Kentucky News Now – August 11th 2014

PTSD SIGNS

Signs help vets fight personal battle

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Mark Creech is fighting a war right here at home, one that sends the American soldier into a personal battle every day — yet one of which most are unaware.

When he returned to Frankfort, Kentucky from a 15-month deployment to Iraq in 2006, he brought with him the memories of a combat zone.

Several years and one Afghanistan tour later, Creech still faces a daily battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Now, a group of Frankfort citizens is working to help combat veterans escape their invisible enemy. They plan to donate around 500 yard signs to combat veterans in this area, meant to inform and educate their neighbors about PTSD.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, about 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD.

CRASH SURVIVOR'S CALLING

Ky. crash survivor buys bus to fulfill calling

(Information in the following story is from: The News-Enterprise, http://www.thenewsenterprise.com)

RADCLIFF, Ky. (AP) — When Quinton Higgins bought a bus last month, his family thought he was crazy.

But Higgins told The News-Enterprise that he had a calling to fulfill.

The 42-year-old school bus driver, who survived the horrific 1988 bus crash in Carrollton that killed 27, says he felt God wanted him to buy the vehicle. He plans to use it as a memorial to crash victims and as a reminder to not drink and drive.

Higgins was among 67 people on the church bus from Radcliff that was hit by a drunken driver in the nation's deadliest alcohol-related highway crash.

Higgins has put pictures of the victims in bus windows along with a sign that says, "27 reasons not to drink and drive."

He plans to use it during speaking engagements.

US-SENATE-KENTUCKY-MCCONNELL

Sen. McConnell using Obama's unpopularity in Ky.

HARLAN, Ky. (AP) — After 30 years in the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell isn't terribly popular at home in Kentucky.

Fortunately for him, President Barack Obama borders on politically toxic.

It's a fact that McConnell hopes to ride to victory over Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes for a new six-year term.

If he wins, it could mean a turn as leader of a majority Republicans hope to gain nationally.

The 72-year-old lawmaker concedes that his rival would be a new face in Washington.

But he says she'd be a new vote for Obama's agenda and Environmental Protection Agency rules that the senator blames for the loss of thousands of eastern Kentucky coal jobs.

Grimes disputes the allegation emphatically. She attacks McConnell's record on women's issues and accuses him of 30 years of failed leadership.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-FOWLER

Fowler to shots back at PGA Championship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rickie Fowler is giving himself so many chances in the majors, he's bound to break through one of these days.

He has been the runner-up in the past two majors and was fifth at the Masters, so it's not shocking that Fowler is within reach of leader Rory McIlory at the PGA Championship.

But winning his first major will again require clearing the world's best player, a tall order considering McIlroy isn't letting up.

Then again neither is the 25-year-old former Oklahoma State star from California, who shot 4-under 67 on Saturday in the third round at Valhalla. He stands alone in third, two shots behind McIlroy at 11-under 202.

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