Kentucky News Now – June 26th 2015

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE

State panel seeks public input on Davis statue

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A state commission says it will seek public comment on whether a statue of Confederate leader Jefferson Davis should be removed from the Kentucky Capitol's rotunda.

The Historic Properties Advisory Commission agreed Thursday to accept written comments until July 29 and then meet again on Aug. 5.

Commission Chairman Steve Collins says public sentiment will "weigh heavily" in deciding the statue's fate. Collins didn't commit to a vote on the issue at the commission's next meeting.

Momentum has been building to remove the Davis statue from the rotunda in the aftermath of a shooting rampage that killed nine black people in a South Carolina church last week.

Both of Kentucky's candidates for governor, Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Matt Bevin, support moving the Davis statue.

STATE FAIR-CONFEDERATE FLAG

Kentucky State Fair Board to consider ban on flag sales

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky State Fair Board has decided to consider a request to ban sales of the Confederate battle flag or merchandise with its image starting with this year's state fair.

The Courier-Journal said the board voted unanimously Thursday to put the NAACP's request on the agenda for its meeting July 23.

The fair is set to start Aug. 20.

Kentucky NAACP chapter President Raoul Cunningham read a letter at the meeting asking for the ban as well as a ban on giveaways of products bearing the flag's image. He noted Kentucky didn't join the Confederacy and was the first state in the South to pass a civil rights law, in 1966.

Board members didn't ask any questions or comment during the meeting.

LAWMAKER INDICTED

Former lawmaker testifies during federal corruption trial

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Democratic state lawmaker told a federal jury on Thursday it was awkward when a state mine inspector asked him for money, but he gave it to him anyway because he was a friend and he likes to help people.

But federal prosecutors said it was more than awkward for Keith Hall to pay Kelly Shortridge because Shortridge was assigned to inspect coal mines that Hall owned.

Hall acknowledged he paid Shortridge $25,000 to help him put together a deal with Kentucky Fuels, owned by billionaire Jim Justice, to purchase one of his coal mines. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth said Hall's payment to Shortridge was to bribe him to overlook safety violations at the mine.

Hall faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

NOAH'S ARK PARK

Noah's big biblical boat being built as Kentucky attraction

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A rolling Kentucky pasture is sprouting the giant ribs of a massive wooden ship — a tourist-friendly version of Noah's ark.

For now, there's only a foundation, some concrete pillars and a few ribs. The builder, a Christian ministry called Answers in Genesis, says it will be 510 feet long when it's finished next summer.

Journalists were allowed to tour the site for the first time Thursday — following a hard rainfall, as it turned out. In the Bible account, the large vessel withstood an epic flood.

The ministry plans to pour nearly $90 million into its Ark Encounter attraction.

The project has attracted controversy. TV "Science Guy" Bill Nye says it will hurt science education, and Kentucky last year withdrew a tourism incentive worth millions for the ark.

SMELLY REFRIGERATOR-EVACUATION

Something's rotten: Stench from fridge sends 11 to hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Officials say a smelly refrigerator at the University of Kentucky sent nearly a dozen people to the hospital.

Multiple news outlets report that workers smelled a strong odor coming from the fridge when they came to work Wednesday at the Dimock Animal Pathology building. They opened the fridge to an overpowering smell.

University officials say movers had brought the fridge there from another campus building Tuesday evening but didn't detect anything amiss.

Fire battalion chief Joe Best says people reported minor irritation to the skin or eyes and some nausea. Eleven were taken to the hospital. Firefighters evacuated the building and kept people away as a precaution.

University spokeswoman Kathy Jones says officials believe the odor was caused by a chemical residue left by something that had been inside the refrigerator. The building was reopened Wednesday afternoon.