MILTON-MADISON BRIDGE

Bridge reopens to traffic over Ohio River

MILTON, Ky. (AP) — Traffic is crossing the Ohio River between Milton, Ky., and Madison, Ind., again, thanks to the reopening of the U.S. 421 bridge a week after the span was slid into place from temporary supports.

Govs. Mike Pence of Indiana and Steve Beshear of Kentucky said the project was a fine achievement. Pence said residents of both states should be commended for their patience during the project, and Beshear said the area was a part of engineering history.

Highway officials say the truss of the bridge, nearly a half-mile, is the longest in North America to be slid laterally into place. Workers slid it 55 feet from temporary supports onto its refurbished original piers. Some work on the project remains, and the bridge has a 20 mph speed limit.

DISBARRED ATTORNEY

Ky court disbars attorney serving probation

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Supreme Court has permanently disbarred a Lexington attorney who is serving probation for theft of his clients' money.

The justices on Thursday granted 37-year-old Clifford Alan Branham's request to resign from the Kentucky Bar Association under the terms of permanent disbarment.

Branham previously pleaded guilty to four counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property. He admitted to taking money, but not doing work for four of his clients. The court also ordered him to pay $241,000 in restitution.

A judge sentenced Branham to eight years in prison, but he was released on shock probation. Branham will remain on probation through March 2019.

ARSON-MURDER CONVICTION

Ky court reverses conviction in arson, death case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of taking part in the shooting death and burning of a man as part of a robbery.

The justices on Thursday overturned the conviction and 25-year prison sentence of 26-year-old Jonathan Young. Justice Mary Noble wrote for the court that jury instructions in Young's case were flawed because the panel had not been required to find that Young acted "with a required mental state."

Young was convicted in 2012 of taking part in the shooting death of 68-year-old Thomas Max Martin on Aug. 25, 2010 in Monroe County. A co-defendant, 25-year-old Jessie Parke, was sentenced in January to 30 years in prison.

Police say the pair shot Martin in the head and set his house on fire.

CHURCH ABUSE-SCHOOK

Ky. jury says ex-priest should serve 15 years

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A jury says a former priest convicted of felony sex abuse charges in Louisville should serve a 15-year prison sentence. But James Schook's attorneys had asked for a more lenient sentence since the 66-year-old has late-stage cancer and other health problems.

Schook was convicted Wednesday of three counts of sodomy and one count of indecent or immoral practice with another for abuses of a teenage boy at a Louisville church in the early 1970s.

A witness at the trial said he was 13 when he began a years-long sexual relationship with Schook. The two often met on church property.

Prosecutor John Balliet says the sentence would be "very appropriate." Schook will remain on house arrest until he is formally sentenced by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry on May 30.

LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Berea picked for Livable Communities competition

BEREA, Ky. (AP) — Berea is one of four Appalachian communities chosen for a program to help promote economic development, preserve rural lands and increase access to locally grown food.

The Livable Communities in Appalachia were chosen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were announced Thursday.

The other communities are Forest City and North Wilkesboro in North Carolina and New Albany, Miss.

The winners of the competition will receive assistance on their projects.

Berea will convert a city lot into a production and educational facility for urban agriculture. The other communities' projects all involve farmers market development.

Huntington, W.Va., will also receive assistance to develop a local food system focused on education, increased access to nutrition and economic and environmental sustainability.

LOUISVILLE-ADIDAS

Louisville extends deal with adidas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville has extended its longtime partnership with sportswear maker adidas, which will continue outfitting its 23 athletic programs and include additional uniforms for the Cardinals' football team.

The five-year contract worth a projected $39 million through 2018-19 places Louisville among the top five nationally in apparel rights among all brands. It includes investments by adidas in advertising campaigns, spirit squads and a sports administration internship program.

Athletic director Tom Jurich said in a release that he was "thrilled that we will continue through this significantly expanded agreement as we move into a new era in the Atlantic Coast Conference."

Starting next year, Louisville football will have five uniforms that provide dozens of combinations including helmets. The Cardinals' basketball programs will continue with several uniforms along with special postseason clothing.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR-THEFT

Ex-AD pleads guilty to stealing from Ky. college

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A former Northern Kentucky University athletic director has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $300,000 from the school.

Attorney General Jack Conway says Scott Eaton pleaded guilty to a theft charge Thursday in Campbell Circuit Court.

Conway called Eaton's behavior "unconscionable" and says the 50-year-old agreed to serve the maximum term of 10 years in prison and repay $311,215 to the school.

Eaton's attorney did not immediately return calls and emails seeking comment.

Eaton was fired by the college's president last year over improper relationships with female employees and a student.

The school in Highland Heights hired an outside firm to review the athletic department's accounts, which eventually led to the charge.

Prosecutors say Eaton used his university-issued credit card to buy gift cards used to purchase items for his personal use.

MUSIC-MILEY CYRUS

Ill, hospitalized Miley Cyrus postpones more shows

NEW YORK (AP) — Miley Cyrus is postponing more concerts as she remains in a hospital for a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics.

A representative says the singer won't perform in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday and Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday. Those concerts will be rescheduled.

Cyrus suffered from a sinus infection last week during her "Bangerz" tour. Her rep says she had "an extreme allergic reaction" to the antibiotic cephalexin.

This week, Cyrus also canceled concerts in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. She postponed a show in Charlotte, North Carolina, last week because of the flu.

The 21-year-old "Wrecking Ball" singer's next scheduled tour date is Monday in Philadelphia.

 

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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