Kentucky News Now – July 14th 2015

GAY MARRIAGE-COUNTY CLERKS

Decision delayed in Kentucky clerk's same-sex marriage case

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has delayed a decision on whether a local official can use her religious beliefs to justify not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide last month. Two gay couples and two straight couples sued her, asking a judge to force her to issue marriage licenses.

Davis' attorneys argued that because she has not been officially notified of the lawsuit, the court does not have jurisdiction over her. U.S. District Judge David Bunning allowed the hearing to continue, but later suspended it until after Davis has been properly notified.

The earliest the case could resume is next Monday, when Davis would be expected to testify.

GOP 2016-PAUL-GAY MARRIAGE

Rand Paul doesn't know if clerks can deny gay marriages

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul doesn't know whether county clerks in his home state have a constitutional claim to religious liberty in defense of their refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Paul said he is "not a legal authority on that" and isn't sure whether the clerks have a legitimate objection in their defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling legalizing gay marriage.

He is one of 15 Republicans campaigning for the presidential nomination. Paul stopped at a summer camp in Louisville Monday, just as a federal court hearing began in Ashland over whether clerks can claim a religious exemption to issuing same-sex licenses.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who has stopped issuing licenses altogether to avoid issuing them to gay couples.

HEAT DANGER

Children and cars can be dangerous combination in heat

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police officials are reminding parents and others that cars can be dangerous places for young children in hot weather.

Sgt. Michael Webb says the inside of a car heats up quickly, and temperatures inside can reach 125 degrees in minutes. And he says a child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's, making for a deadly combination.

Webb says it's easy to be distracted and forget a child is in the car. He says in addition, about a third of the children who die in a hot car went inside it on their own while they were unattended.

He offers safety tips including keeping your car locked when not in use and placing something such as a purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder when you travel with a child.

RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Legislators appointed to teachers' retirement study panel

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The leaders of Kentucky's state Senate and House of Representatives have appointed six people to a committee studying solutions for the state's troubled retirement system for public school teachers.

Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers chose Republican Sens. Damon Thayer of Georgetown and Joe Bowen of Owensboro along with Democratic Sen. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville. Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo chose himself along with Democratic state Rep. Derrick Graham of Frankfort and Republican state Rep. Jeff Hoover of Jamestown.

The Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System has more than 75,000 active members along with 45,000 retired members. As of 2014 it has an unfunded liability of $14 billion. In 2000, the unfunded liability was $571 million.

House Democrats proposed borrowing $3.3 billion to help bail out the system. But Senate Republicans objected to going into more debt.

EXPEDITED DOCKETS

Funds awarded to expedite cases through judicial system

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Prosecutors' offices throughout Kentucky are receiving funds to help expedite cases through the judicial system.

The Prosecutors Advisory Council awarded the grants with funds from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Attorney General Jack Conway's office announced the awards on Monday.

Of 35 applications, 18 were approved for funding. They cover 26 counties, including Anderson, Ballard, Boone, Bracken, Breathitt, Bullitt, Campbell, Carlisle, Christian, Daviess, Fleming, Fulton, Gallatin, Hardin, Hickman, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Laurel, Letcher, Madison, Mason, Pulaski, Shelby, Spencer and Warren counties.

The awards for the "Rocket Docket" program range from $19,000 to $108,000.

HPV VACCINE

State officials unveil campaign to encourage HPV vaccination

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State officials have unveiled a new campaign to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated against human papillomavirus (PAP'-uh-LO'-mah-VIE'-russ), which can cause cancer.

Officials say currently only 27 percent of Kentucky 13- to 17-year-old girls have received the recommended three doses of the vaccine, and 19 percent of boys have received one dose. The state hopes to increase vaccination rates by 25 percent under an initiative launched last year.

The campaign unveiled Monday features television, radio and print advertisements promoting the benefits of the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls to prevent infection.

The campaign is funded through a $500,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.