Kentucky News Now – March 14th 2014

KENTUCKY BUDGET

Ky. House passes 2-year state spending plan

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House has passed a $20 billion, two-year state budget that closely follows the governor's spending recommendations.

House members voted 53-46 Thursday to send the bill to the Senate. It was generally backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans.

The plan would pump more money into the state's main funding formula for kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms.

State employees, teachers and other school workers would receive pay raises.

It targets spending cuts for an array of state agencies to free up money for schools.

Republicans complained the plan includes too much new spending and more bond payments to support projects.

Budget committee Chairman Rick Rand said its priorities will improve lives.

Next up, the GOP-led Senate will put its imprint on the budget.

GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

Governor hires private firm in gay marriage case

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed a $100,000 contract with a private law firm from Ashland to represent him in appealing a judge's decision allowing state recognition of same-sex marriages.

Beshear announced Thursday that the state reached the deal with the firm of VanAntwerp, Monge, Jones, Edwards & McCann. The 11-member practice also has an office in Frankfort.

The attorneys will handle Beshear's appeal of a decision to overturn parts of a 2004 state constitutional amendment that barred recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.

Unless a federal appeals court steps in and halts the ruling, the state will have to start allowing same-sex couples to change their names on official identifications and documents and obtain any other benefits of a married couple in Kentucky on March 20.

BASKETBALL STAR'S DOWNFALL

Farmer assigned to prison in West Virginia

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer has been assigned to a federal prison camp in West Virginia to serve a 27-month sentence for abusing his public office.

Farmer is due to report to the camp at United States Penitentiary-Hazelton by March 18. The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs the facility, which has 2,137 total inmates.

The prison is about 290 miles northeast of Lexington, Ky., near the West Virginia-Maryland state line.

Farmer is a former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner. He pleaded guilty in September to using state resources for his personal benefit.

Farmer gained basketball fame as part of "The Unforgettables" — a group of Wildcats who stayed with the program through NCAA sanctions and led Kentucky back to the NCAA tournament in 1992.

RIGHT TO WORK

Right to Work bill fails to clear Kentucky panel

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill which would have prohibited mandatory membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment has failed to move forward in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The bill known as the Kentucky Right to Work Act was sponsored by House Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover, a Republican from Jamestown.

Hoover says the act would create a hospitable business environment in the state for new manufacturing companies.

Opposition to the measure came from House Labor and Industry Committee chair, Rep. Rick Nelson, a Democrat from Middlesboro.

Nelson said the measure would have a negative impact on the average wage of middle class Kentuckians.

The measure failed to pass the committee after receiving a vote of 4-15.

GOVERNOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST

Hundreds attend governor's prayer breakfast

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear told a crowd of hundreds that Jesus' command in the Bible to care for the vulnerable has guided his decisions in policy and budget

Beshear made his comments during the 49th annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast at the Frankfort Convention Center. The two-term governor said Kentucky has been tested during his term, referring to the $1.6 billion in state budget cuts during the economic recession and a series of devastating tornados. But through it all Beshear said he has worked hard to make sure every community has access to quality education.

Former University of Kentucky football star Jacob Tamme was the featured speaker, fresh off an appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII as a tight end for the Denver Broncos.

MEDICAL SCHOOL-PROBATION

UofL Medical School put on probation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The University of Louisville School of Medicine has been placed on probation by its accrediting body.

The Courier-Journal reported the school has two years to make changes in nine areas of concern found during an April 2013 visit by a Liaison Committee on Medical Education team before the status can be lifted. While the changes are made, the program remains fully accredited.

Medical school dean Dr. Toni Ganzel said in a statement she was disappointed with the status finding, most of those issues have already been addressed in the last year or will be 2014-2015 school year.

The university plans to formally submit an action plan to Liaison Committee on Medical Education in October and anticipates a follow-up site review in the summer of 2015.

SOLDIER CHARGED-BRIBERY

Soldier gets 366 days in prison for fuel theft

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — A U.S. Army soldier has been sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison for his role in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base Fenty near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell handed down the sentence for 40-year-old Kevin Bilal Abdullah of Clarksville, Tenn., on Thursday.

Abdullah pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2013, to receiving payments from a representative of the trucking company in exchange for facilitating the theft of fuel in approximately 25 fuel trucks. At sentencing, he was ordered to pay $466,250 in restitution.

Abdullah's sentencing was the fourth conviction arising from this investigation of fuel thefts at FOB Fenty. Three other people in Colorado received sentences ranging from 27 to 87 months in prison.

FUGITIVE CAUGHT

Sheriff: Fugitive who cut ankle bracelet caught

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — A southern Kentucky man who escaped custody while awaiting trial on multiple charges of rape and arson has been caught.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root says deputies and U.S. Marshals arrested 45-year-old James Bowling of Lily on Thursday in Leslie County.

Bowling had been under house arrest in Laurel County. Root says bowling cut off his ankle bracelet which monitored his whereabouts and fled the area.

Bowling was being held in the Laurel County Detention Center. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.