Kentucky News Now – July 30th 2014

STATE REPRESENTATIVE INDICTED

Republican state Rep. Ben Waide indicted

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A state grand jury has indicted Republican state Rep. Ben Waide on two counts of violating state campaign finance laws.

Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway said in a news release Waide accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions from Liberty Rehabilitation, where Waide is a partner. State law bars candidates from knowingly accepting contributions from corporations. Conway also said Waide reimbursed himself $6,000 from his campaign account for expenses that he did not incur.

Waide did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Waide lives in Madisonville and represents the 10th District, which includes portions of Hopkins County in western Kentucky. He is not running for re-election.

His first court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 29 at 9 a.m.

NOAH'S ARK-TAX INCENTIVES

Noah's Ark tax incentive passes first hurdle

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Noah's Ark could get some help from Kentucky taxpayers.

A state tourism board gave preliminary approval on Tuesday for up to $18 million in tax rebates for a proposed full-sized replica of Noah's Ark as described in the book of Genesis. An independent consultant will now study the feasibility of the project and make a recommendation for the board to consider.

If approved, organizers could receive up to 25 percent of the $73 million anticipated cost of the project. Organizers would receive the money over 10 years only after the ark is built and open to the public.

Organizers say they have enough money to begin building the Ark, which will be 510 feet long and 85 feet high. The ark is scheduled to open by the summer of 2016.

MINE-CIVIL PENALTIES

US mine agency seeks civil penalty criteria change

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Federal mine regulators are proposing a change in the criteria for civil penalties for health and safety violations.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday it will publish a proposed rule that would increase attention on more serious safety and health conditions.

The proposal is structured to encourage mine operators to be more accountable. Minimum penalties for violations that constitute more than just ordinary negligence would increase.

Total penalties proposed by MSHA and the distribution of the penalty amount by mine size would remain generally the same, while the penalty amount for small metal and nonmetal mines would decrease. The existing minimum and maximum penalties for non-flagrant violations won't change.

MSHA says the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Freezer company to create jobs in Ky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A manufacturer of custom coolers and freezers has expanded to Todd County in southern Kentucky.

Gov. Steve Beshear’s office says Custom Cooler Inc. is creating 75 jobs and investing nearly $5.8 million in the manufacturing facility.

The project is Custom Cooler's second manufacturing facility in the U.S.

The 117,000-square-foot operation in Todd County will serve customers throughout the eastern and central United States and internationally.

Beshear's office says Kentucky beat out three other states for the investment.

Custom Cooler was established in California in 2006. It serves more than 300 domestic and international customers in the food industry.

To encourage the investment, the state gave preliminary approval for the company to receive performance-based tax incentives of up to $1.5 million.

FORT CAMPBELL CEREMONY

Relinquishment of responsibility ceremony planned for 101st Airborne senior enlisted leader

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Fort Campbell is holding a relinquishment of responsibility ceremony for the 101st Airborne Division's command sergeant major.

The ceremony is Friday at the sprawling post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.

During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo J. Smith will relinquish responsibility as the division's senior enlisted leader.

Smith has been command sergeant major of the 101st since June 2012. He was previously command sergeant major of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne.

FATAL SHOOTING

Police: Man fatally shoots wife, other man

DRY RIDGE, Ky. (AP) — Police say a northern Kentucky man has killed his estranged wife and another man before shooting and injuring himself.

Grant County Sheriff Chuck Dills told media that 35-year-old Shaun E. Hiles fatally shot 35-year-old Nicole Hiles and 32-year-old Larry G. Whiteker on Monday night along a roadway in Dry Ridge.

Dills said he appears that Shaun Hiles was angry because he believed his estranged wife was dating Whiteker. Dill said Hiles followed the two in a vehicle before crashing into them, and then fatally shot both before turning the gun on himself.

Dill says Hiles is being treated in the hospital for at least two gunshot wounds.

CHEERLEADER DEATH

U of L cheerleader found dead in apartment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A University of Louisville cheerleader has been found dead in an apartment near campus.

The university said the body of 22-year-old Danielle Cogswell was found Monday in an apartment at Cardinal Towne, an off-campus, privately operated student housing complex affiliated with U of L.

Louisville police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said the death did not appear to be the result of foul play.

The Courier-Journal reported that law enforcement officials have said they are awaiting results of an autopsy and toxicology tests.

The newspaper said Cogswell was a transfer student from Arizona State who grew up in Washington and had been a cheerleader at U of L for a year.

U of L's head spirit coach, Todd Sharp, said he recruited her to Louisville and described her as "one of the top athletes" in the program.

WOODFORD RESERVE-DONATION

Woodford Reserve makes donation to Old Friends

LOUISVILLE, Ky.(AP) — Woodford Reserve bourbon has donated $26,000 to the Old Friends operation that cares for retired racehorses.

The donation to the Old Friends Retirement Center stems from net proceeds raised during the sale of 89 exclusive Mint Julep Cups during the Kentucky Derby. This is the second year that Woodford Reserve has donated money from its Mint Julep Cup program to Old Friends.

Michael Blowen, president of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center, says the contribution from Woodford Reserve has supported the expansion of the Old Friends facility outside Georgetown, Kentucky, and the retirement of 26 more thoroughbreds.

Woodford Reserve brand director Jason Kempf says the donation will help continue the great care the horses receive at the retirement center.

Old Friends cares for more than 130 horses across three states.