Kentucky News Now – July 11th 2014

BUDGET SHORTFALL

Kentucky ends 2014 with $90 million shortfall

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's state government finished the 2014 fiscal year about $90 million short.

State officials predicted they would collect $9.6 billion in taxes and fees in the fiscal year that ended June 30. But they collected $9.5 billion instead. The reason was what State Budget Director Jane Driskell called a significant slowdown in income tax collections. State income tax collections grew less than 1 percent from the 2013 fiscal year.

Kentucky's road fund was also short about $22.2 million. The state made more money from the gas tax because the tax automatically increased as the wholesale price increased. But it was not enough to offset the fact that people are buying less fuel.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear has not said how he plans to make up for the shortfalls.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR

Conway backs expanded gambling to create revenue

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Conway says he supports expanded gambling as a way to raise revenue for essential state programs and hasn't given up on getting the long-stymied proposal through the General Assembly.

Conway says Kentucky has missed out on the economic benefits of casino-style gambling near its borders.

He says he'll promote putting the issue on the ballot as he campaigns across the state.

Conway's comments came after he spoke Thursday to local officials from across Kentucky.

Republican James Comer, who is expected to enter next year's governor's race, promoted right-to-work legislation in his speech to the same group.

Comer said making Kentucky a "right-to-work" state would enhance its competitiveness.

Kentucky's last GOP governor, Ernie Fletcher, failed in his push to let Kentucky workers opt out of union representation.

PEACE WALKS

'Peace Walks' planned in Lexington after violence

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The mother of a 21-year-old Lexington man fatally wounded in April is joining with police to help end violence in the city, where a dozen shootings have taken place in the past three weeks.

Antonio Franklin Jr.'s mother, Anita Franklin, appeared Thursday with Lexington police Sgt. Rahsaan Berry, Mayor Jim Gray and other leaders to announce four "peace walks" starting on Saturday.

The Lexington Herald-Leader says the walks will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., continuing on July 19, July 26 and Aug. 2, beginning at Duncan Park.

Berry's "We Care: Our Community, Our Future" initiative began last summer to fight gun violence and empower the community.

Gray says he hopes the efforts will help bring the community together to try to resolve the problems.

TVA-COAL LAWSUIT

Kentucky coal group sues TVA over Paradise plant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A group of landowners and a Kentucky coal industry group are asking a federal judge to halt plans to shut down two coal-fired units at a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant in western Kentucky.

The Kentucky Coal Association argues in the suit filed Thursday that the TVA did not follow proper federal procedure and its own rules in deciding to close the units at the Paradise Fossil Plant. The TVA announced last year that it would build a new facility powered by natural gas at the site, as well as keep a third coal-fired unit in operation.

The suit says the TVA did not perform a proper environmental impact statement when making the decision.

A TVA spokesman said Thursday that officials will review the lawsuit and respond appropriately.

CHARITY-FRAUD

Husband, wife plead guilty to defrauding charity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The one-time chairman of a Louisville-based charity and the former director of a dental business have pleaded guilty to federal charges of diverting $1.1 million from the Woodcock Foundation over a four-year period.

Charles Muir and his wife, Diana Muir, of Louisville entered the pleas in federal court in Louisville on Thursday.

Charles Muir once ran the Woodcock Foundation, which has given scholarship money to college students for the past 50 years. He and Diana Muir admitted to illegally transferring funds through a dental business, then later withdrawing some of the money at ATMs in an Indiana casino.

Charles Muir faces 46 months in prison while Diana Muir faces six months in prison at sentencing in October. The fraud took the Episcopal church-affiliated charity's assets down to $8.

MARIJUANA SWEEPS

KSP prepping for marijuana sweeps

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police are preparing for helicopter flights this summer to check rural areas of the state for marijuana plants.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports every state police post plans to participate in the sweeps. Officials say while helicopter searches will be performed in every county, the time spent in each one depends on how much of the illegal drug is found in an initial flyover.

Trooper Corey King, public information officer for KSP's Henderson post, said the annual summer eradication flights have been successful and have cause some growers to flee.

During the flights, the helicopter crew directs troopers on the ground to the spot where marijuana is sighted, and then the drug is collected and destroyed.

GENERAL CABLE-JOB CUTS

General Cable to eliminate 1,000 jobs

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky-based company that produces wire and cables has announced it is eliminating 1,000 jobs.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports General Cable announced that it plans to reduce its global workforce by 7 percent in a restructuring. It wasn't clear where the cuts would be made.

General Cable manufactures and sells aluminum, copper and fiber-optic cables. According to the company's website, it has 57 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries.

A statement from the Highland Heights-based company says it continues "to face ongoing challenges" in some markets including uneven demand and pricing.

MISSING DOCTOR

Search crews find body of missing doctor

GRAND RIVERS, Ky. (AP) — Search crews have found the body of a western Kentucky doctor who was reported missing last week.

Livingston County Deputy Sheriff Kenny Vincent told WPSD-TV that crews with cadaver dogs found the body of J.P. Lyles on Wednesday afternoon near a walking trail. The 60-year-old was last seen on July 2 walking away from his condo at Marina Village, which is located nearby.

Search teams scoured 3,764 square acres and 12 miles of shoreline along Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake twice between Thursday and Friday in an attempt to find Lyles, who left home without medication that he is required to take daily.

Vincent said an autopsy was scheduled on Thursday, but it appears that the death was accidental.

NEW JOBS

Container maker expanding in Kentucky

HORSE CAVE, Ky. (AP) — Dart Container Corp. is adding jobs at its plant in south-central Kentucky.

The Horse Cave facility makes cups, lids, bowls, plates and deli containers and opened its facility in 1980. About 1,400 people work there now.

Gov. Steve Beshear's office says the company expects to create up to 30 jobs with its $23 million investment to build a warehouse in Horse Cave. It will be the facility's 11th expansion.

The state has given preliminary approval for tax incentives of up to $900,000 for the project.

Dart's headquarters is in Mason, Michigan.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

Construction skills program graduates first class

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Graduation day has come for the first class of a program created to give minority and female workers skills for a career in construction.

The program, called Bridges to Opportunities, is part of the $2.3 billion Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project at Louisville. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says while that project was the catalyst for the program, it is intended to prepare participants for a career and not just a single project.

Those attending Wednesday's ceremony in Louisville are among 293 men and women who completed training for industry-recognized certifications and college credit.

Warren Whitlock of the Federal Highway Administration spoke at the ceremony, which was also attended by government, education and business leaders. Whitlock said the program offers graduates "skills and training for a lifetime of good jobs."