Kentucky News Now – July 14th 2014

BEATING DEATH

87-year-old man dies from injuries in assault

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say an 87-year-old Lexington man has died of injuries suffered in an assault.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that John Tully died Sunday at the University of Kentucky Hospital.

The Fayette County coroner's office says the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Authorities say the death is being investigated as a homicide. They say Tully was assaulted at an apartment complex Friday.

It is the 12th homicide in Lexington this year and the fifth since June 21.

GRANDPA JONES-MARKER

Fundraising falling short for Grandpa Jones marker

(Information in the following story is from: The Gleaner, http://www.thegleaner.com/)

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — A group raising money to put up a historical marker honoring country music entertainer Louis "Grandpa" Jones at his western Kentucky birthplace says it's been disappointed by the response so far.

The Gleaner reports the Henderson County Historical and Genealogical Society had hoped to have the needed money in hand by now. Society vice president Linda Hallmark says the group is thankful for the $700 that's been raised, but the project's cost is $2,500.

The Kentucky Historical Society authorized the marker in February.

Jones was born on Oct. 20, 1913 in the Niagara community in Henderson County. He began performing in the 1920s, joined the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1946, and was a cast member of the TV show "Hee Haw." He died in 1998.

NURTURING NATURE

Nature nurtures youths at camp

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

BENTON, Ky. (AP) — Ella Knois pried the worm off the end of her fishing line and fastened the hook to a rubber band wrapped around the base of the pole.

The Daily News says the Alvaton fifth-grader tossed the worm into the lake and trotted off the dock.

Farther down, 12-year-old Kassidy Watt of Bowling Green reeled in her line. When the empty hook popped out of the water, she declaring she was right: A fish took her bait.

More than 100 children from Warren and Allen counties rode the bus recently to Camp Currie, a summer camp for fourth- through sixth-graders hosted by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For a week, campers were tucked away in the woods around Kentucky Lake and challenged to pick up rifles, paddles, rods and bows.

JUDICIAL CANDIDATES-LAWSUIT

Rules on judicial races challenged in suit

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Judicial candidate Robert Winter Jr. thought he was on solid ground when he sent out fliers before Kentucky's May primary identifying himself as a "lifelong Republican" and three of his opponents as Democrats.

The Courier-Journal reports that soon after the primary, the state's Judicial Conduct Commission sent Winter a letter advising him that three complaints had been filed against him. The commission requested that he respond.

Instead, the Kenton County lawyer sued the commission in federal court. He's demanding that Kentucky's judicial ethics rules be struck down as unconstitutional and that the judicial enforcement agency be blocked from sanctioning him.

Lawyers say the case shows how Kentucky regulators are grappling with how to balance the interest in keeping judicial races nonpartisan with new freedoms given judicial candidates by the courts.

SWALLOWING COCAINE

Drug suspect accused of trying to swallow evidence

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police say a central Kentucky man facing drug-related charges tried to chew and swallow the evidence.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the Danville man, Royce T. Booker, allegedly tried to consume a substance that appeared to be cocaine when an officer approached him in a restaurant parking lot.

The incident happened when police were summoned to the restaurant Friday night to investigate an alleged drug deal.

A police officer used a Taser to subdue the 44-year-old Booker.

Booker was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

MISS KENTUCKY

Ohio County native wins Miss Kentucky

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Western Kentucky native Ramsey Carpenter has been crowned Miss Kentucky and will compete in the Miss America Pageant in September.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Carpenter's platform as Miss Kentucky is raising awareness of multiple sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with in 2010. The 23-year-old Hartford, Kentucky, native is a University of Kentucky graduate.

Carpenter competed against 32 hopefuls Saturday night at the Singletary Center for the Arts at UK.

She will head to the Miss America Pageant with her fiddle and renditions of bluegrass classics like "Orange Blossom Special," which she played in the talent competition.

PRESERVING BARN OWLS

Perryville tries to preserve barn owls

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com)

PERRYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An effort is afoot to save barn owls roosting in structures at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site while officials also work to restore the area to its condition during the Civil War.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports preservationists built new, safe homes for the birds, but they haven't yet moved it.

Park officials are planning to tear down several barns and silos from the 1950s in order to make the property look more like it did in October 1862, when the Battle of Perryville was fought.

Park preservation director Joni House said officials are trying to gently nudge the animals to move, but will exercise patience in the endeavor. She says she doesn't want to preserve one thing at the cost of another.

WARREN-ON THE ROAD

Massachusetts Sen. Warren hits road for Democrats

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is quickly becoming a prized Democratic campaigning powerhouse, hitting the road on behalf of candidates in key races the party will need to win to retain control of the U.S. Senate in November.

Since March, the Massachusetts Democrat has stumped for candidates in Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Kentucky and has trips planned this week for West Virginia and Michigan.

Along the way, Warren has found her brand of economic populism resonating far from her home in the liberal enclave of Cambridge.

Republicans, however, have pointed out that Warren's views are sometimes an awkward fit in other parts of the country.

They've noted that Warren supports the federal government's efforts to restrict carbon dioxide emissions, restrictions many in Kentucky and West Virginia oppose.