Kentucky News Now – February 18th 2014

KENTUCKY-HEMP

Ky. ag commissioner reveals 5 pilot hemp projects

LEBURN, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's agriculture commissioner says the reintroduction of hemp production will start with at least five pilot projects across the state where the crop flourished until being banned for its ties to marijuana.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said Monday he doesn't know how many hemp acres will be planted this year.

The new federal farm bill allows state agriculture departments to designate hemp-cultivation pilot projects for research in states that already allow the growing of hemp. Farmers will work with university researchers to study the crop.

Central Kentucky farmer Michael Lewis says the size of his hemp crop depends on the availability of seeds.

Hemp production was banned by the federal government decades ago. Hemp and marijuana are the same species. Hemp has a negligible content of the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high.

KENTUCKY SINKHOLES

Sinkholes common in south-central Kentucky

(Information in the following story is from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — While sinkholes as big as the one that swallowed eight Corvettes in Bowling Green last week aren't typical, smaller ones are common in the area.

Western Kentucky University geology professor Ken Kuehn told The Daily News that it is "a very typical feature of the karst environment."

Kuehn says that environment extends from around Elizabethtown to Tennessee.

Warren County Public Works Director Mac Yowell says his department gets calls weekly about sinkholes. He says the sinkhole at the Corvette Museum was one of at least five recorded in the area last week.

KENTUCKY SENATE-BANK BAILOUT

Paul: Bevin's credibility hurt by bailout issue

LEBURN, Ky. (AP) — Sen. Rand Paul says Matt Bevin's credibility has been hurt by revelations that the Republican challenger to Sen. Mitch McConnell praised the federal bailout of struggling banks several years ago.

Bevin has criticized McConnell for supporting the $700 billion bailout, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

But as president of Veracity Funds, Bevin signed a report to investors praising the bailout.

Paul told reporters Monday that a lack of consistency can be harmful and said that applies to Bevin.

Paul rose to national prominence as a tea party darling. He declined to say how much the revelation damaged Bevin's upset bid against McConnell.

Bevin's campaign has said he has always opposed TARP and that his signature on the report was a formality.

Bevin has drawn support from some conservative groups, including some tea party supporters.

TRANSYLVANIA PRESIDENT

Transylvania University names new president

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Transylvania University has named Seamus Carey as the 26th president at the institution in central Kentucky.

Carey, who comes from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., where he serves as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was named a finalist last month for the position at the Lexington school.

William T. Young Jr., chairman of Transylvania's Board of Trustees, said Carey was chosen because of his "dedication to the liberal arts and his academic and administrative experience."

Media report that Carey says he is "honored" by the appointment. He is expected to start in the role on July 1.

The former president at Transylvania, R. Owen Williams, resigned last year shortly after a no-confidence vote by the faculty.

CONFEDERATE SUBMARINE

Confederate sub made history 150 years ago Monday

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — It's an historic day in the annals of submarine warfare.

Monday marks the 150th anniversary of the attack by the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley on the Union blockade ship Housatonic, which sank off Charleston during the Civil War. Although the Hunley never returned, it became the first submarine to sink an enemy warship.

Re-enactors are to gather Monday evening on the coast from where the Hunley departed. A memorial service is th honor both the Hunley crew and the Union crewmen who died.

The hand-cranked Hunley is being conserved at a lab in North Charleston.

Just why the Hunley sank is still unclear. But scientists now say it was so close to the Housatonic the crew may have been knocked out by the explosion that sank the blockade ship.

SALATO WILDLIFE

Salato Wildlife Center reopening March 1

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort will be hopping when it reopens for the season on March 1.

The center will unveil a new exhibit called "Frogs and Toads of Kentucky" at 11 a.m. EST that day. There will be a frog hop game for the children, and everyone can get a close look at some of the lie animals during a "meet the critter" event from 11 a.m. to noon.

Activities are included with general admission, which is $4 for adults and $2 for children 5 to 18. Younger children are admitted free.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources operates the center, which is located off U.S. 60 about 1 ½ miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection at 1 Sportsman's Lane.

PARKS-STORM READINESS

Ky. park system recognized for storm readiness

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's state park system has won recognition for its storm readiness.

The parks system has achieved "StormReady" supporter status to keep guests and employees safe when threatening weather occurs. The parks worked with the National Weather Service to gain the status.

State officials say the Kentucky State Parks system is one of the first park systems in the country to achieve the designation.

The Kentucky parks also planned and coordinated their efforts with local emergency management agencies to make sure people are safe before and after severe weather occurs.

The designated parks have the appropriate communications equipment and have identified safe places for people to go when bad weather is one the way. Parks personnel have completed necessary training.