Wednesday’s Kentucky News – December 4th, 2013

CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH

Event will honor 1964 civil rights march in Ky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights is planning an event next year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a historic civil rights march in Frankfort.

The 50th Anniversary Civil Rights March will be at the state capitol on March 5.

The historic 1964 march attracted about 10,000 people who were calling for a law to help end segregation in public places like stores, restaurants and hotels. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and baseball great Jackie Robinson attended the event in Frankfort.

The Commission on Human Rights says the march helped build support for the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966.

The commission and other groups helping to organize the march are seeking volunteers ahead of next year's event.

HIGHWAY DEATHS

Traffic deaths down in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Heading into the final month of the year, Kentucky's traffic death count was lower than the same time a year ago.

Kentucky State Police say 586 people lost their lives on the state's roadways through Dec. 1 of this year, based on preliminary statistics.

That's 98 fewer than the total reported for the same period in 2012.

State police say that of the 451 motor vehicle fatalities, 225 victims were not wearing seat belts.

Of the 72 motorcycle fatalities, 44 victims were not wearing helmets. And all 10 victims in fatal ATV crashes were not wearing helmets.

Other fatalities have included pedestrians, bicycle riders and someone in an animal-drawn vehicle.

State police say 132 fatalities have resulted

INMATE DEATH

Inmate found dead in Louisville jail cell

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

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An inmate in Louisville has been found dead inside his cell.

Louisville Metro Corrections said 55-year-old Charles Donlon appeared to die of natural causes.

The Courier-Journal said Donlon had been in Metro Corrections since September for outstanding bench warrants. He was due in court Wednesday related to charges of criminal mischief and public intoxication.

Metro Corrections said an autopsy was being performed and metro police and corrections are reviewing the matter.

Metro Corrections Chief of Staff Dwayne Clark said in a statement that officers who went to serve Donlon's breakfast at about 4:35 a.m. EST Tuesday found him in his bed. Donlon was housed alone in the cell.

Officials were trying to locate Donlon's relatives, who can contact the Jefferson County coroner's office at (502) 547-6262 or (502) 564-2117.

LIBERTY VAN-TRAFFIC TICKET

Ky.'s Liberty Van driver beats $56 ticket in NJ

(Information in the following story is from: The (Easton, Pa.) Express-Times, http://www.lehighvalleylive.com )

BELVIDERE, N.J. (AP) — A Kentucky woman whose van is plastered with political signs and trinkets has won a costly fight to have a $56 traffic ticket tossed in New Jersey.

A New Jersey judge Tuesday said she wouldn't want her grandchildren walking behind Lynda Farley's so-called Liberty Van because of its blind spots and lack of view out the rearview mirror. But the judge said a string of flowers bordering the windshield hadn't unduly interfered with Farley's vision and threw out the obstructed-view citation.

Farley lives in Edmonton, Ky. She was ticketed heading home last year from New York's Sept. 11 commemoration.

She made the 800-mile drive back to northwestern New Jersey several times to fight the fine. She tells the Easton, Pa., newspaper The Express-Times it was worth it to protect her free-speech rights.

RV REBOUND

RV industry shows more signs of recovery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — RV manufacturers expect to pass another milestone in their recovery from the recession that landed the industry in a deep ditch.

Led by sales growth for towable RVs and pricier stand-alone motor homes, recreational vehicle makers expect to ship more than 300,000 units to dealers this year for the first time since the economic downturn.

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association says shipments from RV manufacturers to dealers are expected to reach 316,300 units in 2013. That would be up nearly 11 percent from last year's total of 285,749.

Indiana is the manufacturing leader, accounting for 83 percent of RV production in 2012.

Next year's overall shipments are projected at 335,500 units, putting production in the neighborhood of pre-recession output. Shipments bottomed at 165,000 units in 2009.

CHILD PROTECTION PANEL

Panel doesn't make recommendations in report

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A panel reviewing child deaths and severe abuse cases has approved its first annual report without including recommendations on how to improve Kentucky's child protection system.

Media reported that the Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel said Monday that it needs more time to review case files before recommending specific changes.

The panel was tasked by the governor with reviewing case files of children who died or nearly died from abuse or neglect and making recommendations to improve the state's child protection system.

Retired Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden, who heads the group, said statutory or regulatory revisions will likely be proposed by 2015.