Archive for September, 2009

Report: Prescriptions up in 118 of 120 counties

FRANKFORT — The rate of prescriptions issued for controlled substances increased in all but two of Kentucky’s 120 counties between 2005 and 2007, according to a new report released Wednesday.

Five Kentucky counties — Clinton, Magoffin, Whitley, Bell and Owsley — averaged more than four prescriptions per resident for controlled substances, such as narcotic pain medication, according to the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics in the Commonwealth for 2007.

The drug data was collected through Kentucky’s prescription tracking system, called the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting System, or KASPER.

The same report showed that all drug arrests had increased by nearly 30 percent from 2005 to 2007.

Gov. Steve Beshear said after a news conference on Wednesday that he was concerned about the continued abuse of prescription drugs.

“It’s an ongoing problem and ongoing issue,” Beshear said. “We certainly haven’t solved it. And I want to continue to look for other ways that we can cut down on both the abuse of prescription drugs as well as illegal drugs.”

Stumbo plans trade trip to China

FRANKFORT — House Speaker Greg Stumbo will travel to China in November with 54 legislators from more than 30 other states to attend a forum on trade and invesment.

“I’m exictied about discussing a number of trade issues,” Stumbo said in a statement.

Webb nearly doubles Ditty in fundraising for state Senate seat

FRANKFORT — Democrat Robin Webb raised $402,435 in her successful campaign last month for the state Senate, nearly doubling the amount raked in by Republican challenger Jack Ditty.

Webb, a Grayson attorney and a former state representative, ended the special election with $53,040 on hand, according to financial reports filed Tuesday with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Ditty, a Russell dermatologist, reported taking in $211,179 for his campaign and ending with $2,350.

Webb won the Aug. 25 special election for the 18th Senate District — Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Carter, Greenup and Lewis counties — by fewer than 300 votes. The race garnered statewide attention as Democrats chipped away at Republican control of the state Senate in an effort to eventually win approval for placing slot machines at horse racetracks.

Republicans now hold a 20-17 margin in the Senate, with one independent member.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear called the special election on the same day that Republican incumbent Charlie Borders resigned in July to take a gubernatorial appointment to the state Public Service Commission.

Beshear has not yet called a special election to fill the vacancy in the 96th House District caused by Webb’s victory to the Senate. The House district includes Carter and Lewis counties.

Mongiardo criticizes Beshear in profanity-laced recording

FRANKFORT — Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo used profanity as he criticized Gov. Steve Beshear and his support of Mongiardo’s U.S. Senate candidacy in a recording posted last week on the Internet.

In the recording, which was placed on YouTube by someone using the name “senrace2010,” Mongiardo is heard saying he is so frustrated with Beshear that he is “close to saying f— it all. I do not need this job. I do not need the U.S. Senate.”

Mongiardo is also heard saying that Beshear, who has endorsed Mongiardo, will be remembered as the state’s “worst” governor and that a “blowup” is coming.

Mongiardo spokesman Kim Geveden said the audio tape was “edited” and that Mongiardo “strongly supports” Beshear.

“He supports him now and he supports him for reelection in 2011,” Geveden said in a statement. “He believes Governor Beshear has provided strong leadership and a steady hand during some of the most difficult times in our Commonwealth’s history.

Geveden declined to answer specific questions about the veracity of the tape, including when and where it might have been recorded.

Mongiardo campaign releases video of Beshear endorsement

FRANKFORT – Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo’s Democratic campaign for the U.S. Senate released a video Monday of Gov. Steve Beshear touting Mongiardo at a Sept. 23 fund-raiser in Northern Kentucky.

Beshear spoke more than four minutes about Mongiardo, who faces opposition in next May’s Democratic primary from Attorney General Jack Conway of Louisville, former U.S. Customs agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price of McCreary County and Eastwood businessman and human rights leader Maurice Sweeney.

Beshear called Mongiardo “the next United States senator,” praised his knowledge of health care issues and lauded his work on an adventure tourism project.

Here’s the video:

–Jack Brammer

“Comment” to talk about test scores, KCTCS

FRANKFORT — “Comment on Kentucky,” a public affairs show of the Kentucky Educational Television, will discuss on this weekend’ s program the release of school test scores and a new Attorney General’s opinion which said that the Kentucky Community and Technical College system’s board of regents did not have the authority to do away with tenure.

State Rep. Ron Weston to retire

FRANKFORT — A Jefferson County state representative announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election in 2010.

Rep. Ron Weston, D-Fairdale, said Thursday that he would retire at the end of his term, which concludes on Dec. 31, 2010. Weston was elected to the 37th House District position in a special election in 2006. Weston is the second Democratic member of the House to announce in the past two months that he will not seek re-election in 2010.

Rep. Eddie Ballard, D-Madisonville, announced in August that he would also retire from the legislature in 2010.

Stumbo files “Amanda’s Bill” to protect domestic violence victims

FRANKFORT — House Speaker Greg Stumbo filed a bill Thursday that would allow judges to order electronic monitoring devices for the most dangerous domestic violence offenders.

At a press conference at the capitol, Stumbo said if “Amanda’s Bill” is passed, it would give offenders a “fighting chance.” The legislation was prompted after the high-profile murder of Amanda Ross, a Department of Insurance employee, who was allegedly gunned down outside of her Lexington home by her former fiance on Sept. 11.

Ross had taken out a protection order against former state Rep. Steve Nunn. Nunn has pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Supreme Court hears Cumberlands case

FRANKFORT — The state Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether the state legislature can give $11 million to a private Baptist university.

In March 2008, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Roger Crittenden ruled that the 2006 appropriation — $10 million for a pharmacy building at the University of the Cumberlands and $1 million for a scholarship program — was unconstitutional and violated a provision in the constitution that does not allow state tax money to go to private, religious schools for educational purposes.

Judge reprimanded for DUI

FRANKFORT — A Warren Circuit Court judge was reprimanded earlier this week by a judicial oversight group for being charged with a DUI in 2008.

Circuit Court Judge Margaret Huddleston, a judge for the Eight Judicial Circuit district and the chief Family Court Judge, pleaded guilty on Feb. 20 2008 to driving under the influence. The Judicial Conduct Commission, in a Monday order, said that Huddleston’s arrest “failed to respect and comply with law and to act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the judiciary.”