Kentucky News Now – July 16th 2014

KENTUCKY SENATE-FUNDRAISING

Grimes, McConnell break state fundraising records

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's two U.S. Senate candidates shattered state fundraising records over the past three months, bringing in a combined haul of more than $7 million.

Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes got the most money, raising more than $4 million compared with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell's $3.1 million. But Grimes still trails McConnell in total cash. McConnell has $9.8 million in the bank compared with Grimes' $6.2 million.

McConnell has raised more than $25 million this election cycle. Grimes - who announced her campaign last year - has raised a total of $11.2 million.

The previous Kentucky Senate record for most money raised in one quarter was the $2.9 million McConnell raised in 2008, according to data from the Federal Election Commission's website.

The election is Nov. 4.

JAIL FULL

Central Kentucky jail full, turns away inmates

(Information in the following story is from: The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger, http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews )

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A jailer in central Kentucky says his facility is full and there's no more room for inmates.

Boyle County Jailer Barry Harmon says a surge of drug-related arrests in recent months have packed inmates in.

Harmon told The Advocate-Messenger he's been unable to transfer inmates because jails in neighboring counties were also at capacity. Boyle County Attorney Richard Campbell says full jails are a cyclical problem in Kentucky.

Boyle County housed 318 inmates on Friday, down from 326 earlier in the week.

Harmon has advised law enforcement agencies not to bring anyone in unless the charge stems from a violent crime or the person is subject to a warrant.

KENTUCKY-DRIVERS LICENSES

Kentucky IDs could become problematic in travel

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — People with driver's licenses from Kentucky and nine other states will have to show a passport or some other form of federal identification by 2016 to comply with a law tightening security across the country.

Under the REAL ID Act of 2005, tougher identification standards will go into effect for "restricted areas" in "all federal facilities," and for nuclear power plants. In January, the rules will apply to "semi-restricted" areas of federal facilities, with the air travel mandate scheduled to go into effect "no sooner than 2016."

The law requires a driver's license to be issued by a single state agency. In Kentucky, the clerk of court handles the issuance.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokeswoman Lisa Tolliver told The Courier-Journal the state has been trying to comply with the law.

KOREAN WAR REUNION

Louisville hotel hosting Korean War vet reunion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Korean War veterans will be in Louisville in late July for an annual reunion.

The Korean War Ex-POW Association is holding its 39th annual reunion at the Brown Hotel beginning July 27. The reunion attracts veterans, spouses, surviving widows and other family members to commemorate their service and honor those lost in the war.

Korea's Consulate General will be in attendance to present the awards to former prisoners of war. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has also been invited to attend the event.

The association was founded in 1976 by Bill Norwood, who was a prisoner of war from 1951 to 1953. Norwood is the current president.

For more information on the Korean Ex-POW Association, visit http://koreanwarexpow.org.

UOFL AWARDS

UofL awarding presidential medals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A woman known as a champion for people with autism has been chosen to receive a Presidential Medal from the University of Louisville.

The school says Sandy Metts Snowden will receive the award from UofL President James Ramsey on Wednesday.

Another recipient will be the WHAS Crusade for Children.

The prize goes to those who have made significant impacts on the university and community.

Snowden has worked to improve services for people with autism. She is a former member of UofL's Board of Trustees and is owner and president of a real estate sale, management and brokerage firm.

Ramsey is recognizing the WHAS Crusade for Children for its 60-plus years of public service and for raising more than $160 million since its inception.

ROAD CLOSED-DRIVING

Troopers: Drivers using unfinished road

(Information in the following story is from: WYMT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews )

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police troopers in eastern Kentucky say some drivers are using the new US 460 in Pike County before construction on the road is complete.

Lt. Jennifer Sandlin told WYMT-TV in Hazard that the road is marked as closed, but signs and construction barrels aren't enough to keep some motorists away.

The new highway creates a quicker route between areas toward Elkhorn City and US 23 in Pikeville.

Officials say they understand folks are anxious to use the new road but until it is officially open to traffic it is a huge safety risk because of a lack of markings and guard rails.

Sandlin says troopers have already written more than 100 tickets

Officials expect the road to open between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CUT

Paducah police cut traffic enforcement team

(Information in the following story is from: WPSD-TV, http://www.wpsdlocal6.com )

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — The Paducah Police Department is cutting its traffic enforcement division with officials citing a staff shortage as the reason for the unit's demise.

Police Chief Brandon Barnhill told WPSD-TV in Paducah traffic laws will still be enforced, but not at as high a level as before.

Barnhill brought the unit back from a 15-year hiatus about a year and a half ago. During that time, the city saw crashes in about five target areas go down by double digits.

The department has eight vacancies right now. Barnhill said they had to cut the traffic patrol unit so they have enough officers to respond to the 911 calls they get every day. Bringing the unit back is not out of the question once the department gets more officers on staff.