Kentucky News Now August 15th 2014

WOMAN STRANGLED

Arrest made in death of western Kentucky woman

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police in western Kentucky have made an arrest in the strangulation death of a Hopkinsville woman 16 months ago.

Hopkinsville police said the person arrested, who was 17 at the time the woman was killed, has been charged with murder. He was arrested Thursday in Hopkinsville.

The Associated Press does not name juveniles charged with crimes.

Police said last year that 44-year-old Kathleen M. Davis was found dead on the floor of a vacant apartment on April 6, 2013.

EDUCATION GUIDES

Education group releases guides to school issues

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Information about schools issues such as academic standards and school funding is available in a set of guides from the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

The Prichard Committee says each KentuckyEd Guide addresses one topic in two pages or less. The guides include basics of Kentucky's education law, information on recent test results and sources of additional information.

They were created by education consultant Susan Perkins Weston. She says the committee produced the guides to keep the public involved in public schools.

Committee Executive Director Stu Silberman says it's hoped people will read the guides, become more informed about the schools and work with the committee to advocate for better education.

The guides are available at http://www.prichardcommittee.org/edguides.

SANTA TRAIN

Amy Grant traveling aboard Santa Train this year

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Grammy winner Amy Grant will be aboard the Santa Train this fall as it travels through Appalachia passing out gifts.

The train will cover 110 miles on Nov. 22, making 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Sponsored by CSX, Dignity U Wear, Food City and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, the train carries Santa as he delivers toys and winter accessories to thousands.

CSX says it's the 72nd year for the event.

Grant said in a news release from the company she's "incredibly excited" to be making the trip this year and is glad to have the opportunity to give back during the holiday season.

Grant is a six-time Grammy winner. She's scheduled to release her first album of remixes next week, "In Motion: The Remixes."

KENTUCKY SENATE-COAL

Grimes responds to Chao's role on board

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes says Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell has some explaining to do to Kentucky voters for his wife's role as a board member of a group that spent $50 million to close coal-fired power plants.

Grimes says the matter raises serious questions but refused to say Thursday whether she thinks McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, should resign from the Bloomberg Philanthropies board.

McConnell's campaign says it's President Barack Obama's policies that are ruining the coal sector, and says Grimes is an Obama supporter.

Coal policy is an overarching issue in Kentucky's Senate race between McConnell and Grimes.

Chao joined the board a year after Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the $50 million commitment to the Sierra Club for its "Beyond Coal" campaign. A trade group representing Kentucky's coal industry has defended McConnell.

KENTUCKY SENATE-FAITH

McConnell talks religion in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell talked abortion, gay marriage and the persecution of Christians in Iraq with three of Kentucky's most prominent evangelical leaders on Thursday.

McConnell told about 100 people at the Eastwood Baptist Church that he opposes gay marriage and abortion rights, although he stopped short of declaring an abortion litmus test for Supreme Court justices. He said President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq led to the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities there.

Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes was invited but did not attend. She spent the morning helping serve breakfast at the start of the Kentucky State Fair. Grimes said she is eager to debate McConnell. The two are scheduled to appear at a forum next week sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR

Kentucky State Fair getting underway Thursday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's annual showcase of its people's work, hobbies and talents begins Thursday when the gates open for the 2014 Kentucky State Fair.

Things got underway early Thursday with the Kentucky Agriculture Department's Commodity Group Appreciation Breakfast. The annual ham breakfast and auction is next Thursday.

During the fair's 11-day run, animals from bunnies to lambs to cows and pigs will be on display, concerts will be performed, and cakes, pies, baskets and embroidery will be judged and spread out for the public to see.

The World's Championship Horse Show is also held during the fair.

Fair officials say attendees and exhibitors contribute more than $16.8 million annually in economic impact.

The opening day ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. with the 113th Army Band from Fort Knox parading to the fairgrounds.