Kentucky.com -- Watchdog

Judge criticizes Beshear for fighting release of child abuse death records

bestep@herald-leader.com (Bill Estep) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:21 EST

A Western Kentucky judge criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and other state officials for fighting full disclosure of child abuse death records in a newspaper commentary published this week.

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Franklin judge considers whether he'll keep child-death records case

bmusgrave@herald-leader.com (Beth Musgrave) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:43 EST

FRANKFORT — A Franklin Circuit judge expects to rule by Tuesday whether a battle over child abuse death records should stay in his court.

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Tougher drug controls get bipartisan support in Kentucky legislature

bestep@herald-leader.com (Bill Estep) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:16 EST

State's prescription drug problem is among the worst in the country.

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Judge dismisses indictment against former nursing-home employee

gkocher1@herald-leader.com (Greg Kocher) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

Elizabeth Elaine Royse, a former licensed practical nurse in Frankfort, had been charged with abusing or neglecting an adult.

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State didn't do review of Nelson County toddler's 2009 death

bmusgrave@herald-leader.com (Beth Musgrave and Bill Estep) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — After an extended legal battle with Kentucky's two largest newspapers, the state's child-protection agency began releasing extensive records on Friday about children who died as a result of…

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State appeals ruling that requires release of more child abuse details

vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com (Valarie Honeycutt Spears) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

Kentucky child-protection officials asked the Kentucky Court of Appeals on Thursday to block a lower-court's ruling that limits its ability to remove details from public documents about children who died…

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Kentucky personal care home death leads to 'Larry's Law' bill

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

As a result of the death of a personal care home resident, two lawmakers have filed bills that would require people to have screenings before being admitted to one of…

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Nurse who worked at Burkesville facility charged with neglect, theft

vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com (Valarie Honeycutt Spears) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

Jinger Butler, 41, is accused of replacing and retaining the medication of 10 adult residents at the Cumberland Valley Manor Nursing Home in Burkesville.

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Sex offenders might have been tipped to sweep

jkegley@herald-leader.com (Josh Kegley) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

The Office of the Fayette County Sheriff said it is conducting an internal inquiry into reports that deputies gave several sex offenders advance warning about a federal sweep last month.

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Judge fines state agency $16,000 for withholding child-abuse records

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

A judge has ordered the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to pay penalties totaling more than $16,000 to three newspapers over of its handling of their requests for…

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Ex-ag chief Richie Farmer returns some missing computers

jpatton1@herald-leader.com (Janet Patton) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — Former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has returned some of the missing state computer equipment he was issued during his administration, according to Holly VonLuehrte, general counsel for the…

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Kentucky child-protection workers describe hostile work environment

bmusgrave@herald-leader.com (Beth Musgrave) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — State child-protection workers applauded Gov. Steve Beshear for requesting an additional $21 million to hire more front-line social workers in his budget, but told lawmakers Wednesday that more…

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Casinos no cure-all for state budgets, economists say

jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — Faced with another round of state budget cuts, Gov. Steve Beshear promotes casino gambling as a way "to improve our revenues long term" in Kentucky. But the nearly…

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Kentucky Joe of 'Survivor' fired from Department of Agriculture

jpatton1@herald-leader.com (Janet Patton) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

"Kentucky Joe" has been voted off the state payroll. One of the first people new Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer fired was Rodger Bingham, the former Crittenden schoolteacher who gained…

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Herald-Leader exclusive: Equipment worth nearly $500,000 missing from state Agriculture Department

jpatton1@herald-leader.com (Janet Patton) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

About a half-million dollars in state property apparently has disappeared from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture or cannot be accounted for properly. According to inventory records obtained by the Herald-Leader,

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Summit's goal is to stop child-abuse deaths in Kentucky

vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com (Valarie Honeycutt Spears) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00 EST

The state's leading child advocacy group is hosting a daylong summit on Saturday to develop proposals aimed at stopping child-abuse deaths.

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Judge: State withholding too much information about child deaths

bestep@herald-leader.com (Bill Estep) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — The Cabinet for Health and Family Services' proposal to release censored files about Kentucky children killed or nearly killed as a result of abuse or neglect could result…

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Senator calls for cabinet chief to resign over child-abuse records, other issues

bmusgrave@herald-leader.com (Beth Musgrave) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00 EST

FRANKFORT — A key lawmaker called for the resignation of Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Janie Miller on Monday, saying the agency has misled legislators regarding child abuse…

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State buys Scott wildlife recreation area from big political donor

jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00 EST

GEORGETOWN — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources paid $6.24 million this month to a company co-owned by one of the state's biggest political donors to buy a…

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Opportunities missed to protect Kentucky's abused children

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00 EST

Madaline Grace Reynolds needed medicine to treat her cystic fibrosis, but her parents seemed more interested in getting their own prescriptions filled.

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