Kentucky News Now

KENTUCKY SENATE-MCCONNELL AD

New McConnell ad highlights kidnapping case

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky woman recounts how Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell helped rescue her abducted daughter in a new statewide TV ad that began airing Monday.

The woman from Morehead says in the 60-second ad that her ex-husband took their daughter in 2011 to the West African county of Mali.

The woman says McConnell worked with the state department and the Mali government to ensure Muna's safe return. She says McConnell cared about her and her children when others did not.

It was a rare positive ad in a race that has so far been dominated by negative advertising.

Alison Lundergan Grimes, McConnell's Democratic challenger, also stayed positive on Monday by unveiling her (hash)AlisonCares social media campaign. It featured a web video of her husband, Andrew, talking about Grimes' passion for Kentucky.

DRUG PROGRAM EXPANSION

Ky. has counties added to federal drug program

FRAKNFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky county that has one of the nation's few unsolved police killings has been designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, meaning it can receive federal money to pay for things like overtime for law enforcement officers working on drug cases.

Nelson and Madison counties were two of 26 counties and cities in 11 states to receive the Office of National Drug Control Policy designation on Monday.

Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and killed in Nelson County in May 2013 as he was driving home from work. Frank Rapier, director of Kentucky's federal drug program, said he believes the murder was drug related.

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell mentioned Ellis in a news release when announcing the designation. McConnell asked for Nelson and Madison counties to be added to the program earlier this year.

POCKET DIAL LAWSUIT

Appeals court to take up issue of pocket dialing

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) — A federal appeals court is set to hear the case of Kenton County Airport Board Chairman Jim Huff and his wife over a private conversation overheard by an airport secretary whom Huff called accidentally.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has scheduled oral arguments for Oct. 7.

Huff accidentally dialed secretary Carol Spaw on Oct. 24, 2012, while on a business trip. Spaw overheard Huff discussing ways to demote the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport's chief executive officer or get her to resign. Spaw took notes on the conversation and recorded a portion of it.

U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning dismissed a suit brought by Huff and his wife accusing Spaw of wiretapping.

Bunning ruled the call was accidental, and Spaw had no obligation to hang up.

BIG SANDY SLAYING

Federal dath penalty case to be held in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky (AP) — An inmate charged with killing a fellow prisoner at a high-security federal prison tucked away in the Appalachian region of Kentucky will be tried in Lexington.

Prosecutors and attorneys for 31-year-old John Travis Millner agreed to the location on Monday.

Millner has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of 35-year-old Vincent Earl Smith. Both were housed at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in January 2009.

Prosecutors are seeking a death sentence for Millner if he

s convicted. Prosecutors say Millner used a homemade ice pick on Smith before strangling him to death at the prison in Inez, Kentucky.

Millner is serving a life sentence without parole for shooting a person with a high-powered rifle on New Year's Eve in 2002 in Washington.

HUMANA CHALLENGE-SPONSORSHIP

Humana dropping out as title sponsor

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Humana is dropping out as title sponsor of the PGA Tour's former Bob Hope Classic after the January tournament at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club.

The Louisville, Kentucky-based managed health care company became the title sponsor in 2012.

The PGA Tour said Monday it is searching for a new sponsor in consultation with Desert Classic Charities and the Clinton Foundation. The tournament also is looking for new courses after PGA West said in July that its Palmer Private and Nicklaus Private layouts will not be used after the Jan. 16-19 event.

MILITARY ABSENTEE BALLOTS

400 people use new online absentee ballot system

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes says about 400 Kentuckians in the military or living overseas have used a new system to request and receive absentee ballots electronically for the November elections.

The system, located at elect.ky.gov, is part of a 2013 law that allows military voters or people living abroad to register to vote, update their voter registration or request and receive absentee ballots online. The system is paid for by a $2.2 million federal grant from the Department of Defense.

Voters must mail the absentee ballots, and the ballots must be received by 6 p.m. on election day for them to be counted. But retired Army 1st Sgt. Matthew L. Selph, who oversees the system, said it would save time because soldiers would not have to wait for the ballot to be mailed to them first.

ATMOS-ROYALTY SUIT

Judge signs off on $3.5 million Atmos energy deal

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has signed off on a consent decree granting a Texas-based company's settlement with a southern Kentucky oil and gas company that will pay the energy giant $3.5 million to end long-running litigation over a dispute about royalties.

Under terms of the agreement approved Monday, Resource Energy Technologies, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009, and its owner John F. Charles of Bardstown, Kentucky, and the estate of Robert E. Thorpe Jr., will drop all legal claims against Atmos Energy.

Atmos sued Resource Energy Technologies in 2011, alleging misrepresentation and unjust enrichment by Resource Energy and its owners.

That suit came after a jury in Edmonson County awarded the landowners and Resource Energy $24.7 million a year earlier. A state appeals court has since overturned that verdict.

CHURCHILL DOWNS-BETTING

Churchill Downs' September meet sees betting drop

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs' second September meet saw a 16 percent wagering decline over last year.

The Courier-Journal reports, the 12-day meet ended Sunday with nearly $39 million in wagering. That's down from more than $46 million last year, according to statistics released by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday.

The average field was 7.7 horses, compared to 8.07 last year.

Track President Kevin Flanery said in a statement the starters per race was down this year because of declining foal crops and increased competition for available horses from other tracks.

The statement goes on to say track officials "look forward to working with the racing commission and the horsemen to address the issue of field sizes" so the September meet can continue.