisville at $1 per sheet.

Hogan recently began using hospital gowns to make her rugs.

COMPANY EXPANSION-CARROLL COUNTY

North America Stainless expanding Ghent facility

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear says North America Stainless plans to expand its facility in Carroll County.

In a news release, Beshear's office says the stainless steel producer will invest $5 million to add a fourth steel slitter line at its plant in Ghent, adding 15 new jobs in the process.

The steel industry helps drive Kentucky's economy, accounting for more than $1.4 billion in GDP and employing more than 4,000 people statewide.

Construction on the slitter line is expected to be completed in early 2016. Slitting is the process of cutting large rolls of steel into more narrow rolls. The stainless steel is used in appliances, plumbing, general manufacturing and food service.

North America Stainless is a subsidiary of Acerinox, S.A., headquartered in Madrid, Spain.