Kentucky

Public Health Releases New Risk Factor Data

August 13, 2008 -- Many Kentuckians report they are in poor health, have been diagnosed with chronic diseases, and don’t have access to health care, according to 2007 data released today by the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH).

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems, a survey, conducted by the Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement in DPH, looks at several health indicators, such as diet and physical activity, to determine the health and lifestyle habits of Kentuckians.    » read more »

Protection Center to Help Kentuckians in Danger of Losing Their Homes

August 11, 2008 -- OWENSBORO, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced at a press conference in Owensboro the creation of the Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center to address the foreclosure crisis in the commonwealth. The Protection Center, created by the passage of HB 552 during the 2008 General Assembly, will help Kentuckians in financial trouble become more proactive in keeping their homes.    » read more »

July 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of nine soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when their outpost was attacked by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Killed were:

1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii.

Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, Calif.

Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Ga.

Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Wash.

Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tenn.    » read more »

Rights of Taxpayers To Challenge Government Funding Of Religion At Stake

7/17/2008 -- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a brief today in a federal appeals court urging the court to allow a discrimination lawsuit to go forward on behalf of a lesbian who was fired from her job at a publicly-funded Baptist group home in Kentucky. The home for vulnerable children required the woman to observe its religious belief that being a lesbian is sinful. The brief also charges that taxpayers should be able to challenge the state of Kentucky's decision to give public funds to a home that imposes its religious beliefs upon the children in its care.    » read more »

Public Citizen Client Was Blacklisted After Criticizing the Governor

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commonwealth of Kentucky has settled a lawsuit with a political blogger whose critical comments of then-Governor Ernie Fletcher resulted in the state “blacklisting” all blogs on state-owned computers.

Public Citizen’s client Mark Nickolas, author of the blog BluegrassReport.org, agreed Tuesday to dismiss the suit in the U.S. District Court in Frankfort, Ky. after Kentucky officials approved the settlement agreement. Louisville attorney Jennifer Moore also represented Nickolas.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings remain at half-staff in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died June 12 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. John D. Aragon, 22, of Antioch, Calif., died in Kadamiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funeral, for which arrangements are pending.    » read more »

June 09, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings remain at half-staff in honor of two Fort Campbell soldiers who died June 5 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Chief Warrant Officer James Carter, 42, of Alabama, and Pfc. Andre D. McNair, Jr., 20, of Fort Pierce, Fla. died at Kandahar Army Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when the Kiowa helicopter they were in went down during a test flight. They were assigned to the 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funerals, for which arrangements are pending.    » read more »

Most customers see shorter outages

June 03, 2008 -- Kentucky electric customers whose power goes out are seeing the lights come back on more quickly than in the past, according to data collected by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC).

While the frequency of outages, including those caused by severe weather, generally has not changed, utilities are doing a better job of restoring power quickly, the PSC found when it analyzed information from the 22 regulated utilities that retail electricity. As a result, most Kentucky customers can expect to have electric power better than 99.97 percent of the time.

Other findings of the PSC’s report on electric distribution reliability include:    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. –It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are rising outside and Kentuckians are lighting up their grills to cook beef. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognizes this American tradition by proclaiming May 2008 Beef Month in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Steak: Photo by Robin (CC)    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings remain at half-staff in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died May 18 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Pvt. Branden P. Haunert, 21, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funeral, for which arrangements are pending.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The President (George W. Bush) today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides during the period of April 3-4, 2008.

Federal funding is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides in the counties of Anderson, Crittenden, Fleming, Fulton, Hancock, Hopkins, Lewis, Livingston, McLean, Nicholas, Ohio, Spencer, and Woodford.    » read more »

21 May 2008 -- Hillary Clinton won the Kentucky primary election, Tuesday, by a margin of more than two to one, but Barack Obama won the race in Oregon and passed a milestone in the Democratic Party's presidential contest. Hillary Clinton has vowed to stay in the race, while Obama is looking ahead to the presidential election in November.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton: Barack Obama photo by selena marie, Hillary Clinton photo by circulating (CC)

Hillary Clinton won the Kentucky primary by 35 percentage points. According to exit polls, she did well among women and white voters.    » read more »

May 2008 -- CNN’s political team will report live from the CNN Election Center and across Kentucky and Oregon as returns from those key states come in on Tuesday, May 20. CNN correspondents and analysts will be on-hand throughout the day to report the results and what it means for Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.    » read more »

Criticizes Senator McCain for Embracing George Bush’s Economic Vision

5/17/2008 -- Today, at a rally in Frankfort, Kentucky, Hillary Clinton will outline her plan to create good jobs for Kentucky workers and cut taxes for middle class families. Hillary will also criticize Senator McCain for embracing George Bush’s economic vision.

Hillary Clinton supporters: Photo by circulating (CC)    » read more »

16 May 2008 -- Since the beginning of 2008, the nation's capital has seen a sharp rise in gun violence.

Republican Party Presidential candidate John McCain is set to speak to members of The National Rifle Association on Friday, May 16. The powerful pro-gun lobbying group is holding its annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Its members are watching to see whether the United States Supreme Court will overturn a 32-year-old handgun ban in Washington, D.C. next month.

The high court's review of the case comes as gun violence is on the rise in Washington. Police and community groups are desperately looking for ways to curb the crime wave.    » read more »