Kentucky News Now

RETIREMENT SYSTEM-CREDIT RATING

Court ruling won't impact Kentucky's credit rating

FRANKFORT, KY. (AP) — Moody's said it will not downgrade Kentucky's credit rating despite a recent federal bankruptcy decision that could cost the state nearly $1 billion over 20 years.

The credit rating agency said Monday that Kentucky has enough resources to manage the added expenses caused by a judge’s decision to let a private Louisville community mental health center leave the Kentucky Employees Retirement System without paying its share of the $17.1 billion unfunded liability.

Kentucky Retirement Systems is appealing the judge's ruling. Moody's noted it would cost the state an extra $2.4 billion over 20 years if all of the community mental health centers left the system.

But Moody's said its calculations show the departures of community mental health centers would not increase the state’s overall $41.4 billion adjusted net pension liability.

STATE RECORDS MOVED

Thousands of Ky. records head to new Frankfort building

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State officials have moved thousands of boxes of state records into a new facility in Frankfort. The move to the new State Records Center involved about 190,000 cardboard boxes to a new leased building.

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives says the move began in late April and was expected to take about three months. But instead it took just 38 working days.

The State Records Center provides high-volume, low-cost storage to state government agencies for records with a limited retention period or for permanent records that are still in use. They include court documents, adoptions files, police investigations and corrections records.

The department is also moving about 60,000 boxes of records from another rented facility to the new building.

FORD PLANT-LOUISVILLE

Ford adds workers, investment to back MKC output

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Ford has beefed up its workforce and investment at a Kentucky plant to support production of its new Lincoln SUV as the automaker looks to reinvigorate its luxury brand.

The company said Monday it added 300 workers and invested another $129 million in Louisville Assembly Plant, where Ford makes the Lincoln MKC and Ford Escape.

Ford invested $600 million in 2010 to renovate the factory that churned out Explorers for decades until production was shifted elsewhere.

The updates gave the plant the flexibility to assemble multiple models at the same time without requiring downtime for tooling changeovers.

With the 300 new jobs, the plant's hourly workforce has climbed to about 4,700.

MKC production began in May. It's the second of four new Lincoln vehicles being introduced by 2016.

ROAD RAGE ARREST

Indiana doctor pleads guilty in BB gun case

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — An Indiana doctor who was accused of shooting a BB gun at a driver on Interstate 75 in an incident captured on video last year has pleaded guilty to wanton endangerment in central Kentucky.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that 51-year-old Dr. Perrin Dobyns of Corydon, Indiana, entered the plea Monday in Madison County Circuit Court.

Dobyns and his lawyer, Jim Lowry of Lexington, declined comment afterward.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 2. Dobyns' plea agreement calls for supervised probation for three years but says he could face three years in prison if he violates terms of the deal.

David Kollar told police he saw a driver operating recklessly on I-75 last September. Kollar recorded video with his smartphone.

No one was injured.

COMMON CORE SUGGESTIONS

Suggestions sought for Ky. education standards

VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky education officials want to tweak the state's English and math standards and they want help doing it.

Officials unveiled a website on Monday where people can view the state's hundreds of English and math education standards. People can rewrite the standards or they can click a green thumbs-up icon, similar to Facebook's "like" button.

State Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said the process is not a referendum on the standards and noted the department would ignore complaints that don't contain suggestions for improving the standards.

Kentucky was the first in the nation to adopt the English and math standards, which were modeled after the Common Core standards that have since become a flashpoint in national politics.

The website is http://kentucky.statestandards.org.

GOVERNOR-ASSISTANT

Former lawmaker given role in governor's office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed a former state lawmaker to be director of his office's legislative services.

Beshear says his choice, Roger Thomas, has experience and knowledge of the legislative process that's "second to none." He says Thomas' understanding of the General Assembly will be vital to achieve a successful legislative session next year.

Beshear's office says Thomas will retain his position as executive director of the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy. In that role, Thomas serves as CEO of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and executive director of the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation.

Thomas was as the state representative for the 21st District from 1996 to 2004.

INMATE DEATH

Man charged in Jessamine inmate death

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Lexington man has been charged with murder in the death of an inmate at the Jessamine County Detention Center.

Kentucky State Police say 55-year-old Michael B. Jones is accused of smuggling a controlled substance into the detention center and providing it to 33-year-old Corey D. McQueary of Stanford.

Police say deputies found McQueary unresponsive on Thursday, and he was taken to Saint Joseph Hospital in Nicholasville, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is under investigation.

Jones was also charged with first-degree promoting contraband and second-degree possession of a controlled substance. He is lodged at the same detention center. Online jail records do not indicate whether Jones is represented by a lawyer.

Police said Monday the investigation is continuing.

ROAD TO NKU

NKU leaders to travel around state

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) — Leaders at Northern Kentucky University say they plan to travel around the state in an effort to spread the word about what makes the school special.

According to the Kentucky Enquirer, NKU President Geoff Mearns says leaders want to change the school's description as a "hidden gem" and the area's "best kept secret."

Mearns and other leaders at the school plan to travel to seven regions of the state from Sept. 29 through the end of the year. Each visit will last several days and include meetings with community and education leaders as well as high school and community college students.

Mearns said goal is to tell everyone they meet about the benefits that NKU has to offer.

KENTUCKY-SUSPENSIONS

Kentucky suspends 2 for opener vs. UT-Martin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has announced the suspensions of senior offensive tackle Darrian Miller and junior receiver Rashad Cunningham for Saturday's season opener against Tennessee-Martin.

Miller, a 6-foot-5, 292-pounder who had started the past 24 games for the Wildcats, was disciplined for an unspecified violation of team rules. Said Stoops during Monday's news conference that the violation "happened some time ago and we've addressed the situation. He'll be back in good standing after one game."

Stoops also said that Cunningham will sit but the coach did not say what violation the receiver committed.

The coach says that senior wide receiver Demarco Robinson has "paid his price" and will play after being suspended for the final two games of last season for an unspecified violation.