Kentucky News Now – July 16th 2015

KENTUCKY FLOODING

Mud, rain, debris, hamper search for Kentucky flood victims

FLAT GAP, Ky. (AP) — After the body of a third flood victim was found Wednesday, Johnson County Coroner J.R. Frisby identified him as 22-year-old Richard Blair of the Flat Gap area and said the cause of death was drowning.

Frisby said the body was found on a bank of Mud Lick Creek in a pile of tree debris a short distance from the mobile home where he lived.

The body of 74-year-old Willa Mae Pennington was found Tuesday about a half-mile downstream from the spot where Blair's body was found. The body of another victim, 56-year-old Herman Eddie May Sr., was also found Tuesday along Patterson Creek.

CALIFORNIA CHROME-INJURY

California Chrome to recover from injury at Kentucky farm

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year, will recover from a bone bruise at a Kentucky farm for three months.

Trainer Art Sherman said Wednesday at Del Mar that California Chrome's prognosis for recovery is good and there's a chance the horse could run again next year.

Sherman said the horse will be shipped to Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky, this week. He told the Daily Racing Form that the farm purchased a minority share in the horse co-owned by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn

California Chrome won't run as scheduled in the Arlington Million on Aug. 15 near Chicago because of the bruised cannon bone that was discovered recently.

He hasn't raced since finishing second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28. After that he was sent to England and was scheduled to run twice there, but never did.

California Chrome added the Preakness to his Derby win last year, but his Triple Crown bid was derailed in the Belmont, when he tied for fourth.

Sherman's son Steve, who is also a trainer, has Hope's Love, a 2-year-old full sister to California Chrome.

"She was second in her first start," the elder Sherman said. "She might be a runner."

GAY MARRIAGE-COUNTY CLERKS

Bill would exempt clerks from issuing gay marriage licenses

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two Republican state representatives have filed a bill that would protect county clerks from criminal or civil liability for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of their religious beliefs.

Reps. Stan Lee of Lexington and David Meade of Stanford are sponsoring the bill for the legislative session that begins in January. It is similar to one filed by Republican state Rep. Addia Wuchner of Florence.

At least two county clerks have stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages are legal nationwide. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis over the issue. That case is pending.

The bill would also protect ministers from liability for refusing to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.

LABOR CLASSIFICATION

Kentucky joins effort to stop misclassification of workers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State and federal labor officials have agreed to work together to stop Kentucky companies from misclassifying full-time workers as independent contractors.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet have signed an agreement pledging they will share information and coordinate law enforcement activities to make sure business owners do not try to misclassify workers.

Kentucky joins 22 other states who have signed similar agreements with the federal government. Federal officials said misclassified workers are often denied benefits, including the minimum wage, overtime and family and medical leave. It also means states and the federal government collect less money in taxes.

The agreement lasts for three years.

GARRISON COMMANDER

Fort Knox getting new garrison commander this week

FORT KNOX, Ky. (AP) — A new garrison commander is being installed at Fort Knox this week.

Col. Stephen Aiton will replace Col. T.J. Edwards during a ceremony Friday at the post.

Aiton is a 25-year Army Adjutant General Corps officer and most recently served at Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

Edwards has been garrison commander since July 9, 2013. His next assignment will be as an executive officer at the Pentagon.

Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Robinson, who is senior enlisted adviser of the Fort Knox garrison, will transfer responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Bobby Wooldridge during the same ceremony. Robinson is retiring after a 31-year Army career.

OVERPASS COLLAPSE

Construction company cited in fatal Ohio overpass collapse

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio company in charge of demolishing a highway overpass that collapsed and killed a construction worker has been cited for two safety violations and fined $14,000.

Spokesman Scott Allen with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Columbus-based Kokosing (Koh-KOH'-sing) Construction agreed to the penalties Wednesday.

Kokosing CEO Brian Burgett says the company made an engineering mistake that may have contributed to the worker's death and it has taken steps to prevent any similar tragedy.

The collapse occurred Jan. 19 during removal of an Interstate 75 ramp bridge just north of downtown Cincinnati. The citations said the bridge deck wasn't strong enough to support the equipment used and employees were allowed to continue demolition after discovery of an engineering error.