Kentucky News Now – April 16th 2014

XGR-ROADS

Kentucky legislature passes road-construction plan on last day of session

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A $4.1 billion road-spending plan has passed the Kentucky General Assembly on the final day of the session, avoiding an expensive special session.

The Senate approved the plan 37-1 Tuesday, and the House 71-26.

The plan includes $5.2 billion worth of projects throughout the state. But as much as 25 percent of that money will not be spent. Lawmakers said they like to include a cushion in case some projects are delayed because of environmental concerns or problems acquiring land.

Republicans and Democrats clashed over the plan Monday, and leaders of both parties said it was unlikely they would reach a deal. But lawmakers emerged from hours of closed-door meetings Tuesday to say they had reached an agreement both bodies could pass.

KENTUCKY SENATE-FUNDRAISING

Grimes raised $2.7 million in first quarter

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Alison Lundergan Grimes raised more money than Mitch McConnell in the past three months, but the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate still trails the Senate Republican leader by a 2-to-1 margin in available funds.

Grimes' campaign manager Jonathan Hurst said the campaign raised $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2014. McConnell's campaign reported Tuesday it raised $2.4 million in the first quarter.

But for Grimes, Tuesday's fundraising totals were more about closing the gap between her and a five-term incumbent seeking to take control of the Senate. McConnell's campaign finished March with about $500,000 less than it had to spend in January. But Grimes campaign added $1.5 million to the bank, giving her close to $5 million available to spend compared to McConnell's $10.4 million.

OIL SCHEME-CONVICTIONS

Court upholds convictions in oil drilling scam

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of two brothers convicted of running a multistate oil drilling scam that bilked millions from unwitting investors.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday concluded that prosecutors presented enough evidence to back their contention that 53-year-old Christopher Cello Smith of Prestonsburg, Ky., and 58-year-old Michael D. Smith of Cookeville, Tenn., defrauded thousands of investors.

The Smiths ran a company called Target Oil and Gas. Prosecutors say the company asked investors to fund drilling projects in Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia and Tennessee but used fraudulent marketing materials and false geological surveys to persuade them.

Christopher Smith is serving a five-year sentence in federal prison. Michael Smith is serving a 10-year sentence.

RUPP ARENA

Rupp Arena financing plan still in limbo

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A last-minute proposal to provide state-backed bonding to renovate Rupp Arena remains in limbo on the final day of the Kentucky legislative session.

Republican senators are reviewing the financing plan to renovate the home of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team.

Senate President Robert Stivers remained non-committal after Senate Republicans met privately Tuesday to discuss issues that included Rupp Arena.

Republican Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr of Lexington says she made a case for providing state-backed bonding to help pay for the arena's renovation. Kerr says she doesn't have "a good feel either way" on whether her Republican colleagues will back the proposal.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo says House Democrats support the project.

Gov. Steve Beshear says the new financing proposal calls for $80 million in state-backed bonding.

FAIRNESS ORDINANCE

Danville officials table fairness ordinance

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — City officials in Danville have tabled an anti-discrimination proposal.

The Advocate-Messenger reports that the move on Monday came after questions were raised about its legality and suggestions were made for changes.

The so-called fairness ordnance would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Commissioners must approve the proposal twice before it is adopted.

Commissioners asked city attorney Steven Dexter, who drafted the document with help from City Manager Ron Scott, to review the issues that were discussed and provide a report of on his findings before April 28.

If the ordinance is approved, Danville would join a half-dozen other cities that have passed similar measures.

PARK CLOSED-WILDFIRE

E. Ky. park to reopen after fire

CUMBERLAND, Ky. (AP) — State officials plan to reopen a park in eastern Kentucky now a wildfire has been contained.

WYMT-TV reports Kingdom Come State Park, which is located in Harlan and Letcher counties, will reopen on Tuesday.

A forest fire that started last week burned about 500 acres, 200 of those in the park. Officials decided on Sunday to close the park due to smoke.

Forest ranger Lynn Johnson said Monday's rain helped firefighters contain the blaze.

There were no reports of injuries or property damage from the fire.

WILD TURKEY-VISITOR CENTER

Wild Turkey opens new visitor center

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (AP) — The Wild Turkey Distillery has something new to toast — the grand opening of an expanded visitor center in central Kentucky.

The 9,140-square-foot center officially opens to the public on Tuesday. It caps a more than $100 million investment by Gruppo Campari to modernize and expand the distillery. The new visitor center is a big upgrade from the previous 1,000-square foot facility.

Despite those cramped quarters, Wild Turkey says it still had a 16 percent increase last year in the number of visitors to the distillery near Lawrenceburg. The distillery says it expects to welcome about 80,000 visitors this year, up from 62,000 in 2013.

The center features massive glass windows allowing guests to gaze at the Kentucky River.

Wild Turkey is the latest Kentucky bourbon maker to upgrade its visitor center.

FARM TO CAMPUS

Farm to Campus effort adds Campbellssville University

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Campbellsville University has joined the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Farm to Campus program.

By joining the initiative, the school will make more local food available to students.

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer was in Campbellsville for the announcement.

As part of the program, the Agriculture Department will partner with the school to put more shelf-stable Kentucky Proud products in the school's bookstore and more farm-fresh products in the school's food service system.

Campbellsville is the sixth university to join the Farm to Campus program. The others are Asbury University, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Louisville, Morehead State University and the University of Pikeville.