Kentucky News Now – January 9th, 2014

LOUISVILLE-PETRINO

Trustee: Petrino accepts Louisville coaching offer

A member of the Louisville board of trustees says Western Kentucky's Bobby Petrino has accepted an offer to be the Cardinals next head football coach.

Jonathan Blue told The Associated Press Wednesday evening that it's a "done deal." Blue says the University of Louisville Athletic Association will meet Thursday morning and barring any unforeseen issues is expected to approve athletic director Tom Jurich's recommendation to have Petrino replace Charlie Strong, who accepted the Texas job over the weekend.

Petrino, 52, returns to the school he led to a 41-9 record from 2003-06 as a first-time head coach. He has an 83-30 career record as a college head coach, including an 8-4 mark last season with the Hilltoppers, his first position since his April 2012 firing by Arkansas amid scandal.

SMOKING BAN

Lawmakers seeking statewide smoking restrictions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Health advocates are preparing another push for a statewide smoking ban in some public places, and the campaign is drawing bipartisan support from some Kentucky lawmakers.

Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville and Democratic Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington said Wednesday they will file statewide smoke-free legislation.

They said everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air at work and in public.

There's a patchwork of local smoking bans in Kentucky.

Gov. Steve Beshear has endorsed the statewide approach. He said in his State of the Commonwealth speech Tuesday night that lawmakers need to "fill in the map" and protect everyone in Kentucky.

Tobacco production has dropped in Kentucky during the past decade, but the state remains the nation's leading producer of burley tobacco, an ingredient in many cigarettes.

LAWMAKER-GUN

Lawmaker says she accidentally fired gun in office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky lawmaker says she accidentally fired her gun in her office in the Capitol Annex.

Democratic Rep. Leslie Combs of Pikeville said Wednesday that no one was hurt or in harm's way when the gun went off Tuesday — the opening day of the legislative session.

Combs said in a statement that the incident was investigated by the state police's legislative detail.

She says state police found no evidence to indicate any portion of the round went outside her office.

Combs says she obtained her concealed-carry permit several years ago.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Bill proposes expanding protective orders

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill seeking to extend domestic violence protective orders to people whose dating relationships turn violent has easily cleared a Kentucky House committee.

Democratic Rep. John Tilley of Hopkinsville says the expansion would protect young women who are among the most vulnerable to dating violence.

The bill sailed through the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. It now goes to the full House.

Similar legislation passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate.

Currently, protective orders can be granted when violence occurs among married and divorced couples, those who live together and couples who share a child.

Gov. Steve Beshear endorsed the legislation in his State of the Commonwealth speech Tuesday night.

GRADUATING COLLEGE

Campaign seeks to boost on-time graduation

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A statewide campaign is urging Kentucky's students to complete 15-credit schedules each semester to finish college faster.

The "15 to Finish" campaign announced Wednesday is promoted as a way to save time and money by encouraging full course schedules. Supporters say it will get students into the workforce sooner.

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson says the campaign will help supply Kentucky with a highly trained workforce.

The campaign is a project of Kentucky's colleges and universities and the Council on Postsecondary Education. The council's president, Bob King, says "time is money" when it comes to on-time graduation. He says by graduating on time, students pile up less debt by avoiding extra semesters.

The council says most full-time students take 12 credit hours, but can stay on track for on-time graduation by adding one more class per semester.

WOMAN SLAIN

Final defendant in slayingenters Alford plea

(Information in the following story is from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com )

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — The final defendant charged in the death of a western Kentucky woman has entered an Alford plea in the case.

The Paducah Sun reports Jasmine Taylor entered the plea Monday in McCracken Circuit Court to a charge of first-degree manslaughter in the 2010 death of CaSondra Evrard. Under an Alford plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.

Taylor had been scheduled to stand trial later this month on charges of murder and kidnapping.

Five other defendants in the case have pleaded guilty to various roles in connection to the death. Another defendant went to trial and was convicted.