Posted on Thu, May. 08, 2008

News briefs from around Kentucky at 5:58 p.m. EDT

The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. --

A former Republican candidate for governor was appointed Thursday to the Kentucky Board of Education.

Beshear appointed Billy Harper, a Paducah businessman, to the panel. Harper was one of five appointments Gov. Steve Beshear made to the panel that oversees Kentucky's public elementary schools and high schools.

The appointments are to fill four vacancies and one resignation on the board.

Last year, the board ignored Beshear's request that it reopen the search for a state education commissioner and expand its search to include more people nationally. Instead, the board went with Jon Draud, a former state lawmaker.

Harper finished third in last year's Republican primary for governor, tallying 27,000 votes in the three-way contest against former Gov. Ernie Fletcher and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup. Harper spent more than $6 million on his campaign, much of which came from his own personal wealth.

Harper, a member of the McCracken County Board of Education, focused much of his campaign on education reform. He replaces David Rhodes and will have a term that expires in 2012.

---

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's community college system should get less than half of the 13 percent tuition hike it's looking for, according to a recommendation from the state's Council on Postsecondary Education staff members.

In all, the panel's staff has recommended that five of the state's public universities, including the community colleges, not be allowed to boost tuition as much as they're hoping. The full panel is expected to decide on proposed tuition hikes for Kentucky's public universities at a meeting on Friday.

Council chairman John Turner said the council would consider the staff's recommendations in making its decision. Turner said the council is concerned with college affordability in Kentucky.

"That clearly is the big issue," Turner said. "The commonwealth as well as the country are economically distressed right now."

Among the recommendations, the staff said 9 percent proposed tuition hikes at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville should be approved. It also recommended the council authorize a 7.4 percent tuition hike at Morehead State University and a 6.1 percent hike at Murray State University.

But other schools that had proposed increasing tuition may not get all they had requested.

---

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A top-ranking Democrat in the Kentucky House says he won't seek another term this fall, even though he's unopposed in this year's primary and general elections.

House Majority Whip Rob Wilkey says he's he'll forgo a seventh term representing the state's 22nd District, which covers three counties in south-central Kentucky. Wilkey was first elected to the Kentucky House in 1996.

Wilkey said in a statement released Thursday that he's planning to finish his term which runs through the end of the year. Wilkey's successor would be picked in the November election.

Wilkey says he wants to spend more time with his family. He is married and has two children.

---

NEW YORK (AP) - The Jockey Club has formed a committee to study equine health, including track safety and the rules of racing, five days after the death of the filly Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby.

Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club, said Thursday that the committee would be asked to review every facet of equine health, ranging from breeding practices to medication, and to recommend actions to be taken by the horse industry to improve the health and safety of thoroughbreds.

The move by the 114-year-old Jockey Club, the breed registry for North American thoroughbreds, was praised by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

"The Thoroughbred Safety Committee is a major step that will provide the examination of the horse welfare and safety issues so badly needed in the wake of recent catastrophic injuries," said NTRA president Alex Waldrop. "Now, more than ever, no practice, policy or tradition is more important than those that best protect and promote the health of the thoroughbred athlete."

Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, finished 4 3/4 lengths behind favorite Big Brown. Shortly after the finish line, she collapsed with two broken front ankles. The shocking scene reminded racing fans of Barbaro's horrific injury two years ago in the Preakness.

Though her death has sparked renewed interest in improving safety measures within the industry, some trainers remain wary of any quick fixes.