Kentucky News Now – June 26th 2014

MILITARY VOTERS

Army veteran to lead new voter registration system

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has hired a 20-year Army veteran to oversee a new online voter registration system for military and overseas voters.

Retired Army 1st Sgt. Matthew L. Selph will oversee the new system that will allow military and overseas voters to request absentee ballots, register to vote and update their voter registration information online. The system is part of a 2013 law approved by the state legislature and is paid for by a $2.2 million federal grant from the Department of Defense.

In his 20 year military career Selph managed $10 million in infrastructure contracts in Afghanistan. Selph has owned and operated Mooserack Coffee Company in Elizabethtown since 2008.

The new system should be online in time for the November elections.

CORVETTE MUSEUM-SINKHOLE

Corvette museum likely to keep part of sinkhole

A massive sinkhole that swallowed eight cars at the National Corvette Museum has become such an attraction that officials want to preserve it — and may even put one or two of the cars back inside the hole.

The board of the museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, voted Wednesday to preserve a large section of the sinkhole that opened up beneath the museum in February.

The damaged cars toppled like toys amid rocks, concrete and dirt. The cars carry a total value believed to exceed $1 million. The extent of damage varies widely.

Museum officials say attendance is up nearly 60 percent from March to the start of this week.

The museum is located close to where Corvettes are made.

CATHOLIC DONATION

Humana co-founder gives $1M to Catholic foundation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The co-founder of Humana Inc. is giving $1 million to the Catholic Education Foundation of Louisville, to help students attend Catholic schools.

The gift from David A. Jones and his wife, Betty, will provide financial assistance to families who cannot afford the full cost of Catholic school tuition.

Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz says the couple has been among the most generous donors to the foundation, which started in 1996.

Foundation president Richard Lechleiter says the gift will allow more families to get help with Catholic school tuition. He says about 20,000 students attend Catholic schools in Louisville.

The foundation says the funding of the gift will occur over a four-year period.

FOREST-FIREWORKS

Fireworks banned at Daniel Boone National Forest

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — Fireworks have been banned in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

The forest announced this week that Acting Forest Supervisor Bill Lorenz issued that prohibition.

The order extends prohibition of fireworks to all national forest lands within the Daniel Boone, including the general forest area. Fireworks were never permitted in developed campgrounds or other recreation areas.

The order prohibits possession, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device. Lorenz says the reason for the action is to help prevent forest fires and keep the forest safe for visitors.

HOUSE RACES

Kentucky GOP group hires former Romney staffer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A state political action committee focused on helping Republicans take control of the state House of Representatives has hired a former Mitt Romney staffer to be its executive director.

Bowling Green native Kathryn Breiwa (BREE'-wah) will lead AmeriGOP's fundraising efforts and run its day-to-day operations. Breiwa was the deputy director for external relations for the Romney for President campaign and is a former regional field director for the Republican Party of Kentucky.

AmeriGOP Chairman Richard Knock said he hopes to raise $500,000 for the November elections. He wants to use that money to target individual voters in the 2nd Congressional District.

Democrats have a 54-46 majority in the state House of Representatives. Republicans have not had a majority in the state House since 1920.

DEAD DOGS-SHELTER

5 dogs found dead at western Ky. shelter

(Information in the following story is from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com )

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — Necropsies are planned on five dogs found dead at a western Kentucky animal shelter.

The Paducah Sun reports an employee at the McCracken County animal shelter found the animals dead Monday morning upon arriving at the facility. The cause of death isn't known.

Shelter Director Ryan Brown said the carcasses were taken to Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville, where necropsies will be performed.

He said it is unlikely an outbreak earlier this month of parvovirus killed the mature dogs because the virus usually strikes puppies.

Police were awaiting results of lab testing to determine whether to investigate.

STOLEN AMBULANCE

Police say ambulance stolen by combative patient

WADDY, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say they have recovered an ambulance that was stolen by a patient who became combative with the emergency crew.

Police said in a statement that workers were attempting to transport the patient from Patty A. Clay Hospital in Richmond to Our Lady of Peace, a psychiatric hospital in Louisville.

Police say the patient became combative during the trip, overpowered the EMS crew and left them on the side of Interstate 64 in Franklin County.

Police said they apprehended the suspect a few minutes later at a truck stop in Waddy in Shelby County.

No one was injured, though the ambulance received minor damage.

The patient, who police didn't identify, was taken to University Hospital in Louisville to be evaluated.

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