Kentucky News Now

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-COMER

Comer returns home to enter 2015 governor's race

TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer formally entered the 2015 race for governor on Tuesday in front of hundreds of hometown supporters in an ambitious campaign rollout more than a year before the election.

Comer announced Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel as his running mate. McDaniel is from a northern Kentucky area that is reliably Republican but has not turned out in significant numbers in past gubernatorial primaries.

A former state representative, Comer is the only Republican statewide constitutional officer in a state that is still dominated by Democrats at the local level but frequently votes Republican in federal elections. He joins former Louisville Metro Councilman Hal Heiner as the only candidates in the Republican field. Attorney General Jack Conway is the only Democrat who has formally entered the race.

JUVENILE JUSTICE

Juvenile justice appoints director

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice has appointed a new director for Community and Mental Health Services.

Samantha Woods will oversee case management, supervision, assessment and treatment to identified department youth and families.

Woods began her career with the agency in 1998 and became a juvenile services worker in 2001 and then in 2009, she was promoted to southeast district regional manager.

She graduated from Union College and earned a master’s degree at Lindsey Wilson. Her appointment was effective Sept. 1.

LAWSUIT-JUDICIAL RACE

Judge rules law is 'unconstitutional'

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — A Franklin circuit judge has ruled unconstitutional a law that put into question whether senior judges could running for office in certain circumstances.

The Independent reports Judge Thomas D. Wingate called the law "''an unconstitutional piece of special legislation."

The ruling seems to clear the way for former senior judge Marc I. Rosen to run for Boyd circuit judge. Rosen filed suit over the law after his candidacy for the seat was challenged.

The law prescribes a five-year term for senior judges and prohibits them from becoming candidates for office during that time period. Previously, the judges committed to working 600 days.

Rosen argued that he completed his 600 days before his five-year term ended on January 31. The primary filing deadline was January 28.

HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION

University of Kentucky Hospital work to start soon

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Another phase of construction is in the works at University of Kentucky Hospital.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Turner Construction Co. announced it won the contract for the $150 million project. Part of the work is scheduled to be complete by the end of January 2016, with neonatal intensive-care unit renovation starting in May and set for completion in July 2017.

The new hospital opened in 2011 and is being finished in phases.

The work that will begin later this year includes the build-out and finishing of 125,000 square feet on the ninth and 10th floors of the 12-story patient-care complex. Both floors are part of the patient care wing.

Included with be the fit-out of six additional elevators, a new 30,000-square-foot kitchen-cafeteria, a 7,000-square-foot radiology suite and a hyperbaric wound center.

BOURBON EVENT

Kentucky Bourbon Affair set for Louisville in 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A fantasy camp for bourbon fans will return to Louisville next year.

Kentucky Bourbon Affair events are scheduled for next June 3-7. Kentucky Distillers' Association President Eric Gregory says the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau will be the top sponsor for next year's event.

This year's events included private distillery tours, personal barrel selections, gourmet food, cocktail parties, receptions at the homes of bourbon barons and even skeet shooting with a master distiller.

Adam Johnson, director of the KDA's Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour, says next year's showcase promises to be even more "over the top."

The KDA says a limited number of Golden Tickets will go on sale in November, guaranteeing holders their first choice at exclusive tours and VIP access to opening and closing events.

TEACHING ART

Grants available for artist residencies in schools

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Grants to bring professional artists into the classroom and help teachers continue to incorporate arts into the school curriculum are available in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Arts Council's Teaching Art Together grant deadline is Oct. 1. The grants give teachers a chance to work with practicing artists during residencies lasting one to four weeks.

Arts Council Executive Director Lori Meadows says the residencies allow teachers and students to learn new skills while meeting learning goals.

The residencies can cover a range of topics.

KENTUCKY ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology event set in eastern Kentucky

STANTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's oldest archaeology event is coming up this month in eastern Kentucky.

The free event, Living Archaeology Weekend, has taken place since 1989 at Red River Gorge. This year's event is Sept. 19 and 20 at Gladie Visitor Center.

The state says hundreds of preregistered school students will take part Sept. 19 in demonstrations on tanning animal hides, weaving baskets, making pottery, milling corn, throwing spears with an atlatl (AHT'-laht-uhl) and flinting knap. Those events are for school groups by reservation only. For more information, call the Gladie Center at (606) 663-8100.

On Sept. 20, the public is invited to attend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. Admission is free.

Gov. Steve Beshear designated September as Kentucky Archaeology Month.

BABY HIPPO

New pygmy hippo born at Louisville Zoo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — There's a new baby at the Louisville Zoo, and weather permitting, the public might get a peek at the pygmy hippo sometime this month.

The baby, born to Hope and Maji, weighs 16 pounds. The zoo says the baby, born Aug. 28, and his mom are doing well.

The zoo plans a naming contest and will announce details soon.

The birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The zoo says breeding plans are intended to improve genetic diversity of managed animal populations.