Kentucky News Now

GOP 2016-PAUL

Paul: Some game system to get undeserved disability payments

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says that some people "game the system" to receive disability payments they don't deserve.

During a meeting Wednesday with Republican state lawmakers in New Hampshire, Paul said that fraud is a widespread problem in disability programs that help people who are injured at work.

The Democratic National Committee seized on the comments, calling them offensive.

In a later interview with The Associated Press, Paul dismissed the criticism and said the federal government does not do an adequate job policing a system in need of reform.

The Kentucky Republican says his critics are arguing for fraud while he's arguing for eliminating fraud.

A potential presidential candidate, Paul was visiting early voting New Hampshire for the first time this year.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

Quarles files for agriculture commissioner

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Ryan Quarles has filed to run for state Agriculture Commissioner.

Quarles filed his candidacy papers at the Kentucky Secretary of State's office Wednesday morning. The Scott County farmer won a third term to the House of Representatives in November.

Sen. Paul Hornback, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and state Rep. Jonathan Shell, who farms 1,200 acres in central Kentucky, signed the papers for Quarles as witnesses. Quarles is the only Republican to file for the race so far to replace James Comer, who is running for governor.

Radio host Jean-Marie Lawson Spann, a Democrat, filed for the office in November. Quarles and Spann are scheduled to appear in a pair of forums this weekend in western Kentucky.

The filing deadline is 4 p.m. on Jan. 27.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

Ky. expands program giving student credit for skilled jobs

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — A state program that lets community college students earn credit while working manufacturing jobs will expand to Louisville, northern Kentucky and Elizabethtown.

Kentucky has lots of skilled manufacturing jobs, but it doesn't have enough qualified people to fill them. Officials started the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education program four years ago to train workers how to work in high-skilled manufacturing plants.

The program is only available in central Kentucky. So far, 40 students have completed the program and another 60 are enrolled. Sixteen companies, including Toyota and Commonwealth Tool, use the program.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear created a board of directors to expand the program into other areas of the state. Board members include representatives from Toyota, 3M, Kellogg and Wacker Chemical.

AMUSEMENT PARK INCENTIVES

Louisville theme park gets initial approval for expansion

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has given preliminary approval to Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville for an expansion project.

A release from the state agency says Kentucky Kingdom is planning to spend about $15 million for renovations and the addition of new rides.

Preliminary approval was given Wednesday.

The park closed in 2009, and it was reopened last year.

If approved, the park would be eligible for up to $3.75 million in incentives in the form of tax rebates spread out over 10 years. The rebate is based on sales tax generated by the attraction.

A consultant will review Kentucky Kingdom's application to determine if it meets the criteria for incentives. The application will come back to the authority once the review is complete.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER

Customer service center to employ up to 750 in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky officials have marked the opening of a facility in Louisville expected to employ up to 750 people providing customer service.

Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer attended the event Wednesday along with officials from Teleperformance Inc., which employs 149,000 in 230 centers in 62 countries.

Teleperformance subsidiary TPUSA Inc. announced in September its operation would provide customer service for financial products for current and former members of the military. TPUSA has 20,000 employees in the U.S.

Officials said last fall the company expected to make a $13.2 million investment, locating in a 50,000-square-foot facility in eastern Louisville. The state gave preliminary approval for incentives up to $3.8 million on the project.

UK-CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

UK measures support for possible capital campaign

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The University of Kentucky is gauging support for a possible capital campaign to raise up to $1.5 billion.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/1DZ0U2k) reports school officials are asking 15,000 supporters whether they would back such a campaign as the flagship university starts its 150th year.

UK President Eli Capilouto emailed an online survey recently to potential donors. The survey includes questions on how people feel about the direction the university is headed and where donors would like to see their money used. It asks about construction projects, scholarships and endowed chairs for research.

UK vice president for development Mike Richey says for the school to move forward "the overwhelming response has to be positive."

The school's last capital campaign ended in 2007 after raising $1.2 billion.

KENTUCKY MUSEUM DIRECTOR

Bjorkman named director of Kentucky Museum at Western

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University has a new director.

He is Brent Bjorkman (BYORK'-man), who has been interim director since August.

Bjorkman is also a clinical assistant professor in the Folk Studies Department at Western and director of the Kentucky Folklife Program.

He has worked around the country in public folklore areas, including as folklife specialist with the Kentucky Folklife Program, associate director of the American Folklore Society and executive director of the Vermont Folklife Center.

Bjorkman is also a member of the American Folklore Society executive board and is an adviser to the Kentucky Oral History Commission.

SUMMER NUTRITION

Sponsors sought for Kentucky summer nutrition program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A program that provides snacks and nutritious meals to children during months schools aren't in session is looking for sponsors.

The Kentucky Department of Education says school districts; nonprofit organizations, including churches and faith-based organizations; and government entities may participate in the Summer Food Service Program.

Training will be Jan. 27 at Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Feb. 10 in Elizabethtown and Feb. 24 in Frankfort.

The program provides meals and snacks free of charge to children under the age of 18 from May until September. Sponsors receive reimbursement for all eligible meals served.

Qualified sponsors are reimbursed for operating and administrative expenses.

For more information or to register for training, visit https://cnips.education.ky.gov .

FATAL FIRE-REWARD

Family offers reward for information in fire, deaths

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — Family members of a mother and daughter found dead after their home caught fire have offered a reward for information in the case.

WYMT-TV reports a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction is being offered in the deaths of 64-year-old Sandra K. Melton and 35-year-old Suzy Rebecca Melton, both of the Scuddy community in Perry County.

The women were found in their home in early 2013 after firefighters responded to a blaze. Police say their deaths were deemed suspicious after a medical examiner found injuries on both that weren't consistent with a house fire.

Anyone with information in the case should call Kentucky State Police at 606-435-6069.

KENTUCKY-HEARD

Kentucky RB Heard to pass up final season, enter NFL draft

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky junior running back Braylon Heard is passing up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

The school announced the decision Wednesday.

Heard rushed for 366 yards and four touchdowns in his only season with the Wildcats after transferring from Nebraska, where he ran for 452 yards and a TD on 77 attempts in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. His first two carries for Kentucky went for touchdowns of 73 and 43 yards in a season-opening win over Tennessee-Martin.

Scheduled to graduate this spring, the 5-foot-11, 189-pounder also caught 21 passes for 108 yards.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said in a release that he appreciated the Youngstown, Ohio, native's hard work for the program, adding, "he has been a model student-athlete and we wish him nothing but the best."