Kentucky News Now – August 19th 2014

HUMAN TRAFFICKING SERIES

Human trafficking series explores Kentucky issues

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A new online video series is designed to increase awareness of human trafficking in Kentucky.

The series was unveiled by the Kentucky attorney general's office, along with the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board and the Catholic Charities of Louisville HOPE Campaign.

The seven-part video series includes perspectives from trafficking survivors, Kentucky legislators and law enforcement officials.

Attorney General Jack Conway called trafficking "modern-day slavery" and says it's happening in Kentucky.

The series was produced by the HOPE Campaign and funded through a grant from the Child Victims' Trust Fund.

It is available for viewing on http://ICareAboutKids.ky.gov and the HOPE Campaign's website at http://www.rescueandrestoreky.org.

SEMINARY RENOVATIONS

Renovations at Southern seminary complete

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is having a ribbon cutting for the newly remodeled facility that houses its undergraduate school.

A $20 million project renovated the 130,000-square-foot Mullins Complex. The nearly 90-year-old facility houses Boyce College, the seminary's undergrad school.

The ribbon cutting is set for Tuesday, but students have already moved into the building.

The complex includes student residences, with 96 suites and 17 faculty offices.

The dedication service will take place in Mullins Courtyard on the campus at 2825 Lexington Road.

OIL CEO-CHARGES-KENTUCKY

CEO of bankrupt oil company set for sentencing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The CEO of a bankrupt southern Kentucky oil company is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to scamming investors into giving him money for three oil partnerships in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Young Oil executive Anthony L. Young of Knob Lick pleaded guilty in March to defrauding investors in both states.

Young acknowledged that from November 2007 through December 2008, he fraudulently solicited investments through his company, Young Oil Corp., and took the majority of the money for personal and other uses.

Young also pleaded guilty to failing to file income taxes in 2005 and 2006 and having someone make a false statement on a federal form to purchase a pistol for him in 2010.

U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell will hold the hearing in Louisville on Tuesday.

KENTUCKY SENATE

McConnell, Grimes set to appear together on KET

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Educational Television says Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes, have both accepted the network's offer to appear at a candidate forum in October.

KET Executive Director Shae Hopkins says McConnell's campaign informed the network Monday that the five-term Republican has accepted the offer to debate Grimes on Oct. 13. Grimes accepted the offer a couple of months ago.

McConnell's campaign says it looks forward to showing contrasts between the candidates.

The candidates will appear on the Kentucky Tonight show hosted by Bill Goodman. The forum will be broadcast statewide.

The joint appearance will come about three weeks before Kentucky voters decide one of the nation's hardest-fought campaigns.

McConnell and Grimes are to appear at another candidate forum sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau this Wednesday.

MINE UNION PRESIDENT

United Mine Workers president Roberts re-elected

TRIANGLE, Va. (AP) — United Mine Workers union President Cecil Roberts has been re-elected to a new five-year term.

The Triangle, Virginia-based union said Monday that Roberts' re-election was certified last week. He has served as the union's international president since 1995.

Robert says he's humbled to receive the continued confidence of the union membership.

Secretary-treasurer Daniel J. Kane also received a new five-year term. Nine others were elected as international at-large and district vice presidents.

The union's membership includes thousands of coal miners, health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers and public employees throughout the United States and Canada.

FATAL FIRE

Eastern Kentucky man arrested in 3 deaths, robbery

INEZ, Ky. (AP) — An eastern Kentucky man remains in jail charged with murder in the deaths of three people whose bodies were found in a home that burned.

Kentucky State Police arrested 41-year-old Jack D. Smith of Inez in Martin County and charged him with three counts of murder, one count of first-degree robbery and one count of tampering with physical evidence. Smith is being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center without bond.

Smith was arrested Saturday after officials were called to a house fire in Inez. Three bodies were found inside the home, and autopsies were being conducted by the state medical examiner's office. Officials haven't released the victims' identities.

The investigation is continuing.