Kentucky News Now – October 28th 2015

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Chemical weapons destruction plant in Kentucky is finished

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Construction is complete on a facility that's part of a $5 billion project to safely destroy Kentucky's deadly stockpile of Cold War-era chemical weapons.

The Blue Grass Chemical-Agent Destruction Pilot Plant near Richmond has been in the works for about a decade. Once it opens, officials will conduct a testing period before beginning to destroy the 523 tons of nerve and mustard agents that have been stored at a military depot for decades.

The Army had originally planned to burn the deadly chemicals, but citizens groups opposed that method. The new plant will neutralize the agents with a chemical reaction and then destroy them. Another site in Colorado has been built and is expected to begin destroying weapons next year.

The weapons destruction is scheduled to be completed around 2023.

FATHER CHARGED

Father pleads guilty in death of 6-month-old son

(Information in the following story is from: The Paducah Sun, http://www.paducahsun.com)

BENTON, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky father has pleaded guilty in the death of his 6-month-old son.

The Paducah Sun reports John Mikulich IV pleaded guilty last week in Marshall Circuit Court to second-degree manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana in connection to the death of his son, who was found floating in a bathtub on March 14 and died 11 days later. Mikulich had been facing a wanton murder charge.

Marshall County sheriff's detective Matt Hilbrecht has said that Mikulich appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug while watching the baby and his 2-year-old brother.

Hilbrecht said Mikulich changed his story several times when explaining why the baby was in the bathtub.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 16.

ELECTRIC RATES

Kenergy says it is requesting a small rate increase

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — A rural electric cooperative in western Kentucky says it plans to ask state regulators to approve a rate increase that would affect mostly residential customers.

Kenergy Corp. President Jeff Hohn said the proposed 2.46 percent rate increase is the first the utility has sought since 2011, when the Public Service Commission approved a 2.87 percent increase. It would add about $4 to a typical residential bill.

The proposal comes on the heels of Kenergy passing along three rate increases since 2011 from its supplier, Big Rivers Electric Corp. A recent audit shows those increases totaled about 33 percent.

Hohn told media that the biggest reason for the proposed rate increase is depreciation expense and if the request is denied "it would put us in a financial bind."

The Henderson-based Kenergy serves about 56,000 customers in 14 western Kentucky counties.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-COURTS

State courts to share duties to protect dating couples

(Information in the following story is from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton Jr. has announced that Jefferson District Court will take on the additional workload of a new court to protect dating couples from an abusive partner through Emergency Protective Orders.

The Courier-Journal reports that Minton's announcement Monday ends months of back-and-forth discussions between Jefferson District and Family courts. The two, however, will be working together to get the new Interpersonal Protective Order cases processed.

The new protective orders expand coverage to dating couples and those who report being stalked after the law goes into effect Jan. 1.

Minton says the arrangement will continue for at least a six-month trial period. During that time, the court will study the case volume and its effects upon district court dockets to determine if changes need to be made.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-FUNDRAISING

Conway raised more than $900,000 in October, outspends Bevin

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democrat Jack Conway raised more than $900,000 in the first two weeks of October to increase his fundraising lead over Republican Matt Bevin by $5 million.

Conway has raised just over $7 million for his campaign so far, compared to $1.9 million for Bevin. Just over half of Bevin's contributions came from his personal wealth.

Conway has about $800,000 left to spend while Bevin has $341,000. Both candidates have spent most of their money on TV ads as they try to reach voters in the final month of the campaign.

Democrats have raised more money than their Republican opponents in most of this year's statewide elections. The exceptions are Republican agriculture commissioner candidate Ryan Quarles and Republican treasurer candidate Allison Ball.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-CONWAY

Conway says he learned from setbacks in prior campaign

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jack Conway made a snap decision he soon regretted — launching an attack ad dragging religion into the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign.

The backlash contributed to his decisive loss to Republican Rand Paul, but turned into a defining moment for the Kentucky Democrat.

Conway is now his party's nominee for governor. He says the lessons learned from that 2010 campaign still influence how he confronts big decisions.

Conway says he learned not to be pushed into making a decision that goes against his instincts.

He says it would be a guiding principle if he defeats Republican Matt Bevin in next Tuesday's gubernatorial election.

Conway has already applied that lesson in making his most politically charged decision as Kentucky's attorney general — opting not to appeal a federal judge's order that Kentucky recognize same-sex marriages.

WORKPLACE DEATH

Man dies in accident at western Kentucky factory

(Information in the following story is from: Kentucky New Era, http://www.kentuckynewera.com)

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A deputy coroner says a man at a western Kentucky factory has died after being crushed by roll of steel.

Christian County Deputy Coroner Mike Stokes told The Kentucky New Era that 46-year-old Gregory Engleman of Vine Grove died Monday morning at the Martinrea factory in Hopkinsville. Stokes said the accident happened just before 8 a.m. as Engleman made a delivery to the plant.

The facility produces steel and aluminum parts for the automotive industry.

ATTEMPTED MURDER-CHARGE

Woman admits to attempted murder in soup-poisoning case

(Information in the following story is from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A Brownsville woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a man by poisoning his soup.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports 55-year-old Kimberly Vincent pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit murder Monday in Warren Circuit Court.

Vincent was charged with mixing a drug-laced solution into Dewayne Reid's soup from a local restaurant in 2014. Reid was sickened from eating the soup, but survived.

His wife, 43-year-old Judy Reid, has pleaded not guilty to criminal attempt to commit murder, among other related charges. Her case is pending.

According to court records, Judy Reid is accused of asking a drug court participant to assist her in obtaining the narcotic Opana to kill her husband and collect on his life insurance policy.

Vincent is set to be sentenced in December.