Kentucky News Now – January 28th 2014

KENTUCKY-DEEP FREEZE

Below freezing temps blast Kentucky anew

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Another Arctic blast is settling over Kentucky and several other Southern states.

Weather officials are urging Kentucky residents to dress warmly because of plummeting temperatures from another wave of polar air.

Forecasters expect some parts of the state could see subzero wind chills through Wednesday. By Thursday, temperatures are expected to be in the low teens.

Meteorologist Chuck Greif with the National Weather Service in Jackson says residents should wrap exposed pipes and make sure pets and livestock are cared for. Greif says there will be some precipitation in parts of the state, but little accumulation is expected.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Ky. starts workforce initiative to aid businesses

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is consolidating its workforce services for businesses looking to locate or expand in the state.

Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday the initiative amounts to a "one-stop shop" in assisting companies.

The initiative is called WorkSmart Kentucky. The goal is to match employers with their workforce needs.

Beshear says providing a quality workforce is the top factor in determining Kentucky's ability to attract high tech and advanced manufacturing jobs.

The governor says qualifying companies will be eligible for recruitment and job-screening services at no cost. Also, grant funding will be available to offset the costs of training and apprenticeship programs and to provide free safety training.

The initiative spans the state's economic development, labor and education and workforce development cabinets. Another partner is the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

BASKETBALL STAR'S DOWNFALL

Farmer gets familiar number from prison system

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The University of Kentucky may have retired Richie Farmer's number 32 jersey, but the federal Bureau of Prisons is bringing it back.

The prison system has assigned Farmer inmate number 16226-032 for use when he reports to a yet-to-be revealed facility by March 18.

The former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner is set to serve 27 months behind bars after pleading guilty to abusing his public office.

Farmer gained basketball fame as part of "The Unforgettables" — a group of Wildcats who stayed with the program through NCAA sanctions and led Kentucky back to the NCAA tournament in 1992.

The school hangs Farmer's basketball jersey from the rafters of Rupp Arena in Lexington. The inmate number will be worn on his prison jump suit.

SCHOOLS-INSULIN

House votes to let more people give insulin shots

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House has passed a bill to allow more people to give insulin shots to students at school.

The measure would allow school staff members who aren't licensed health care professionals to administer the injections or help students self-administer insulin treatments.

Staff members would have to receive training from health care professionals.

House members passed the bill on a 91-0 vote Monday. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Bob Damron of Nicholasville, now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The decision for school staff on whether to administer the insulin to students would be voluntary.

WILDLIFE INVESTIGATION

Ex-fish and wildlife official faces ethics charges

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The former top official at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has been charged with violating the state's ethics code.

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission said Monday that the wildlife agency's former commissioner, Jonathan Gassett, abused his position to have agency employees perform personal work for him.

Gassett, who left the agency last year, faces nine civil charges that could result in up to $45,000 in fines.

He's among four current or former wildlife agency employees who were charged Monday with ethics code violations. Ethics Commission Executive Director John Steffen says the officials used their positions for personal gain in what he calls significant violations of the ethics code.

Gassett did not immediately return a phone call or respond to an email seeking comment.

CHILD'S BODY FOUND

Ky. man gets prison in death of boy buried in Ohio

HILLSBORO, Ohio (AP) — A Kentucky man has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 1-year-old boy found buried in woods in southern Ohio last May.

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins says 25-year-old Nathan Ritze was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading Friday in Hillsboro using the Alford doctrine. An Alford plea means a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors probably could prove the charge.

Ritze's attorney didn't immediately return a call for comment Monday.

Collins says the cause of death for the boy, Garin Niehaus (NEE'-hows), is unknown. His mother, Whitney Johnson, is scheduled for trial next month.

Johnson and Ritze were indicted on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. They're from Richmond, Ky.

KENTUCKY SENATE

Paul staffer joins Bevin campaign

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican Senate candidate Matt Bevin has hired one of Sen. Rand Paul's staffers to join his campaign team in his upset bid against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Bevin says Bernie Kunkel will serve as his campaign field director in the 4th Congressional District in northern Kentucky.

Kunkel had served as Paul's field representative in the same region.

Kunkel says he joined the Bevin campaign because the Louisville businessman is "the best man" in the Senate race and that it's "time for a change."

Bevin campaign spokeswoman Rachel Semmel says Kunkel joined the campaign over the weekend.

Paul, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, has endorsed McConnell for his re-election bid but has called Bevin "a good, honest, Christian man."

McConnell is seeking a sixth term.

STUDENTS DROPPED

KSU president says student cuts necessary

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State University President Mary Sias is standing behind a decision to drop 202 students due to nonpayment.

The State Journal reports that KSU President Mary Sias told the Board of Regents last week that the move was necessary.

She said 925 students owed money on Jan. 14 when 813 students were dropped from courses. Most of those students were reinstated after paying their balances or making payments on an installment plan.

Sias says many of those not reinstated by the school owed large sums of money and had low GPAs.

BILL NYE-MURRAY ST

Ahead of debate, Bill Nye to visit Murray State U.

MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Science guy Bill Nye will visit Murray State University next month for a speaking appearance.

His lecture at the university on Feb. 3 is a day before he is scheduled to participate in an evolution debate at the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky.

Nye, who hosted a popular youth science TV show in the 1990s, is appearing at the university as part of its Presidential Lecture Series. The lecture begins at 8 p.m. in CFSB Center arena. He is currently the executive director of the Planetary Society.

The day after his Murray State appearance, Nye will travel to the Creation Museum for a debate with its founder, Ken Ham. The debate is titled, "Is creation a viable model of origins?"

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.