Kentucky News Now – August 6th 2015

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE

Panel says keep Jefferson Davis statue in Kentucky Capitol

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky historic commission has voted to keep a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the state Capitol rotunda.

The Historic Properties Advisory Commission on Wednesday voted 7-2 to keep the statute and to add an educational component to the display for the thousands of schoolchildren and other visitors who pass through the Capitol each year.

Both of Kentucky's candidates for governor have called for the statue's removal following the racially motivated slayings of nine black church members in South Carolina in June. The shootings prompted many Southern states to re-examine their Confederate symbols. South Carolina removed the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds.

Davis was born in Kentucky and graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington. Kentucky never joined the Confederacy, but a "shadow" Confederate government operated there.

GAY MARRIAGE LAWSUIT

Clerk sues Kentucky governor over gay marriage directive

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky clerk sued for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples has filed a lawsuit against the governor, claiming he violated her religious freedom by telling all clerks that they must either issue licenses or resign.

On June 26, the day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled gay marriage bans unconstitutional, Gov. Steve Beshear directed the state's 120 county clerks to comply and begin issuing licenses to all couples.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis filed the lawsuit against Beshear Tuesday, alleging that the directive violated her "sincerely held religious beliefs."

Davis refused to issue licenses, and four couples sued her last month. The lawsuit filed by the conservative firm Liberty Counsel on her behalf says that the governor should be liable for the couples' claims against Davis and accommodate her faith.

PAUL AIDES-INDICTED

Aides to Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign indicted

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged three people who worked for Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign with conspiring to buy the support of a former Iowa state senator.

Among those changed is Jesse Benton, who now heads up a super PAC supporting the 2016 presidential candidacy of Paul's son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

An indictment unsealed Wednesday charges Benton, John Tate and Dimitrios Kesari with conspiracy and several other related crimes.

The indictment says they negotiated with former Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson to switch his support to Ron Paul in exchange for money. Sorenson had previously backed Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The indictment says the arrangement was concealed from Ron Paul himself and that Benton initiated the deal.

CONFEDERATE FLAG-POLL

Poll: Majority of Americans support Confederate flag removal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A national survey shows 57 percent of Americans support South Carolina's decision to remove the Confederate flag from its Statehouse grounds while 34 percent are opposed.

The Pew Research Center conducted the poll the week after the ceremony on July 10 when an honor guard lowered the battle flag and it was delivered to a museum. The nonprofit center released its findings Wednesday.

The study also found 52 percent of Hispanics, 56 percent of whites and 76 percent of blacks support the removal.

However, the survey found partisan divides: 74 percent of Democrats said the move was the right decision; Republicans were divided with 43 percent backing it and 49 percent saying they were opposed. Among independents, 53 percent supported the decision while 37 percent remain opposed.

COAL PROTEST

Coal protesters, firm still battle over song lyrics in suit

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The lyrics from a 40-year-old strip-mining protest song are still a battle in a lawsuit pitting environmentalists against one of the nation's largest coal mining companies.

Activists suing Peabody Energy Corp. quoted singer-songwriter John Prine's 1971 song "Paradise," which criticized the company's mining activities in Kentucky. They asked a federal judge this week to deny Peabody's request to strip the lyrics from their lawsuit, noting that even U.S. Supreme Court opinions have quoted songs.

The company says quoting the lyrics is inflammatory and irrelevant and strikes a sour chord.

Colorado activists Thomas Asprey and Leslie Glustrom claim the company and others violated their civil rights by having them arrested for protesting outside the company's 2013 shareholder meeting in Gillette, Wyoming.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER

Education panel picks interim commissioner, continues search

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Board of Education has chosen Kevin C. Brown as interim commissioner while its search continues for a successor to Commissioner Terry Holliday.

The board is meeting in Frankfort for its annual retreat and August meeting. The board reviewed applicants for the commissioner's post in closed session Wednesday.

Holliday is retiring Aug. 31.

The Education Department said in a news release that the board wants the search firm that's assisting with the search to seek additional information on 15 applicants, representing both in-state and out-of-state candidates.

The first round of interviews is Aug. 14 and 15 in Louisville.

Brown is an associate commissioner and department general counsel. He will serve starting Sept. 1 with a salary equivalent to $150,000 per year until a new commissioner is in place.

CONGRESS-POWER PLANTS

Power plant rules blocked by Senate panel; floor fight ahead

WASHINGTON (AP) — A GOP-controlled Senate committee has approved legislation to block the Obama administration from putting in place tough new standards on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee gave voice vote approval to send the bill to the full Senate, where a filibuster battle awaits.

A veto promise from President Barack Obama is assured.

The legislation, by Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of coal mining stronghold West Virginia, would place several obstacles before the new rules can take effect. They aim to cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly one-third by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, by boosting the generation of electricity from "clean" sources while reducing dependence on coal as a source.

The new standards face legal challenges from 15 states.

JAIL ESCAPEE

Police find inmate, charge him with escape

CLAY, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say they have found a man who escaped from custody while on work-release in western Kentucky.

Police told The Gleaner (http://bit.ly/1MMQrhO) that 32-year-old Steven D. Long was found Tuesday at a residence in Clay, and he was arrested without incident.

He was part of a mowing crew from the Webster County Detention Center that was working at a park in Clay when police say he walked away. He now faces an escape
charge.