Kentucky News Now – August 12th 2014

DEPUTY-FATAL SHOOTING

Northern Kentucky grand jury clears deputy

WARSAW, Ky. (AP) — A northern Kentucky grand jury has cleared a sheriff's deputy involved in a fatal shooting last spring.

Gallatin County Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Tally Smith said she determined after a Kentucky State Police investigation that Deputy Edwin Caldwell's use of deadly force was justified but wanted the grand jury to review it.

The grand jury met Monday and declined to return any criminal charges.

Caldwell responded to a 911 call on April 12 to a home where 41-year-old Gary A. Burdine Jr. lived. Smith said in a statement that as Caldwell was leaving, Burdine approached him from behind, said he was going to shoot the deputy, pulled a pistol and pointed it at the deputy. Smith said the deputy drew his service weapon and fired four shots, killing Burdine.

MUSIC FESTIVAL

Carter Caves State Resort Park to host festival

OLIVE HILL, Ky. (AP) — A northeastern Kentucky park will host a music festival that pays tribute to old-time music and eastern Kentucky traditions.

The annual Fraley Mountain Music Gatherin' is set for Sept. 3 to 6 at Carter Caves State Resort Park.

The festival began as a family reunion. It's also a tribute to the late master fiddler J.P. Fraley.

Musicians will be jamming in parking lots and sharing music around campfires at the park.

Musical instruments such as dulcimers, fiddles and guitars are used to tell stories about life long ago in the eastern Kentucky foothills.

STATE BUDGET

State revenue up 2.2 percent in July

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State officials say Kentucky's 2015 budget is off to a good start.

The state collected more than $705 million in taxes and fees in July. That's 2.2 percent more than the state collected in July 2013.

Kentucky finished the 2014 fiscal year with a $90 million shortfall. State officials blamed the shortfall on sluggish income tax collections. Income tax collections were up 5.9 percent in July, which State Budget Director Jane Driskell said was a positive sign.

State officials planned for a 3.6 percent increase in revenue this year. Tax collections must increase by 3.7 percent for the rest of the year in order to make that goal.

The state's road fund collected $125.4 million in July, mostly from gas taxes. State officials expect road fund revenue to decline this year.

OHIO RIVER BRIDGES-LAWSUIT

Appellate panel upholds dismissal in bridge case

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The dismissal of a lawsuit over the $2.3 billion Ohio River bridges under construction at Louisville has been upheld.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in rejecting claims that Kentucky and Indiana violated the National Environmental Protection Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The appeal was brought by the Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation. CART is a public transit and cycling advocacy group located in Louisville. The group did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Monday.

The organization alleged that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation violated federal environmental and civil rights laws.

But the appeals panel said in the ruling Thursday that there was no indication that the states violated the law.

SCHOOLS-MENTAL HEALTH

JCPS adding 15 mental health counselors

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jefferson County Public Schools will offer mental health counseling this year to high-risk students and their families in an effort to decrease barriers to learning and disruptions in the classroom.

The Courier-Journal reports the district has hired 15 counselors to help at different schools after principals said in a survey that a main priority is helping high-risk students.

One such counselor will be based at Wheatley Elementary School, where Principal William "B.J." Bunton said instructional time is lost when teachers are left to deal with such situations.

The counselors will help students who experience anxiety, grief and anger issues that aren't part of routine disciplinary measures.

PERRYVILLE POLICE FORCE

Deputies providing protection in Perryville

(Information in the following story is from: The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger, http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews )

PERRYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Boyle County Sheriff's Department is providing protection to residents in Perryville after the city's police force of two resigned.

The Advocate-Messenger reports Perryville Police Chief Charlie Parks and Officer Larry Nunes submitted their letters of resignation during a council meeting last week. According to the newspaper, scheduling conflicts arose after Mayor Anne Sleet had asked for a greater police presence during the afternoons. Parks requested a third officer to meet the demand; Sleet wanted Parks and Nunes to re-arrange their schedules.

Sheriff Marty Elliott said his office would provide law enforcement for the town until the situation is resolved.

City Attorney Lynne Coleman said the City Council would likely meet on Tuesday in a special session to discuss options to move forward.