Kentucky News Now – July 22nd 2015

OFFENSIVE REMARKS-PROSECUTOR

Prosecutor fired after disparaging remarks come to light

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An assistant county attorney who was suspended without pay after making fun of crime victims, women and others in court has now been fired.

The Courier-Journal reports Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell fired Karl Price, who was initially reprimanded for a letter he sent a Korean family and suspended last month.

The newspaper and the county attorney's office found additional instances in which Price maligned defendants.

Citing his 25 years with the office without prior complaint, Price was offered a second chance if he took full responsibility.

But Price wrote he was treated unfairly by the office and more harshly than other prosecutors. He said he wasn't biased and apologized if he had offended anyone, but if more was required, he accepted termination.

UTILITY FRAUD

Former CEO at SW Va. utility admits corruption count

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — The former CEO of the Bristol Virginia Utilities Authority has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge stemming from a corruption investigation that already has sent several people to prison.

The government says 45-year-old Wes Rosenbalm entered his plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.

Evidence presented by U.S. prosecutors show that the Johnson City, Tennessee, man and others evaded income taxes and conspired to solicit kickbacks for the awarding of contracts to vendors of the utility. Among the solicitations by Rosenbalm were tickets to Kentucky basketball games.

Rosenbalm has agreed to pay restitution and other payments totaling approximately $200,000, and he also faces fines.

At his sentencing, he could get up to five years in prison.

Rosenbalm was CEO at the authority for 11 years, ending in January 2014.

CHATTANOOGA SHOOTING-KENTUCKY

Beshear satisfied with National Guard security

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he and Adjutant Gen. Edward Tonini are satisfied with the security policies in place for the state's National Guard facilities and recruiting stations following the shooting death of five servicemen in Tennessee last week.

Beshear says a state policy allows active duty guardsmen to carry weapons in state facilities and recruiting stations as long as their commanding officer approves it. He also said guardsmen could carry concealed weapons if they have a concealed weapons permit.

Republican state Rep. Kevin Bratcher has asked Beshear to issue an executive order allowing guardsmen to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Beshear said the order was unnecessary.

STATE SURPLUS

Democratic Kentucky governor puts budget surplus in savings

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced Tuesday he was putting $82.5 million of the state's $165.4 million budget surplus into a state savings account.

The budget reserve trust fund will have $209.4 million in it after the transfer. That's the most money the fund has had in 10 years. State Budget Director Jane Driskell said the rest of the surplus went to pay for necessary government expenses, including paying for cleanup of major winter storms.

Beshear said the budget surplus highlights Kentucky's solid financial position heading into the November election for a new governor. Beshear cannot seek re-election because of term limits. The state still faces a crisis with its pension system for public school teachers. Beshear said lawmakers need to come up with a plan to address the system's $14 billion unfunded liability.

PATRIOT COAL-BANKRUPTCY

Bankrupt Patriot Coal asks judge to change retiree benefits

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Patriot Coal wants a bankruptcy judge's permission to reject the company's collective bargaining agreement with union miners and change retirees' health care benefits.

Patriot made the request last week in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing in Richmond.

Patriot wrote that it would otherwise run out of cash and have to liquidate in a matter of weeks.

Patriot said the move would be necessary to close on a proposed partial sale to Lexington, Kentucky-based Blackhawk Mining LLC.

Otherwise, the United Mine Workers of America would need to reach collective bargaining terms with Blackhawk, which doesn't want to contribute to the pension plan.

Patriot wrote that discussions with the UMWA and Blackhawk are at an impasse.

In a June filing, the UMWA wrote that Patriot was further attempting to strip retiree benefits.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Details expected soon in legislative harassment lawsuits

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

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky taxpayers may soon know how much they will pay to settle lawsuits filed by female legislative staffers claiming sexual harassment and a hostile workplace at the state Capitol.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports an agreed order to dismiss the cases is expected to be submitted in Franklin County Circuit Court on Wednesday. The women's attorney, Thomas E. Clay, says full terms of the settlement should be filed with the order.

It will come 30 days after the Legislative Research Commission and several female legislative staffers reached a cash settlement agreement.

Lawmakers have declined to reveal what the state will pay to conclude the lawsuits.

In one suit, two women said they were sexually harassed at the Capitol by then-state Rep. John Arnold. Arnold denied wrongdoing but resigned.

CHILD POVERTY

Report: Poverty afflicts 1 in 4 Kentucky youngsters

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

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A new report says poverty remains the biggest problem facing Kentucky children, a trend affecting all other aspects of child well-being.

Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, says the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2015 KIDS COUNT report shows poverty afflicts one in four Kentucky youngsters. Brooks says reducing poverty is the single most impactful way to improve overall child well-being.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the findings generally used figures from 2013.

Brooks says the way to help families build assets include ensuring they have access to responsible lending and financial services, along with providing a more integrated approach to benefits. He says tax reform would also make a difference.

The report shows the child and teen mortality rate fell by 24 percent from 2008 to 2013.

BODY FOUND

Missing man found dead in creek

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

JAMESTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a man who was reported missing last week has been found dead in a creek in southern Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police say the body of 58-year-old Thomas Polston was found in the creek at Jamestown last weekend.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Polston had been reported missing last Wednesday.

Police say an autopsy was conducted Sunday, and preliminary results indicate that Polston's death "was related to a cardiac event and drowning."

No foul play is suspected.