Kentucky News Now – April 1st 2014

KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE

Kentucky legislature finishing work for 2014

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky General Assembly has banned electronic cigarette sales to minors, allowed minors under 14 to referee youth soccer games and approved the state's first use of a medicinal marijuana product as the session winds down.

The legislation was passed Monday, lawmakers' last day before a two-day veto session in a couple of weeks.

Notable bills that are likely dead include bills banning natural gas companies from seizing private land for a proposed oil pipeline and a bill restoring voting rights to some convicted felons.

Democratic House leaders and Republican Senate leaders spent most of the day in closed-door meetings finishing work on the state's $20 billion biennial budget.

Lawmakers will adjourn for two weeks, giving Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear time to either sign or veto legislation. Lawmakers return April 14 to review any vetoes.

CANNABIS OIL

Kentucky OKs cannabis oil to treat child seizures

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Doctors at two Kentucky research hospitals can prescribe medicine derived from marijuana oil to treat child seizures under a bill that cleared the General Assembly on Monday.

The bill would allow Kentuckians to use cannabidiol in two cases: a prescription from a doctor at the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville research hospitals or a trial from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Senate gave the bill final approval on Monday. It will become law unless Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear vetoes it.

The bill comes as states across the country are allowing the limited use of marijuana and its products for medical purposes.

STABBING DEATH-ARREST

Troopers arrest 1 in eastern Kentucky death

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky woman has been arrested and charged with the stabbing death of a man over the weekend.

Kentucky State Police trooper Shaun Little says Marie Minix of Salyersville has been detained in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on a single count of murder.

Little says troopers from the Pikeville post responded to a stabbing complaint in the Salyersville community of Magoffin County on Saturday.

Once there, Little says, troopers found 43-year-old Roy Prater of Salyersville dead from a single stab wound.

The incident remains under investigation.

Jail records did not list an attorney for Minix.

YOUTH REFEREES

Kentucky passes bill allowing teens to referee

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Teenagers under 14 can referee youth sports leagues under a bill that passed the Kentucky General Assembly on Monday.

State law does not allow anyone under 14 to work. The law has various exceptions, including teens working for their parents or mowing the lawn. This bill adds youth referees to the list of exceptions.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Ryan Quarles of Georgetown, said the issue came up after an incident in Scott County last year where an off-duty police officer was charged with harassing a 13-year-old referee at a youth soccer game. The officer later pleaded guilty, paid a fine and apologized to the boy.

Quarles said about 20 percent of youth sports referees are younger than 14.

The bill will become law unless Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear vetoes it.

VETERANS COURT

Warren Co. considering veteran court

(Information in the following story is from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com )

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Officials in Warren County are considering setting up a special court for veterans who have landed in the criminal justice system.

Similar courts have been established in other counties, including Jefferson.

They are typically designed like drug courts, where treatment is used to help veterans stay out of the criminal justice system and lead productive lives.

The Daily News reports that there were 481 defendants who identified themselves as veterans in the Warren County court system between July 2010 and February. That's out of about 16,700 who were arrested and booked into jail during that time.

Supporters of the court for veterans say a separate setup is needed because veterans have problems specific to their military service.

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

Kentucky bans e-cigarette sales to minors

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Anyone younger than 18 would be barred from buying electronic cigarettes in Kentucky under a bill the state Legislature has approved.

The Senate gave the bill final approval on Monday. It will become law unless Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear vetoes it.

Minors are already banned from buying tobacco products in Kentucky. This bill updates that ban to include electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes resemble traditional cigarettes, except they are battery powered and the person inhales a vapor instead of smoke.

The ban would prohibit anyone under 18 from buying, possessing or using electronic cigarettes.

KENTUCKY BUDGET

Kentucky gas tax will not increase

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky drivers will not pay more in state taxes at the gas pump this summer.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he has told legislative leaders to prepare the state's two-year road spending plan without the extra $107 million that would come from a 1.5 cents-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax.

House Democrats narrowly approved the gas tax increase earlier this month. But the Republican-controlled Senate rejected the increase. That set up four days of contentious debate between House and Senate leaders, culminating with a marathon closed-door meeting that ended at 5:30 Sunday morning.

Stumbo said rejecting the gas tax means some road projects in the House road plan would not be funded.

PARK AWARDS

Kentucky parks earn honors in magazine

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Parks is highlighting recognition of state parks in a magazine contest.

The agency says state parks received 17 awards in Kentucky Living magazine's "2014 Best in Kentucky" competition. The recipients were chosen in a reader write-in contest.

Kentucky State Parks won first place in four categories. General Burnside Island State Park tied for best golf course, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park at Corbin was recognized for best overnight state and for the scenic view and Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site was named best Civil War site.

Other parks that were honored were Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Natural Bridge State Resort Park and Columbus-Belmont State Park.