Kentucky News Now – February 5th 2014

STATE TREASURER

Proposal to end treasurer's office clears Senate

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Senate has passed a proposed ballot measure seeking to abolish the state treasurer's office.

The proposal would amend the Kentucky Constitution to allow the treasurer's duties to shift to the state Finance Cabinet.

The measure cleared the Senate on a 23-15 vote Tuesday. It now goes to the state House.

Republicans backing the measure say it could save the state $1.4 million each year.

State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach disputed that, saying abolishing his office wouldn't save any money.

Democrats opposing the bill said the treasurer's office provides needed oversight of state finances.

Minority Floor Leader R.J. Palmer said the treasurer's office generates more revenue than other state constitutional offices.

Republicans said the state auditor would provide needed oversight of executive spending.

EVOLUTION DEBATE

Bill Nye defends evolution in Kentucky debate

PETERSBURG, Ky. (AP) — TV's "Science Guy" Bill Nye and the leader of a Kentucky museum who believes in creationism debated a question that has nagged humankind: "How did we get here?"

The debate Tuesday night drew intense interest in science and faith circles.

Ken Ham is the head of the Creation Museum. He believes the Earth was created 6,000 years ago by God and is told strictly through the Bible.

Nye says he is worried the U.S. will not move forward if creationism is taught to children.

The museum quickly sold out its 800 seats and the debate is being shown live on the Internet.

Nye is the former host of "Bill Nye The Science Guy," a 1990s science education TV program that is still played in some classrooms.

FUTURE OF FARMING

Conference on future of farming set in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A conference on farming, land use and food policy is being planned for this fall in Lexington.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announced the event Tuesday along with former Gov. Brereton Jones, former first lady Libby Jones, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and officials from American Farmland Trust, a conservation organization that is putting on the event Oct. 20-22.

AFT President and CEO Andrew McElwaine says it will be the first national conference to bring together diverse interests to look at agriculture challenges in the 21st century.

Events planned include an opening reception featuring items produced in Kentucky, a farm tour in Fayette County, mobile workshops on urban agriculture and local food enterprises in Louisville and Lexington and a farmer-chef banquet showcasing regional fare.

For more information, visit http://www.farmland.org .

SAFE DRIVING

Kentucky State Police enforcement effort underway

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police posts around the state are involved in an effort to bring awareness to dangerous driving behaviors that cause crashes.

The program runs through Feb. 15 and is called Operation R.A.I.D., for "remove aggressive, impaired and distracted drivers from Kentucky roadways."

State police Director of Operations Lt. Col. Jack Miniard says the effort has the same objectives across the state but individual plans will take into account local crash activity. He says the focus is to reduce the loss of life on Kentucky highways.

The agency cites National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies that show that aggressive drivers cause two-thirds of all fatal crashes and more than one-third of all crashes. The agency defines aggressive driving as someone committing a combination of traffic offenses that endanger others.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-DRIVE

Shoppers pitch in more than $800K for shelters

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Shoppers at groceries across Kentucky donated a record amount of goods and money during a one-day drive to benefit Kentucky Domestic Violence Association shelters in the state.

First lady Jane Beshear says the sixth annual Shop & Share Day on Saturday raised more than $839,155.

Volunteers at the stores collected goods from shoppers, with all goods and money collected going to the shelters.

The first lady's office was one of the partners for the event. The office said the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association handled more than 23,000 crisis calls last year and served more than 43,000 men, women and children through its member programs.

For more information, visit http://www.kdva.org.