Kentucky News Now – July 4th 014

CELL TOWER DEATH

Man decapitated while working on cell tower

CYNTHIANA, Ky. (AP) — A central Kentucky sheriff says a man was decapitated as he worked 240 feet above ground on a cell phone tower.

Harrison County Sheriff Bruce Hampton says the man, in his 20s, was one of two workers on the tower when a heavy antenna fell and a cable struck him around 2:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Hampton said the man was still hanging in his safety harness five hours later, and a crew called in from northern Kentucky was about to begin bringing his body down.

Hampton said two other men were on the ground when it happened. No one else was injured.

They were working at a Verizon tower but are employed by another company. Hampton was not releasing the company name or any other information about the workers.

U OF L AUDIT

U of L audit recommends better financial controls

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An independent audit has recommended that the University of Louisville improve financial controls and oversight after a series of cases involving allegations of embezzlement and misuse of funds.

The audit, commissioned by the university, recommended 17 changes, covering disbursement practices and management; controls over vendors, contracts and bank accounts; addition of a chief financial officer; and improved internal auditing.

The Courier-Journal said Bill Meyer of auditors Strothman and Co. told the university trustees' audit committee on Wednesday that the recommendations if enacted would help prevent significant fraud.

The university said the full board is expected to consider the report July 10.

In the past six years, at least six university employees have been accused of taking the school's money or grant funds under its control.

KENTUCKY ROADS

Road projects delayed because of federal shortfall

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says the state has postponed $185 million worth of construction projects because of a looming shortfall in the federal Highway Trust Fund.

The delayed projects include the widening of Interstate 65 and various highway repaving projects. Beshear blamed Congress for the shortfall and said he hopes they can pass a bill fixing the problem so the projects can begin this fall.

Kentucky receives about $650 million each year from the federal Highway Trust Fund. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx appeared at a news conference with Beshear on Wednesday at the Capitol and said unless Congress acts, states can expect cuts of 28 percent on average.

Foxx said Congress could make up the shortfall by taxing overseas profits of American corporations. But Republican lawmakers oppose that idea because it would raise taxes.

KENTUCKY SENATE-COAL

Grimes to talk mine safety in eastern Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes will talk about coal mine safety and fighting black lung disease during a campaign stop at the site of the 1970 Hurricane Creek mining disaster Thursday morning.

Grimes' campaign told The Associated Press she will vow to support two pieces of coal mining legislation, both written by West Virginia Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller. The first bill would increase criminal penalties for mine safety violations and do more to protect people who report those violations. The second would make it easier for miners to apply for and receive benefits related to black lung disease.

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell has criticized Grimes for accepting donations from anti-coal groups and not mentioning coal when she appeared at a fundraiser with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

PERRYVILLE BATTLE-APP

Phone app gives tour of Perryville battle

PERRYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A new smart phone app will allow visitors to Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site to hear details about the battle and guide them through the park.

The app was developed by a group of Ball State University students in Indiana.

It uses voiceovers to explain the battle and has period music and photos.

Park manager Kurt Holman says it will tell the story of not just the generals but also the experiences of common soldiers.

The students took on the job of creating the app as part of the Building Better Communities Immersive Learning Program at Ball State. They began in January and finished in May.

Perryville was the scene of the most deadly Civil War battle in Kentucky, with more than 7,600 soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

FAITH-BASED LAWSUIT

Sunrise to fight judge's ruling in 2000 suit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sunrise Children's Services is planning to challenge a ruling from a federal judge this week that settled a 14-year-old lawsuit over public funding of faith-based organizations.

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson on Monday approved a settlement and dismissed the suit, which was filed in 2000 against Kentucky Baptist Homes, now known as Sunrise.

Sunrise attorney John Sheller says the agency will appeal Simpson's ruling to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Sheller says the Supreme Court ruling this week on the religious rights of corporate organizations like Hobby Lobby could provide guidance in Sunrise's case.

Alex Luchenitser, associate legal director with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says Sunrise doesn't have "much of a substantive objection" to the settlement approved by the court.