Mid Week Kentucky News Right Now

SCHOOL CRISIS TRAINING

KSP post develops school training program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky State Police post in Mayfield has been training school employees in western Kentucky how to respond in a crisis with a special training program that the post created.

Lt. Brent White says police have trained nearly 700 school staff members in 13 schools, and he says feedback indicates those employees feel more confident.

The post is conducting training for the other 15 state police posts next week in Frankfort so the material can be taught statewide.

The training includes about an hour in the classroom, then school staff is put through about four scenarios during an additional two hours of training. The staff is given an active-shooter scenario, and White says the training focuses on school staff being the true first line of defense in such a situation.

C-SPAN BUS

C-SPAN bus making stop this week in Frankfort

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky C-SPAN fans can get a close-up look at the public affairs network when its bus makes a stop in Frankfort this week.

C-SPAN says the bus is spreading the word about its "First Ladies" feature series and student documentary contest, StudentCam.

The documentary competition will award 150 prizes with a total of $100,000 in prize money.

There's also interactive technology aboard the bus providing information about the network's event coverage, online offerings, social media and production equipment.

The bus will be at the state Capitol from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. EDT Thursday and at the Kentucky Historical Society from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. The network will tape an interview with Gov. Steve Beshear and Health and Family Services Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes during the stop.

BUDGET BATTLE-KENTUCKY

Basic services, soldiers still active at Ky. Posts

FORT KNOX, Ky. (AP) — Officials at Kentucky's two major Army posts say basic services such as utilities, public safety and hospital emergency services were still functioning despite a partial government shutdown.

Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards says some civilian employees have received furlough notices, but soldiers and other essential personnel were still on duty.

Col. David "Buck" Dellinger — the Garrison Commander at Fort Campbell — says soldier training and operation in preparation for deployments were taking place as scheduled Tuesday. The post is preparing to send two brigades — the 2nd Brigade Combat Team with about 2,000 soldiers and the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade with 1,800 personnel — to Afghanistan in the coming months.

Fort Campbell spokesman Bob Jenkins says the nine schools operating at Fort Campbell will remain in session.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

2 women file suit against former lawmaker

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

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two legislative workers have filed a lawsuit accusing former state Rep. John Arnold of sexual harassment.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday by attorney Thomas Clay, Yolanda Costner and Cassaundra Cooper say Arnold touched them inappropriately and made vulgar comments. Clay had said previously that he intended to file the suit on behalf of the women.

Arnold, who resigned as a lawmaker last month, has denied the allegations. He said in the resignation letter that he had been "destroyed politically" and could no longer be an effective voice for his constituents.

The Courier-Journal reports the lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, but doesn't list an exact amount.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Greg Stumbo has appointed a committee to investigate the allegations against Arnold.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky defends same-sex marriage ban

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's attorney general's office says the state's same-sex marriage ban should stand but acknowledge overturning it would grant gay couples the same legal protections as straight couples.

The state made its defense of the ban in response to a lawsuit brought by Gregory Bourke and Michael De Leon of Louisville, who were married in Canada nine years ago. The men filed suit in July to force the state to recognize valid unions from other states and countries.

In a filing in federal court in Louisville, Assistant Attorney General Clay Barkley asked U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II to dismiss the suit. Barkley wrote that Bourke and De Leon lack standing to challenge the law.

Kentucky changed its state constitution in 2004 to include the prohibition on same-sex marriage.