Kentucky News Now

SENATE-KENTUCKY

Senate Democrats return to Ky. race with TV ads

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are reversing course and putting campaign cash behind Alison Lundergan Grimes and her bid to oust Republican Mitch McConnell.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Wednesday said it has asked stations in Kentucky to set aside $650,000 in ad time to help Grimes. A committee official shared the plan with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss media strategy.

The move follows the committee's decision last week to stop spending money on ads in the race. The official says that new internal polling shows that undecided voters are breaking Grimes' way.

Recent public polls show a tight race.

The nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation puts total spending in the race stands at $59.3 million.

EASTERN KENTUCKY-BROADBAND

Broadband project key to eastern Kentucky economy

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — State officials say a forthcoming $200 million project to lay 3,000 miles of fiber-optic cables across the state will be key to transforming eastern Kentucky's economy.

On Wednesday, about 50 eastern Kentucky leaders toured five businesses that are along Interstate 75 and that depend on the type of high-speed Internet access most of the region doesn't have because of its mountainous terrain and scattered population.

The broadband project is a key piece of the Shaping Our Appalachian Region, the joint project of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers to lead eastern Kentucky out from under its dependence on the declining coal industry. The project's first phase will focus on eastern Kentucky.

Rogers said Wednesday an announcement awarding the contract is imminent.

EBOLA-HOSPITALS

Kentucky hospitals have Ebola protective gear

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Several Kentucky hospitals are readying for the potential threat of Ebola with protective gear and protocols to stop the spread of infection.

Officials at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville hospitals say they have stocked protective equipment suits that cover the entire body, face and eyes. Both hospitals responded in an informal survey from The Associated Press that they have procedures in place for quarantine, isolation and disposal of Ebola-related hazardous waste.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare officials say the five northern Kentucky locations with an emergency department have also stocked gear that covers the entire body.

The Kentucky hospitals responded that they have done Ebola-related training with staff.

Two nurses at a Dallas hospital became infected with the virus this month after treating an Ebola-infected patient.

INSTANT RACING-KENTUCKY

Keeneland, Red Mile team up on Instant Racing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Two central Kentucky racetracks are dropping plans for their own Instant Racing parlors and have announced plans to partner in one large facility.

The deal involving the thoroughbred Keeneland Race Course and The Red Mile standardbred track announced Wednesday still requires the approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The Courier-Journal reported that the facility would be based at The Red Mile in Lexington.

Each of the eight licensed Kentucky racetracks is entitled to conduct Instant Racing. It's unclear whether the joint facility would preclude Keeneland from opening a separate facility at its track.

Both tracks initially planned to have Instant Racing parlors, which would have been six miles apart. Keeneland put its plans on hold over the summer to focus on hosing the 2015 Breeders' Cup.

NEW MINE LEASE

Company eyeing mine lease in southern Kentucky

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) — A southern Kentucky coal company is eyeing a tract of land and negotiating with Whitley County officials for the right to mine the area.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr., told The Times-Tribune that Mountainside Coal Company of Williamsburg wants to enter a lease with the county.

White says any money from the lease would go into the county's coffers, although there were no estimates of potential income.

County Magistrate Jamie Fuson moved to approve the lease at a meeting Tuesday and the measure passed.

Mountainside Coal is a subsidiary of White Energy Co., an Australia-based group that owns businesses in Australia, Indonesia, the United States, Africa and China.

UOFL-THREAT ARREST

Louisville student arrested after online threat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A University of Louisville student has been arrested after school officials say he posted a threat online to shoot up one of the school's residence halls.

University spokesman Mark Hebert says the student placed the note on a message board and threatened to shoot Miller Hall, a co-ed facility with about 295 students living in it.

The identity of the arrested student was not immediately released.

Hebert told WDRB-TV in Louisville on Wednesday a student saw the post on the message board and alerted authorities.

Hebert says the dorm wasn't evacuated. University Police and Louisville Metro Police officers went into the building and arrested the student. He is currently in custody, but has not yet been charged.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Ky. Teacher of the Year to be announced

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's 2015 Teacher of the Year is being announced during a ceremony Thursday in the state Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

Gov. Steve Beshear will take part in the 10 a.m. EDT ceremony along with Education and Workforce Development Secretary Tom Zawacki, Education Commissioner Terry Holliday and Ashland Inc. Chairman and CEO Jim O'Brien.

Ashland has recognized teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards each year since 1988. The recipients receive cash awards and certificates.

The nine semifinalists for Teacher of the Year are among the 24 educators who received 2015 Ashland awards.

Winners in the elementary, middle and high school categories will be announced Thursday along with the overall Teacher of the Year, who will represent Kentucky in national competition.

CULINTARY TOURISM

Ky. agency starts food-focused website

FRANKFROT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky tourism officials have launched a food-focused website to promote culinary tourism in the state.

The KentuckyCuisine.com website was announced Wednesday at the Kentucky Travel Industry Association;s annual fall conference.

The Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism says KentuckyCuisine.com will serve as the initial source for information on culinary destinations across the state. The website offers visitors a chance to explore local restaurants, farms, farmer<s markets, breweries, wineries, culinary trails and events.

Local chef highlights and videos will also be featured on the website.

The state travel and tourism agency kicked off its culinary efforts in July, when 47 food destinations in eastern Kentucky were recognized in the national map-guide, Bon Appetit Appalachia.

The map-guide was developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission to showcase Appalachia's distinctive food destinations.