Kentucky News Now – May 20th 2016

TROOPERS SHOOT MAN-KENTUCKY

Man shot, killed after threatening troopers in Kentucky

FISTY, Ky. (AP) — A man has been shot and killed by Kentucky State Troopers after they say he threatened them with a gun.

Trooper First Class Jody Sims says in a news release that troopers responded Thursday night to a complaint of an intoxicated man who was fighting with people at a home in Fisty. The man, identified as 36-year-old Timothy Brandon Stacy, had a gun and had fired it several times.

Troopers arrived to find Stacy outside. Stacy ran inside and troopers told him to come outside unarmed, which Stacy ignored.

Sims says Stacy came outside with a gun. He ignored commands to drop the gun, waved the gun at troopers and threatened them. The troopers then shot Stacy, killing him.

Troopers Josh Huff and Charlie Moore, and Detective Chris Collins have been placed on administrative leave. The incident is being investigated.

The races of the troopers and the man who was killed weren't immediately available.

KENTUCKY RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

Ousted chairman prevented from presiding at pension meeting

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Republican governor used state police officers to prevent the ousted chairman of the retirement system board from participating in a meeting.

Gov. Matt Bevin removed chairman Thomas Elliott from the board last month. But Elliott had refused to vacate his seat, saying Bevin could not remove him before his term expires.

Elliott attended Thursday's board meeting, but sat in the audience while state police officers stood nearby. Elliot said the governor's office told him he would be arrested and charged with disrupting a public meeting if he participated.

Bevin spokeswoman Amanda Stamper said Elliot was not threatened with arrest. She said he was reminded he is not a board member and would be disrupting the meeting if he tried to participate, which is a misdemeanor under state law.

JUVENILE DETENTION DEATH-KENTUCKY

Activists criticize state's response to teen's death

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Activists are voicing displeasure with the state's response to a Kentucky teenager's death while in state custody.

About two dozen people gathered at the Capitol on Thursday to urge Gov. Matt Bevin's administration to take more action in response to 16-year-old Gynnya McMillen's death.

She died at Lincoln Village Juvenile Detention Facility in January.

Justice Secretary John Tilley has said the girl died in her sleep from a heart condition, and that a martial arts hold used to restrain her was not a contributing factor.

Activist Enchanta Jackson said Thursday there's been no accountability or reform since McMillen's death. Activists say the facility should be closed and all staffers involved should be fired. Three detention center workers have been fired.

State justice officials say a review of personnel and procedures is underway.

HOPS PRODUCTION

Kentucky looking at hops as potential crop

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is turning attention to the potential of growing hops in the bluegrass state.

Quarles says the state Department of Agriculture is having discussions with the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University to study the viability of hops production.

He says a growing craft brewery sector has created a market for Kentucky-grown hops. He says Kentucky's number of craft breweries has grown more than 600 percent in the past five years.

Quarles says it's important to work with universities on research to set best production methods for potential emerging crops such as hops.

Hops production was widespread in Kentucky, particularly northern Kentucky, until the early 20th century. Mildew, pests, droughts, and fluctuating prices forced hop producers in the eastern U.S. to cease operations or move to the Pacific Northwest.

KCTCS-JOB CUTS

KCTCS cuts more than 500 jobs to close budget gap

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has eliminated more than 500 positions and suspended some college programs, all in an effort to close a $26 million gap in its budget.

KCTCS spokeswoman Mary Hemlepp tells local media that 505 positions have recently been eliminated system-wide. She says 191 of those positions were faculty and 315 were staff, but because many of the positions were vacant or were vacated through retirements, only 45 faculty and 125 staff were actually laid off.

Hemlepp says the college system's financial problems stemmed from seven years of state appropriation cuts and an additional 4.5 percent in the next biennium. Several years of declining enrollment also led to tuition shortfalls.

KCTCS President Jay Box announced earlier this month that next year's tuition is being increased by 6.1 percent.

CAMPAIGN 2016-GUNS

Trump, Clinton speeches to highlight US divisions on guns

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will court voters on opposite sides of the gun debate over the next two days in events that will highlight the nation's deep divide on the topic.

Trump and other top Republicans will speak at the National Rifle Association convention Friday in Louisville, where organizers are trying to unite gun-rights voters by painting Clinton as a foe of their causes who must be stopped.

Clinton will appear Saturday in Florida with the mother of Trayvon Martin and other parents who have lost children to gun violence. She's become a forceful advocate for restrictions meant to reduce the nation's 33,000 annual gun deaths.

The dual appearances highlight the opposing positions the candidates have staked out on gun rights and safety.