Kentucky News Now

SENATE-MCCONNELL

McConnell: Obama action on immigration 'mistake'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, in line to be the next majority leader, says it would be a "mistake" for President Barack Obama to take unilateral action on immigration.

McConnell says he spoke with President Barack Obama on Wednesday and says he looks forward to finding areas where Republicans and Democrats can agree, specifically citing trade agreements and rewriting the tax code. But he says any executive action that Obama might take to address the nation's immigration system would only antagonize Republicans.

Speaking to reporters in his native Kentucky, McConnell says the new Republican majority in the Senate wants to take action on immigration.

Republicans captured control of the Senate from Democrats in Tuesday's elections and expanded their majority in the House.

OBAMA-MCCONNELL

Obama would like to have a bourbon with McConnell

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he'd enjoy sharing some Kentucky bourbon with Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The Kentucky lawmaker was re-elected Tuesday and is expected to become the leader of the Republican-controlled Senate in January. The GOP picked up more than enough seats Tuesday night to take control away from the Democrats. Republicans maintained and expanded their control of the House.

Obama says he'll certainly be spending more time with McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur), adding that's the only way the White House and Congress will be able to get anything done.

Obama says McConnell has always been "straightforward" with him and has never made a promise he couldn't deliver on.

KENTUCKY-LEGISLATURE

Stumbo to press for higher minimum wage

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he'll make another push to raise the state's minimum wage, but he faces the same skepticism from his Senate counterparts.

The Democratic-run House passed a bill this year to gradually raise the state's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 per hour. The measure died in the Republican-run Senate.

One day after Democrats kept control of the House, Stumbo said Wednesday he'll propose the same minimum wage bill in 2015.

Senate President Robert Stivers said he doesn't see it as a business-friendly proposal.

Stumbo also promoted a proposal to let local governments charge a sales tax to pay for specific projects.

Stivers says he likes the concept of letting communities decide but says the issue will be up to the entire GOP Senate caucus.

KY GOVERNOR THREATENED

Trial delayed in case of gubernatorial threat

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The trial of a Lexington man charged with threatening Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has been postponed to allow attorneys to continue reviewing evidence in the case.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood set a Jan. 13 trial date for 22-year-old William Collin Bordt. Attorneys told Hood crucial computer analysis evidence is expected to be turned over this week.

Bordt's case had been scheduled for trial this month. It has twice been postponed.

Bordt is charged with making a series of Facebook posts threatening Beshear, the former director of the South Carolina Republican Party, Todd Kincannon, and another person who chairs an election commission in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Federal agents arrested Bordt in March. He has pleaded not guilty.

KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT-ARGUMENTS

No oral arguments in November for Kentucky high court

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Supreme Court will not hear oral arguments or issue decisions in November after officials cited a lack of cases ready to be heard.

Justices normally hear three to eight cases a month 10 months out of the year and issue decisions the second-to-last Thursday of each month.

Because there is no court hearing day in November, the justices will not issue decisions.

The high court has a slate of six cases scheduled to be heard on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.

The Supreme Court of Kentucky is the court of last resort and the final interpreter of state law.

Cases involving the death penalty, life imprisonment or imprisonment for 20 years or more go directly from circuit court to the Supreme Court for review.

DEATH CERTIFICATE-FILING

Electronic death filing going statewide

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Coroners, funeral homes and officials who handle death certificates will be required soon to file information electronically as Kentucky departs from a paper-based system.

The new system, the Kentucky Electronic Death Registration System, will go into effect on Jan. 1.

The state is phasing out a paper-based system currently used by the Office of Vital Statistics. The transition to electronic filing is mandated by a new state law.

Stephanie Mayfield, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, says the new system will improve the death reporting system and speed of service.

There are currently 404 funeral facilities, 81 coroners' offices and 40 medical facilities signed on and using the electronic system, known as KY-EDRS.

KEENELAND BREEDING SALES

2 horses sell for at least $3 million at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Irish broodmare Aloof brought $3.9 million and a North American weanling record $3 million was paid for a daughter of Tapit, highlighting the second day of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale.

Florida-based farms paid the top prices on a Wednesday in which 11 horses sold for at least $1 million each. Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm led the way with the sale’s top price tag for the 5-year-old Aloof, a sister to French stakes winner Orator and half-sister to Irish stakes winner Meow.

John and Leslie Malone of Ocala’s Bridlewood Farm bought the weanling, topping the $2.7 million paid for a weanling colt at Keeneland’s 2006 November sale. Besilu Stables had paid the previous North American record for a weanling filly at the November 2011 sale.

CIGAR MEMORIAL

Memorial for Cigar to be held Nov. 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A memorial service will be held on Nov. 14 for Cigar, the two-time Horse of the Year whose 16-race winning streak matched one of racing's greatest achievements.

Cigar died last month at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington from complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck.

The Kentucky Horse Park says first lady Jane Beshear will give a tribute to the horse during the public memorial service. The horse was buried at the park near the paddock he occupied for 15 years.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation is trying to raise enough funds to commission a bronze statue of Cigar with plans to unveil it next year.

Cigar was enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002.