Kentucky News Now – July 10th 2014

KENTUCKY SENATE-DEBATES

McConnell, Grimes agree to different debates

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes have agreed to debate each other - just not at the same time.

Tuesday, McConnell accepted an invitation to a candidate forum sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau on Aug. 20. Grimes, meanwhile, has accepted an invitation to an Oct. 13 debate that would air on Kentucky Educational Television.

But the candidates have yet to agree to a debate they would both attend. One debate, to be hosted by WDRB, was canceled after McConnell accepted but Grimes did not.

McConnell has asked Grimes to agree to three debates with no audience and none after Labor Day. Grimes said she wants an audience and debates in September or October when more people will be paying attention to the election.

LETHAL INJECTION-KENTUCKY

Kentucky effort to resume executions hits snag

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky judge has expressed concerns about the state's plan to use two drugs to carry out lethal injections after the same method resulted in problems in neighboring Ohio.

The issues raised Wednesday by Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd could further delay Kentucky's ability to carry out death sentences and prolong the decade-long legal fight over how the state puts condemned inmates to death.

Shepherd told attorneys during a brief hearing in Frankfort that he may set a hearing about the state's proposal but didn't immediately set a date.

Ohio inmate Dennis McGuire repeatedly gasped and snorted and took 26 minutes to die during an execution in January.

Kentucky is seeking to implement both one- and two-drug lethal injection methods. Shepherd halted all executions in the state in 2010.

FIDELITY-JOBS

Fidelity cutting jobs at facilities in 2 states

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Fidelity Investments spokeswoman says the company plans to cut more than 400 jobs in Kentucky and Texas.

Spokeswoman Tara Peak said in a statement that the company has decided to outsource work currently done at its printing and mailing operations in Covington, Kentucky, and Grapevine, Texas. She said the volume of material printed and mailed has declined significantly in recent years, with many customers now using electronic delivery services.

Peak said about 400 out of more than 4,000 positions at the Covington offices are expected to be eliminated over the next 18 months and about 60 positions would be eliminated at the Grapevine facility.

She said job eliminations likely won't take place until next year.

OFF-DUTY RESCUE

2 vacationing officers rescue crash victims

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Husband and wife police officers from the La Crosse area who were returning from vacation are credited with helping victims of a fiery crash in Kentucky.

West Salem Officer Jeremy Randall and La Crosse Officer Jovanna Randall were heading home from Lexington with their children when they saw a tractor and car in flames on Highway 60 near Versailles on Tuesday.

Jovanna Randall directed traffic, while Jeremy Randall and two other bystanders wrenched open a car door and helped the driver to safety.

He flagged down a cement truck, which had a hose and water. After extinguishing the fire, he and a state trooper helped the tractor driver. Both drivers were taken to a hospital.

The Randalls tell WXOW-TV that it's a natural instinct to do what you've been trained to do.

GED TESTING

Cost lowered to take GED test in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The cost of taking the GED test in Kentucky is being reduced for a limited time.

Effective immediately, eligible Kentucky adults can take each module of the GED test at the reduced cost of $10.

The state Council on Postsecondary Education says the offer is being made possible in Kentucky through $20 limited-time vouchers using federal Workforce Investment Act funds. Through the offer, the full GED test is available at the reduced cost of $40, a savings of $80.

Officials say the vouchers will be distributed while supplies last.

The current version of the GED test was launched in January by the GED Testing Service.

The computer-based test consists of four modules — reasoning through language arts, mathematical reasoning, science and social studies.

NEW SPIRITS

New pecan liqueur brand opens in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The producer of a new high-end pecan liqueur is looking to carve out a niche in Kentucky's bourbon country.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Wednesday welcomed Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur to the city's growing lineup of spirits businesses.

The brand combines barrel-aged brandy with a secret recipe that extracts the pecan flavor profile. The start-up is the brainchild of retired corporate executive James B. Marshall, a Louisville native who returned home to pursue his dream of starting a spirits venture.

The brand recently hit the market in Kentucky, with plans to initially expand in the Southeast and Texas.

Rivulet has already made an impression with spirits connoisseurs. The product has notched a number of international awards, including a Double-Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

BOY SCOUTS MERGER

Boy Scouts OK merger of 2 W.Va.-based councils

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A merger of two West Virginia-based Boy Scouts of America councils has received the national organization's approval.

The merger combines the Charleston-based Buckskin Council and the Huntington-based Tri-State Area Council. The new council serves about 7,000 scouts in 32 counties in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio.

Jeff Purdy with the Buckskin Council tells the Charleston Gazette that national Boy Scout leaders approved the merger on July 1. He says the new council will retain the Buckskin Council name.

Purdy says the merger will provide more opportunities for scouts, including access to six camps.

STATE POLICE MEMORIAL

KSP chief, lt. col. fundraising for memorial

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer and the agency's Lt. Col. Jack Miniard are using their own money and their vacation time to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim next month to raise money for a trooper memorial.

The agency says the project is intended to build a statue to honor all Kentucky State Police troopers who currently serve and those who have died. The project is sponsored by the state police Citizen's Academy Alumni Association and will include a 7 ½-foot bronze statue of a trooper to be located at the new training academy in Frankfort.

Tax dollars won't be used for the project. Brewer and Miniard are asking supporters to donate a dollar for their effort.

For more information, visit http://www.KSPHike4Heroes.com .

FIREWOOD PLANT EXPANSION

Firewood plant expanding in western Kentucky

MADISONVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky facility that produces commercial firewood is expanding in Madisonville, adding 39 jobs.

Gov. Steve Beshear's office says B&K Wood Products LLC will invest $1.2 million to open a new facility for production, offices and storage.

The governor's office says the company plans to purchase new space that will allow it to make and store product to fulfill orders from companies such as Kroger, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot and others.

A news release from Beshear's office said the company was founded in 1955 and produces firewood, cross ties, crane mats, mulch and other products. It operates on a 40-acre site in Madisonville with more than 130 employees.

The state has approved tax incentives of up to $400,000.

LOUISVILLE-PITINO

Louisville's Pitino: 'I can go for a long time'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rick Pitino's game plan doesn't include retirement any time soon.

The 61-year-old Louisville men's basketball coach said Wednesday he "can go for a long time" thanks to the enthusiasm provided by recent Cardinals recruiting classes. Pitino said during a news conference discussing a roster that's preparing to enter the tough Atlantic Coast Conference that his "passion and enthusiasm is better at 61 than it was at 31, and I had great passion back then."

Pitino is signed through 2021-22 after agreeing to a five-year contract extension in October 2012. He would be 69 when it expires but sounds eager to coach beyond that age.

Stoking Pitino's fire is the challenge of replacing high-scoring guard Russ Smith and perimeter threat Luke Hancock, which he believes is possible with Louisville's returning personnel.