Tuesday’s Kentucky News – December 10, 2013

HEALTH OVERHAUL-KY

Health enrollment climbs in Ky. during holidays

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Enrollment through Kentucky's health benefits website has grown by more than 11,000 in a 10-day period starting Thanksgiving week.

Gov. Steve Beshear's office says the technology team for the state's online health insurance marketplace was expecting an increase in traffic, applications and enrollments after Thanksgiving and increased capacity to prepare.

A news release from Beshear's office says the site enrolls about 1,000 Kentuckians a day.

The largest increase during the period from Nov. 26 to last Thursday was among people buying private health insurance plans. The state says nearly 4,000 people chose a new private insurance police, a 32 percent increase.

Nearly 72,000 people had enrolled in new health coverage as of last Thursday, including Medicaid and private insurance.

The exchange's website is http://kynect.ky.gov.

COAL JOBS SUMMIT

E. Ky. conferees hear similarities to Minn.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Minnesota lawmaker and his father told a gathering in Appalachia their state's response to a collapse in mining jobs 30 years ago may provide ideas for eastern Kentucky, which has suffered 6,000 coal layoffs in the last couple of years.

About 1,700 people registered to attend the Shaping Our Appalachian Region conference on Monday. Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of the 5th District and Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear set up the summit to try to find ways to diversify eastern Kentucky's economy.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports former Minnesota lawmaker Tony Sertich and former community college president Joe Sertich told the crowd that in Minnesota a regional board provided public works jobs, invested in tourism projects and provided incentives to manufacturing and mining companies.

TORNADO TOWN-INDICTMENT

Top official in tornado-ravaged county indicted

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The top elected official in an eastern Kentucky county devastated by a 2012 tornado has been indicted on charges of mail fraud, theft and conspiring to launder money.

The indictment unsealed Monday claims Morgan County Judge-Executive Tim Conley rigged bidding to ensure a Salyersville-based construction company won contracts.

One count stems from allegations Conley used his position to ensure PBTHNOJJ Construction received payments in excess of actual work to clean up storm debris.

An FBI spokeswoman says Conley was arrested at his West Liberty office Monday. Conley was being held in the Fayette County Detention Center.

An attorney identified by Conley's office as his possible lawyer in the case did not immediately return a call.

Conley faces four counts of mail fraud, one theft-related count and a count of conspiring to launder money.

WILDLIFE INVESTIGATION

Inspector general finds misuse of state property

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A review has found widespread misuse of government property and employees at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The Office of Inspector General released findings from a months-long investigation on Monday, concluding that top leaders were involved in the misapplication of resources at the agency.

The report cited instances in which leaders of the agency used their influence to have free fish delivered to private ponds, a perk that was not available to the general public.

The report also charged that in one instance state employees were used on state time in a state vehicle to pick up building materials for the personal use of the leader of the agency who resigned while the investigation was underway.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Report monitors human trafficking problem in Ky.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A state agency says child protection officials in Kentucky investigated 20 allegations of human trafficking involving 25 children from late June through mid-October.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the cases included children prostituting themselves for drugs and a guardian offering to sell a child for money or place the child in a prostitution ring. The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services submitted the report to the Legislative Research Commission.

The annual report is required by the Human Trafficking Victim's Rights Act, a state law that went into effect this year.

Gretchen Hunt, a staff attorney for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, says the new law is raising awareness of the problem of trafficking children.

Under the new law, the victims are no longer viewed as criminal.

RESTAURANT SHOOTING

Man shot when gun discharges in restroom

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Elizabethtown police say a man was accidentally shot in the leg while using a restaurant bathroom in the central Kentucky city.

Police Sgt. David Neary told The News-Enterprise that the man left his pistol on the toilet paper dispenser while using the restroom on Sunday at the Fazoli's restaurant. Neary says the pistol slipped off the dispenser and shot the man in the leg.

Neary says evidence, including the bullet trajectory, supported the man's description of events.

He says the man was taken to an area hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

Police say the man had a concealed carry permit.

LEXINGTON THEATER

Texas company wants to put IMAX theater near Lexington's Rupp Arena

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Texas company wants to build an IMAX theater near Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Dallas-based Look Cinemas has an option to buy property close to the arena. The company's preliminary plans call for an IMAX theater and multiplex with 10 additional movie screens, along with an upscale restaurant.

Chris Westover, an attorney representing the company, says the development would continue the revitalization of downtown Lexington.

The deal includes relocating an 1808 home to another property. Westover says the group needs to get approval from the Board of Architectural Review to remove the historic home. It also needs approval for the overall design of the theater.

Westover says construction could begin in late 2014 if the architectural review board gives its approval.

ABBEY ROAD CONCERT-BEACH BOYS

Beach Boys to headline Louisville Beatles tribute

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville's annual tribute to the Beatles has snagged a major headliner for the concert series next spring: The Beach Boys.

The legendary rock group will headline the five-day Abbey Road on the River beginning May 22.

The concert series features dozens of Beatles tribute bands, along with high-profile acts. Organizers say this year's festival will include more than 60 international music acts.

The Beach Boys are best known for the 1960s hits "Good Vibrations," ''Fun, Fun, Fun," ''I Get Around" and "California Girls."

Tickets for the event go on sale Dec. 10.

T25-KENTUCKY-FIXES NEEDED

No. 11 Kentucky wants to rebound vs. Boise State

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has several weaknesses to fix in a short period of time.

The No. 11 Wildcats (7-2) blew a nine-point lead in the final 13 minutes of a 67-62 loss to No. 14 Baylor Friday night. Several aspects of their game were exposed and need strengthening before playing unbeaten Boise State (8-0) Tuesday night.

Kentucky appeared to be in sync a week ago after beating Providence.

But the young Wildcats were out-rebounded for the first time this season, perhaps the most glaring breakdown against Baylor. Kentucky also struggled at the foul line, didn't box out at times and failed to make a steal.

Players and coach John Calipari say the breakdowns were due to a lack of concentration, which must improve against the Broncos and at North Carolina on Saturday.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press