http://http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com State 60 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:17:17 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030222.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030222.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:32 EST
The change would make it easier for distillers to set up sampling booths at conventions, conferences, liquor stores, restaurants and special events, said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers' Association.

State Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington, said a number of big events in Kentucky next year, including the World Equestrian Games, warrant streamlining the process.

"Needless to say, every time we have a national convention in the bourbon capital of the world, people come in and hope we have a bourbon sampling," she said. Westrom said plans to file a bill for the upcoming legislative session.

Gregory told a recent legislative hearing that the proposal would bring Kentucky's laws regarding the promotional sampling of distilled spirits "up to date with modern marketing practices," The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029737.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029737.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:14 EST
Benjamin Edwards, 30, and Christa Edwards, no age available, both of Carrollton, were pronounced dead at the scene on Ky. 36 and Hampton Lane; neither was wearing a seat belt, according to Kentucky State Police.

A Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Benjamin Edwards was eastbound on Ky. 36 about 2:19 a.m. when he lost control and hit an oncoming Ford passenger car being driven by Kelly Strausbaugh, 30, also of Carrollton.

Christa Edwards, the passenger, was thrown from the truck, which went over an embankment.

Strausbaugh was taken to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029739.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029739.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43 EST
Ryan Atkins, 21, of Ohio, was flown to UK after the 8:35 p.m. accident in which his silver 2003 GMC Envoy SUV hit the median barrier cable and overturned near mile marker 61. Two passengers also were flown to UK.

Jonathan Doerger, 21, was listed in fair condition; Mike Jarvis, 21, was listed in serious condition. Two other passengers, Kyle Quinn, 19, and Dan Rehard, 21, were taken to Rockcastle County Hospital. Their conditions were not available Saturday night.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029740.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029740.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:14 EST
According to Kentucky State Police, a single gunshot was fired through a window of the dispatch center, narrowly missing on-duty dispatcher Millie Madden, about 1 a.m. Saturday. After an investigation, Vernon Adkins, 33, was arrested on charges of criminal murder attempt and tampering with physical evidence. He was being held at the Jackson County Detention Center.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029909.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029909.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:34 EST
Now that dream will take her from the University of Louisville to the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar.

"Where I grew up, it was never which college are you going to, it was if college was possible," Marks said Saturday, just hours after learning in Indianapolis that she had been awarded the prestigious scholarship. "For me, it was just so rebellious to even consider that."

Marks, 23, grew up in Rush, Ky., in a fundamentalist evangelical family, but her parents respected her hunger for education.

Her background shaped her choice of what to study as well: Marks is presently researching Islamic law in Turkey as a Fulbright Scholar and plans to continue those studies at Oxford, where she will research comparative human rights and Sharia law.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030218.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030218.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:27 EST
The little girl was Ruby Nell Bridges, the first black student to attend a white school in New Orleans, in 1960.

The legs of the man on the far right side walking behind Bridges belong to Jesse Grider, one of four U.S. marshals ordered to escort the kindergartner and her family the five blocks from their home to the William Frantz School.

Originally from Glasgow, Grider was honored on Veterans Day for his service as a U.S. marshal and with a Kentucky National Guard unit during the Korean War. A special ceremony was held at the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center.

"It's quite an honor. I think I told someone I've been recognized by about three attorney generals in the United States and the president of the United States, but this means as much to me as any of them. This is my hometown and always will be," he said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030209.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030209.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:06 EST
But there is doubt that they were ever owned by former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

Yet the Kentucky Historical Society, as part of the state's Abraham Lincoln bicentennial celebration, has been displaying and publicizing them as hers, going so far as to say on its Web site that "Mary Todd Lincoln prized these 'earbobs.'"

The earrings, each bearing hand-painted figures of a man and a woman, were purchased by the Historical Society in late 2008 for more than $19,000 through Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas.

Historical Society Executive Director Kent Whitworth said that, in the society's best professional judgment, the earrings did once belong to Mary Todd Lincoln.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030220.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1030220.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:15 EST
Carroll County: Two people died in a two-vehicle collision early Saturday in Carroll County. Benjamin Edwards, 30, and Christa Edwards, no age available, both of Carrollton, were pronounced dead at the scene on Ky. 36 and Hampton Lane; neither was wearing a seat belt, according to Kentucky State Police. A Chevy S-10 pickup driven by Benjamin Edwards was eastbound on Ky. 36 at about 2:19 a.m. when he lost control and hit an oncoming Ford passenger car being driven by Kelly Strausbaugh, 30, also of Carrollton. Christa Edwards, the passenger, was thrown from the truck. Strausbaugh was taken to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Driver critical at UK, 4 others injured in crash

Rockcastle County: The driver involved in a crash Friday night on I-75 in Rockcastle County was listed in critical condition Saturday night at University of Kentucky Hospital. Ryan Atkins, 21, of Ohio, was flown to UK after the 8:35 p.m. collision in which his silver 2003 GMC Envoy SUV hit the median barrier cable and overturned near mile marker 61. Two passengers also were flown to UK. Jonathan Doerger, 21, was listed in fair condition; Mike Jarvis, 21, was listed in serious condition. Two other passengers, Kyle Quinn, 19, and Dan Rehard, 21, were taken to Rockcastle County Hospital. Their conditions were not available Saturday night.

Gun fired at Jackson police dispatcher ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029220.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1029220.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:14 EST
Lexington: Two men suspected in a Lexington break-in were arrested Friday morning at their home, Lexington police spokesman Lt. Doug Pape said.

Negotiators talked Jeremy Hersey, 23, and Christian Cox, 18, out of two separate apartments at 2101 Fontaine Road where the men had retreated for about four hours after the break-in. Hersey's brother, Justin, was released, police said. Jeremy Hersey and Cox were charged with first-degree burglary. Pape said Lexington police's emergency-response unit went to the scene, but negotiators got the men to surrender and they were arrested. Traffic near Richmond Road was tied up until the men were arrested.

Police say that at 4:30 a.m., the two men broke the door of Thomas Henke's home on Pleasant Ridge Way in Lexington. Henke told police that one man was armed with a gun. The victim knew the suspects, which led police to the Fontaine address, Pape said.

Nothing was taken during the break-in, but Henke was hit in the head with the handgun. He was taken to UK Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028393.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028393.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:27 EST
The Courier-Journal reports that officials of Alliance Resource Partners and its political action committee have given at least $400,000 to Kentucky candidates and political committees since the beginning of 2005.

Donations have gone to Democrats and Republicans.

The newspaper reports that Joe Craft, Alliance's president and chief executive officer, and members of his immediate family have contributed $169,200 of the total.

Recent controversies, including naming the UK athletic dorm "Wildcat Coal Lodge," have raised questions about the influence Alliance and other coal companies exert over public policy in Kentucky.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028294.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028294.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:25 EST
The appellate court on Friday ruled that Illinois-based McDonald's Corp., knew about a series of hoax calls to restaurants around the country, but didn't warn employees before Louise Ogborn was strip searched and sexually assaulted as the result of such a call in 2004.

The appeals court ruled that to reverse the verdict would cut against the weight of the evidence.

Ogborn was 18 at the time of the call to the store about 20 miles south of Louisville. A Kentucky man, Walter Nix Jr., the fiance of a McDonald's assistant manager, served a prison sentence for sexually abusing Ogborn during the call. A Florida man, David Stewart, was acquitted of making the hoax call. Police have said similar calls stopped after Stewart's arrest.

McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said the company doesn't dispute what happened to Ogborn, but is disappointed with the decision of the appeals court.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028794.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028794.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:09 EST
If accepted, Bowie would become the first African-American member at the country club on Richmond Road.

In the past, Idle Hour has been criticized for having no black members. Bowie said in an interview this week that he didn't seek membership to end the criticism.

Scott said Friday that current members at Idle Hour nominated the Bowie family, as is the club's policy in all cases.

"We have no restrictions with respect to race, color, creed, national origin," Scott said. "Membership is made up of a diverse group of folks that enjoy one another's company. That's the sum total of it."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028329.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028329.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:24 EST
"The riot was a spontaneous and uncoordinated reaction by inmates to the news that their movement would be controlled for security reasons," J. Michael Brown, secretary of Kentucky's Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said after the report was released.

The report, based on an investigation by a four-person team of current and former corrections employees, said the facility, built as a mental hospital in 1940, "did not provide the level of security necessary to prevent inmates from participating in a destructive disturbance."

Previously, some inmates' families and a corrections officer had said that bad food led to the riot. However, the report said that interviews with inmates determined that while there was a general concern about the quality of food, that was not the primary cause.

Inmates set fires that destroyed six buildings, including those containing the kitchen, canteen, visitation center, medical services, sanitation department and a multipurpose area. Several dorms were heavily damaged, and eight guards and eight inmates were injured.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028613.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1028613.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:23 EST
Joseph Main, head of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, did not release specifics of the plan during a telephone news conference Friday.

However, he referred to longstanding calls for the agency to cut by half the limit on breathable dust in mines.

Main also discussed providing devices to miners that would allow them to constantly monitor the level of dust where they are working. Measures used to test dust now don't give immediate results, Main said.

"I think you'll see our comprehensive plan on ending black lung unveiled" in about two weeks, Main said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027772.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027772.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:22 EST
Lexington: The victim of a weekend hit-and-run accident died Wednesday night at University of Kentucky hospital, and police were searching Thursday for the suspected driver. Anthony Gibbs, 24, was pronounced dead just before 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Fayette County coroner's office.

Gibbs was struck by a 1999 silver Audi at 10:10 p.m. Saturday while trying to cross Nicholasville Road in front of Five Guys Burgers. He had been in critical condition in a coma since the accident. Gibbs, of Clinton, Tenn., was in town for construction work, his family told police.

Police are looking for the owner of the Audi, Hector Alviter-Rivera, 23. Officers found the car abandoned on a dead-end street. Police said anyone with information should call (859) 258-3600.

Conviction in man's death ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027417.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027417.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:44 EST
Bowie said that he approached Idle Hour, not the other way around, and that he expects to hear whether he has been accepted within the next week.

In the past, Idle Hour has been criticized for having no black members.

"No one had contacted us as far as the country club was concerned, trying to get the barrier broken," Bowie said in an interview Thursday.

Bowie said he expects critics to say he is a "token" member who was accepted "to end the criticism." But that is not the case, he said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027286.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027286.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:25 EST
During a heated forum for U.S. Senate candidates Thursday at a Kentucky Association of Counties conference, Secretary of State Grayson criticized Bowling Green eye surgeon Paul for supporting President Obama's policy of closing the $200-million detention facility for terrorists at Guant namo Bay in Cuba.

Grayson's supporters distributed copies of a page on Paul's campaign Web site in May that said Paul "couldn't agree more" with a comment by U.S. Military Chief Mike Mullen that Guant namo should be shut down.

Paul, the son of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who ran unsuccessfully for president last year, responded that Grayson should learn how to read.

In a later interview, Paul said the Web site Grayson referred to did not accurately state his position on Guant namo.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027277.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027277.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:04 EST
Justine Detzel, chief labor market analyst for the state Office of Employment and Training, said that the state's economy showed some improvement in the month but that hiring tended to be "indicative of temporary hiring and strength in the employment services industry."

Kentucky's unemployment rate rose above 10 percent in May and has stayed above that ever since. The state had a slight reprieve in September, when the jobless rate dipped to 10.9 percent from 11.2 percent. But that happened because people who had been out of work for a long time were "becoming discouraged and dropping out of the labor force," Detzel said at the time.

The rate a year ago was 6.9 percent.

Seven of the 11 major industries tracked showed employment increases during the month while four decreased. Overall, the state added 2,900 jobs in the month.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027234.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027234.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:25 EST
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Craig E. Nokes, according to the sheriff's office.

On Thursday morning, an anonymous person called WLEX-TV in Lexington and said that he had planted a bomb at the Anderson County Head Start Day Care.

The Lawrenceburg-Anderson County dispatch center received information identifying the suspect as the husband of an employee at the day-care center.

The day-care employee told dispatch that she had received a call from her husband saying he was going to blow up the day-care building.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027054.html http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/1027054.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:20 EST
Those are just some of the lessons that Stanford's Laura Kirkpatrick took away from her experience on Tyra Banks' model/reality show. In the CW show's finale, which aired Wednesday night, Kirkpatrick, a favorite of fans and other contestants, came in second to Nicole Fox, 19, a red-headed waif from Louisville, Colo.

Caught at her home the day after a good portion of Lincoln County turned out to watch the show's finale, Kirkpatrick, 20, said she has been overwhelmed by the response the show has generated.

"On the Internet, I've seen people make cartoons, I've seen them re-enact things from the show with, like, Barbie dolls. I've gotten letters," she said. "The funniest is the little boys and little girls that just google at you like you are a rock star."

Even going to Wal-Mart has become an ordeal, she said. ]]>