Kentucky News Now – February 10th 2014

HORSE DEATHS

Barn fire in Georgetown, Ky. kills 8 horses

(Information in the following story is from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com)

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a barn fire in Scott County that killed eight horses.

According to WKYT-TV, the blaze occurred early Sunday morning at the Spooky Hollow Racing farm in Georgetown, Ky. near Louisville.

Owner Clara Fenger said the blaze claimed four thoroughbred yearlings, two riding horses and two retired mares.

While fire officials are still probing the cause of the fire, Fenger believes it may have been sparked by an overloaded socket.

KENTUCKY SENATE

McConnell makes campaign stops in coal country

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has held events with coal miners in eastern and western Kentucky in his campaign to keep his seat.

McConnell's campaign says he launched his "Coal Country for Team Mitch" effort with stops in Hazard and Madisonville on Saturday.

The Republican senator, who says he is a strong supporter of the coal industry, received support from coal miners in both locations.

McConnell, the longest-serving senator in state history, is seeking a sixth term. He is being challenged in the GOP primary by Louisville businessman Matt Bevin.

Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes is the Democratic front-runner in this year's Senate race. She is in her first term as Kentucky's secretary of state.

Coal mining, a major industry in the state, has emerged as a central issue in the race.

EDUCATION GRANTS

6 school districts get grant to help find savings

(Information in the following story is from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, http://www.messenger-inquirer.com)

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Six school districts in Kentucky have received a $40,000 grant for a pilot program to help find ways to cut costs.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports the initiative is designed to save school systems across the state millions of dollars.

The Kentucky Association of School Administrators and the American Productivity and Quality Center have partnered to train staff on different techniques that can be used to enhance savings.

The districts that received funding from the state Department of Education include Daviess, Boone, Garrard, Lee, Martin and Nelson counties.

ADDICTED MOMS

Ky. safe house aids pregnant addicted women

(Information in the following story is from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com)

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A safe house for pregnant women with an addiction is getting help from Northern Kentucky residents.

According to The Kentucky Enquirer, the Healthy Newborns Project was featured in the newspaper last month after the Leadership Northern Kentucky class of 2014 made it their project.

Elizabeth Corbett is coordinating the donations and offers from the community for the recovery home in Covington. She says she's received dozens of emails from class members about people offering services and donations and others who want to join an "adopt-a-room" effort.

The project also provides support for addicted women with newborns up to four months old.

Currently, four women live at the home. But work is being done to eventually accommodate up to 10 women.