Kentucky News Now – March 12th 2014

STATE RAISES

State budget includes $233 million for raises

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky state budget includes $233 million to give raises to more than 136,000 state workers and teachers.

The raises vary from 5 percent to 1 percent for state workers and judicial employees in 2015, with the largest raises reserved for employees who make less than $27,000 a year. In 2016, state workers would all receive a 1 percent raise.

The state's 100,000 teachers and other school employees would all get a 2 percent raise in 2015 and a 1 percent raise in 2016.

The raises for state workers were first proposed by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and adopted by a House budget committee on Tuesday. The judicial branch had asked for $16 million to give raises to its 3,300 nonelected employees. But state lawmakers budgeted $7.6 million.

REVENUE BILL

Bill would raise Ky.'s motor fuels tax rate

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's motor fuels tax would rise under a revenue bill that has cleared a House committee.

The higher tax rate would help finance transportation projects statewide.

Under the bill approved Tuesday, the tax at the pump would increase 1.5 cents a gallon above the current quarterly rate.

The bill would restore the fuels tax to the higher rate in effect at the end of last year.

The increase would generate tens of millions of dollars in extra revenue for road work.

For decades, the gas tax has been tied to the average wholesale price of motor fuels.

ONE STRIKE

Kentucky House panel OKs tighter insurance laws

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky House panel says when it comes to letting your vehicle insurance lapse, one strike and you're out.

Currently, Kentucky law allows a driver's insurance to lapse three times before the vehicle registration is revoked.

But under a bill passed Wednesday, that number would drop to one time.

The bill's sponsor is Democratic Rep. Keith Hall of Phelps. Hall says drivers would still have 60 days from the time insurance lapses to restore coverage.

Republican Rep. David Floyd of Bardstown asked for an amendment to allow some members of the military to be exempt from the penalties.

The bill cleared the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday with a unanimous vote. It now moves to the full House for consideration.

XGR--LOCAL SALES TAX

House panel approves local sales tax bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Voters could choose to impose a 1 percent sales tax on their communities to pay for special projects under a bill approved by a House committee.

The bill would change Kentucky's Constitution to give voters the option of approving a temporary 1 percent sales tax. The tax revenue could be used only for specific projects and the tax would expire once the projects are completed.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer testified in favor of the bill, arguing cities and counties need to raise more money after state budget cuts. But the Kentucky Retail Federation opposes it, arguing state retailers are also struggling and raising prices would not help.

Although it got approval Tuesday, the bill has divided House Democrats, with Speaker Greg Stumbo opposed and Majority Whip Tommy Thompson supporting it.

XGR--SCHOOL SNOW DAYS

House committee approves school snow day waiver

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A House committee has approved a bill that would forgive public schools up to 10 missed school days because of winter weather.

State Rep. John Will Stacey, D-West Liberty, said only school districts that missed at least 10 days would qualify for the waiver.

Most state lawmakers were eager on Tuesday to approve the bill. They were concerned a longer school year would force students to take end-of-the-year tests in June, a time when students are used to being on vacation.

The Lawrence County school district has missed 32 school days this year because of weather, pushing its school year to June 12. But Superintendent Mike Armstrong said if this bill passes, the district's last day would be May 30.

HEALTH OVERHAUL-KENTUCKY

Kentucky registers 55,000 for health insurance

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Nearly 55,000 people have signed up for health insurance through Kentucky's state health insurance marketplace, according to the latest figures from the federal government.

Through March 1, 54,945 people have selected a health plan through Kynect, the state-run health insurance marketplace for people who do not have health insurance through their employer.

The federal government originally estimated Kentucky would have signed up 122,000 by now. But various technical problems have caused many states to lower those projections.

Just over half of Kentucky's 55,000 enrollees were women. And about 70 percent of the state's enrollees were eligible for other government assistance. The state was unable to report numbers for two weeks in November, so the true percentage could be lower or higher.

MILTON-MADISON BRIDGE

Ohio River bridge linking Ky. and Indiana closed after worker injured

MADISON, Ind. (AP) — Authorities have closed an Ohio River bridge linking Madison, Ind., and Milton, Ky., until further notice after a construction worker was injured.

Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Will Wingfield says the bridge was closed early Tuesday after a steel bearing between the bridge and pier dislodged, injuring the worker. Wingfield says the worker was taken to a Madison hospital and was treated and released.

Work began in late 2010 on a $100 million project to replace the old bridge. The new half-mile span was scheduled to be moved beginning Friday from its temporary supports across steel rails onto rehabilitated piers of the previous bridge.

Traffic is being diverted to the Markland Locks and Dam Bridge some 25 miles upstream or the I-65 bridge at Louisville about 45 miles downstream.

WESTERN KENTUCKY TRAIL

Officials enthusiastic about W. Ky. trail proposal

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Officials in Western Kentucky are expressing enthusiasm about a proposal to build a trail for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding that would stretch from Henderson County to Breckinridge County.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports the proposal was discussed Monday at a forum hosted by Daviess Fiscal Court.

If built, it would begin in Audubon State Park in Henderson County and run through Daviess, Ohio and Grayson counties and end at Rough River Dam State Resort Park in Breckinridge County.

Daviess Judge-Executive Al Mattingly Jr. said such a trail would benefit all surrounding communities.

Mattingly said so far it's just a concept. The trail hasn't been mapped it and no easements have been sought.

Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston says he supports the idea.

FOREST FIRES

Forest fires burn more than 5,000 acres

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — Forestry officials say that more than 5,000 acres have burned in eastern Kentucky so far this year.

WYMT-TV reports state officials say 653 acres were burned over the weekend in 44 different fires. Firefighters are still fighting blazes in Perry and Bell counties.

Officials say fires are burning harder and faster this winter because it's been so cold. They say the freeze pulled all the moisture out of the ground.

Many of the fires were caused when people burning brush allowed the blaze to escape. Others have been caused by arson.

MEDAL OF HONOR DENIED

Judge: Widow of WWII vet loses bid to get her late husband awarded a Medal of Honor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The widow of a highly decorated World War II veteran from southern Kentucky has lost a bid to require the U.S. Army to review an application to award her husband a Medal of Honor for his service.

Lyda P. Conner of Albany, Ky., has waged a 17-year campaign to have the Army take another look at the service record of the late Lt. Garlin Murl Conner.

U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell concluded that Lyda Conner had until 2006 to present new evidence to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records. Conner lost her first attempt before that board in 2000.

Garlin Conner was a member of the 3rd Infantry Division, which fought in France and Europe in 1945. Conner was wounded seven times and was awarded four Silver Stars.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press