Kentucky News Now – February 11th 2014

WINTER WEATHER-KENTUCKY

Southeastern Ky. may see up to 5 inches of snow

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Parts of eastern Kentucky are under a winter storm watch with accumulations of snow expected to reach as much as 5 inches.

The watch affects Bell, Harlan, Letcher and Pike counties. The National Weather Service says snow is expected to begin accumulating along the Virginia border late Wednesday afternoon.

The weather service says roads may become slick as heavy, wet snow accumulates.

The storm watch is in effect through early Thursday morning.

BISHOPS TRIP-KURTZ

Lou. archbishop reflects on Philippines typhoon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Kurtz recently returned from the Philippines where he observed recovery efforts from a November typhoon.

Kurtz, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, surveyed the damage with other church leaders in Tacloban City.

Kurtz says he saw devastating damage but also noticed children playing basketball. He wrote in his blog that "it was humbling to feel the gratitude of the Filipino people and to see the warmth and emotion in their faces as they greeted us."

Kurtz said he celebrated mass in a cathedral that had its roof blown off by the storm. He says eight churches in the local diocese were destroyed.

A delegation representing the bishops group and Catholic Relief Services visited the area Feb. 4 through Thursday.

GUNS IN BARS

Committee OKs bill to allow concealed guns in bars

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill to allow concealed deadly weapons in Kentucky bars has passed its first committee hearing in the Legislature.

The Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee approved the measure Tuesday. The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. John Schickel of Union, is the committee's chairman.

Current state law prohibits concealed firearms from being carried into bars, but Schickel's bill would allow it as long as those who carry them do not drink.

Schickel says current law allows people to openly carry visible weapons into bars at the proprietor's discretion.

Schickel also says his bill would not interfere with a bar owner's right to prohibit guns at an establishment.

SOLDIER KILLED

Fort Drum soldier from Ky. dies in Afghanistan

VAN LEAR, Ky. (AP) — Military officials say the death of an eastern Kentucky soldier from a non-combat incident in Afghanistan is under investigation.

The Defense Department says 21-year-old Pfc. Joshua A. Gray of Van Lear died Monday at Bagram Airfield.

Gray was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Fort Drum said Gray was a satellite communications system operator maintainer.

Gray joined the Army in November 2012 and arrived at Fort Drum last October. He deployed to Afghanistan in January.

Survivors include his mother and father.

EXPANDED GAMBLING

Top House Dems downplay chances for gambling bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — House Democratic leaders are downplaying chances to pass expanded gambling legislation that could bring casinos to Kentucky.

House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark said Tuesday the issue isn't dead, but it's "at the funeral home."

His comments come a day after Senate Republican leaders said there aren't enough votes to pass an expanded gambling measure in the Senate.

House leaders aren't budging on their insistence that the Senate take up the issue first.

Clark is sponsoring two gambling proposals. One would put the issue on the ballot for voters to decide whether to legalize casino gambling. A companion bill would specify how many casinos would be allowed and how the state's share of the revenue would be distributed.

Clark says he's still negotiating with racetrack owners in search of a compromise.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CHARGED

Whitley County AD charged in Baltimore, on leave

(Information in the following story is from: The Times-Tribune, http://www.thetimestribune.com )

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) — Whitley County's school superintendent says the county high school's athletic director is on unpaid leave after being charged with rape in Baltimore.

The Times-Tribune reports Michael Campbell, who has been athletic director since leaving the football team after the 2005 season, was charged with assault, rape and sexual offense and jailed in Baltimore on Jan. 22.

School Superintendent Scott Paul said Campbell was placed on unpaid leave effective Jan. 22 after school officials learned of the charges Thursday.

One of Campbell's defense attorneys, Paul Croley, said Campbell denies criminal wrongdoing and he expects his client to be cleared. Croley said the charges are based on allegations of one person and that more details will emerge.

Campbell, who remained jailed, is to appear in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

BOOSTER SEATS

Bill to expand booster seat use clears House panel

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill to increase the number of Kentucky children required to use vehicle booster seats has cleared its first hurdle in the General Assembly.

The measure won approval from the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.

State law now requires child safety seats for any youngsters under age 9 or under 50 inches in height.

The bill would broaden the height range to include youngsters up to 59 inches.

The bill's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Keith Hall of Phelps, says 32 other states have similar laws, including all of Kentucky's neighbors.

The measure cleared the committee on an 18-5 vote.

TAX REFORM

Ky. lawmakers start review of tax overhaul plan

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear's plan to revamp Kentucky's tax code has undergone its first round of public scrutiny by a legislative committee.

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard a presentation from Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson on the 22-point plan Tuesday. Abramson called it the governor's "best shot" to present a balanced approach to enhance Kentucky's competitiveness with an updated tax system.

The wide-ranging plan drew a series of questions and comments from committee members.

Rep. Jim Wayne worried the proposal to extend the state's 6 percent sales tax to some services could hit low-income Kentuckians especially hard.

Rep. Jody Richards warned that reducing a pension income tax break for wealthy retirees would eat into pensions that dwindle as people live longer.

The panel took no vote on the package.