Kentucky News Now – November 12th 2015

VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

Louisville announces end to veteran homelessness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The federal government has announced that the city of Louisville has become the first in the state to eradicate veteran homelessness.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development regional administrator Ed Jennings told a crowd gathered in downtown Louisville for a Veterans Day parade that the city housed more than 400 veterans in the last year.

Mayor Greg Fischer was the first in Kentucky to sign up for President Barack Obama's call to end homelessness among veterans.

Gov.-elect Matt Bevin, a Republican who bashed Obama's presidency during his campaign, praised the Democratic mayor's success in implementing the program and pledged to spread it across the state.

Bevin said he plans to make Kentucky "a beacon to the rest of America" and "honor veterans like we have never honored veterans before."

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-TRANSITION

Gov.-elect Bevin clarifies website to take job applications

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has updated his transition website to clarify that everyone is welcome to apply for jobs in his administration.

The website, bevintransition.com, originally said Bevin wants to hire people who "share his traditional values." Bevin opposes same-sex marriage and supports Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who is seeking a religious exemption from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The website now says Bevin wants to hire people who "share his conservative values." Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said Bevin's team made the change after a reporter asked about the language. She said Bevin wants to be "abundantly clear" that his administration will be "inclusive, transparent and dedicated to the betterment of our state."

The website also invites people registered as Democrats or independents to apply, adding they will be reviewed for their qualifications.

OFFICER SHOT-KENTUCKY

Officer killed in line of duty remembered for kindness

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — A central Kentucky police officer who was gunned down last week while investigating a robbery is being remembered for his kindness and his dedication to the community.

Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock says 33-year-old Daniel Ellis was an ideal officer who treated everyone with compassion, dignity and respect. He says Ellis helped stranded motorists and gave an elderly woman rides home from work because she was afraid to walk.

Ellis died Friday, two days after being shot in the head while searching an apartment for a robbery suspect.

Ellis' service began Wednesday morning with three officers saluting his flag-draped coffin at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum in Richmond.

During the service, people began lining the 100-mile procession to his gravesite in Adair County. Flags, signs and blue ribbons dotted the roadsides.

SUSPECT IN DOGHOUSE

Police find woman hiding, and now she's really in doghouse

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky woman faces charges after authorities say they found her hiding in an empty doghouse after a dangerous pursuit.

Frankfort police tell local media that 28-year-old Myranda Skinner and 36-year-old Bryan Wells led officers on a chase Monday morning after an officer noticed a license plate that had been reported stolen.

Authorities say Skinner, the driver, tried to run over an officer when the suspects' vehicle was briefly stuck at a dead-end road.

Police say the pursuit led to the car crashing through a gate at a golf course, with the suspects fleeing on foot.

A K-9 unit found Wells inside the bed of a truck and Skinner, of Lexington, in the doghouse.

The suspects were indicted Tuesday on numerous charges, including fleeing police. It's unclear whether they have attorneys to contact for comment.

AQUEDUCT

Tommy Macho wins Discovery, 1-2 finish for Pletcher

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Pletcher added to his nation-best training total Wednesday when stablemates Tommy Macho and Madefromlucky finished 1-2 in the Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct.

The sweep banked $120,000 of the $150,000 purse for the Pletcher barn that has over $24 million in earnings this year.

Pletcher has won the Discovery, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, a record six times.

It was the first stakes victory for Tommy Macho, and it came in his first try on a sloppy track.

Javier Castellano immediately sent Tommy Macho after the pacesetting Ocean Knight, the 8/5 favorite. The colt pressed the leader every step, racing that rival into submission at the top of the stretch. Tommy Macho pulled clear to a 4 1/2-length win, his third in seven career starts.

The payoff was $9.30, $4.50 and $2.80. The time was 1:51.67.

Madefromlucky, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes and the West Virginia Derby, rallied to return $3.40 and $2.60. Ocean Knight paid $2.40 to show.

LIFESAVING APP

Lifesaving app headed to more in northern Kentucky

(Information in the following story is from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com)

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) — St. Elizabeth Healthcare is helping communities launch an app that alerts people who know CPR to places where someone is having heart attack symptoms

The Kentucky Enquirer reports that the app is called PulsePoint, and the Erlanger Public Safety Communications Center has been using it since 2012. City spokesman Matt Allen says Erlanger dispatchers get heart attack-related 911 calls about twice a day. Each time, residents who have PulsePoint and are within a quarter-mile are notified of the victim's location.

The Kenton County Communications Center recently agreed to provide the service to its communities. St. Elizabeth is working with Boone, Campbell and Grant counties to try to get them on-board.

St. Elizabeth spokesman Guy Karrick says the health care provider is going to cover all costs for communities within the system.