Wednesday’s Kentucky News – December 18, 2013

BAPTISTS-HIRING GAYS

Sunrise president resigns after no-confidence vote

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention says the president of a Baptist-affiliated agency for abused children has resigned.

The departure of Bill Smithwick as president of Sunrise Children's Services comes after the convention issued a no-confidence vote on Smithwick's leadership last month. Smithwick had proposed that the agency consider opening employment to gay workers, saying he anticipated a potential loss of state and federal funding if Sunrise continued to turn away gay job applicants.

Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood told The Courier-Journal he isn't sure if Smithwick, who is on administrative leave, will stay with the organization or has officially left. Smithwick couldn't be reached for comment.

The KBC board named Dale Suttles interim chief executive.

Chitwood praised Smithwick's service and said his resignation stemmed from the differences over homosexuality.

FOOD PROJECT

KSU starts work on food-related pilot project

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State University has started initial work on a food and nutrition project in the Jefferson County area.

The work is being done by the school's College of Agriculture, Food Science and Sustainable Systems.

The Thorobred Nutrition Kitchen is a 24-foot commercial kitchen created to provide education on nutrition and healthy cooking to communities and families. The kitchen is intended to make healthy foods more accessible, especially in urban neighborhoods.

With the help of the community and partnering organizations, the university plans to make a healthy impact in Louisville and across Kentucky by using the mobile produce market concept. KSU officials say the project will allow for research on food security and access.

KSU is collaborating with Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's office, Mid Farm America, Farm Credit and YouthBuild of Louisville.

RIVER BUS ROUTE

Louisville bus line to offer new cross-river route

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville's bus service is offering a new route into southern Indiana for commuters who want a new travel option during the Ohio River bridges project construction.

TARC will operate the Interstate 65 express route connecting Sellersburg, Ind., and downtown Louisville on Jan. 27. The vehicles that will drive the route are funded with bridge project money.

The buses, called eTran commuter coaches, will offer free wireless internet access and charging outlets for mobile devices.

Commuters from southern Indiana can use a park and ride lot at Ivy Tech Community College. In downtown Louisville, the route will make several stops for access to central business and medical center locations.

The new route will offer four morning and four afternoon round trips. Express one-way fare is $2.75.

BESHEAR-LEGISLATURE

Beshear says education is top priority for session

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he wants to pump more money into education and is willing to make budget cuts elsewhere to free up the money.

The governor also says he'll urge lawmakers to consider expanded gambling and a state tax overhaul in the General Assembly session that begins in January. But he won't include any assumed revenue from gambling or tax changes in the budget plan he presents to lawmakers.

Beshear talked to reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday about his priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

The governor listed education as his top priority and said he's determined to put more money into education.

He says the state risks losing its progress in education unless it reinvests money in schools.

Beshear didn't mention any specifics about possible budget cuts but said "everything is on the table."

PRISON-EX-EMPLOYEE CHARGED

2nd ex-prison employee charged with rape

(Information in the following story is from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com )

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — For the second time in less than a week, a former Blackburn Correctional Complex employee has been charged with raping an inmate.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the Kentucky Department of Corrections said 48-year-old Bernadette Luttrell is accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate from May until she resigned in June from the department. Luttrell is charged with third-degree rape and first- and second-degree official misconduct.

The agency said Luttrell was a production coordinator at Blackburn, working in the prison's mattress plant. She joined the department in 1998 and became an office coordinator with Kentucky Correctional Industries, a division of the department, in 2007.

Corrections officials said Blackburn opened an internal investigation June 24.

Another former Blackburn worker, 37-year-old Jennifer Wiseman, was charged last week with rape and official misconduct and pleaded not guilty.