All Entries in the "State Government" Category

Tourism Secretary Sparrow to retire May 31

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow is to retire from her $137,865-a-year state post May 31, Gov. Steve Beshear said Friday.

“Secretary Sparrow has done a fantastic job of continuing to improve and develop Kentucky’s tourism through some very challenging times,” Beshear said in a news release, mentioning the recently announced 4.4 percent growth last year in tourism’s economic impact to the state.

“I want to thank her for her steady leadership and her lifelong contributions to Kentucky’s travel and hospitality industry, which have played an important role in maintaining tourism as a major economic force for Kentucky.”

Beshear said he will name a replacement soon.

Former Kentucky Democratic Party chief mulling possible bid for U.S. Senate

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Bill Garmer said Friday he is considering running for the U.S. Senate next year if Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes declines to enter the race against Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell.

“A lot of people have talked to me about the race,” said Garmer, a Lexington lawyer, in a telephone interview. “But Alison is the center of discussion. In my mind, if she wants the nomination, she has my support. She is one of the bright stars in the Democratic party and she wants to serve Kentucky. I would be the first in line to support her.”

Asked if he would consider running if Grimes decides not to run, Garmer said, “that sounds like a lawyer’s question but that would be fair.”

Grimes said April 23 that she is pondering whether to run for the U.S. Senate next year against McConnell. She said she would “take the time to reflect with my family, my supporters on how I can best continue to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Larry Cox to retire from Comer’s office; fuel lab closure complete

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The former longtime state director for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is retiring from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture a little more than a month after being appointed to one of the department’s top jobs, agriculture officials said Thursday.

Larry Cox began working for Agriculture Commissioner James Comer last summer and was promoted to deputy commissioner in April.

As director of Consumer and Environmental Protection, Cox made $80,000 a year and helped oversee the shuttering of a more than $3.1 million fuel testing lab that began under former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer. The department has since contracted with a private laboratory for gas testing and hopes to save taxpayers $600,000 a year by closing the lab.
Comer has asked the Finance and Administration Cabinet to auction off more than $3.1 million in lab equipment.

After Cox completed the shut down of the laboratory, he decided to return to retirement, according to a news release. Agriculture officials said Thursday that Cox had always planned to return to retirement and his Hart County farming operation. His last day will be June 15.

‘Comment’ and ‘KY Tonight’ focus on politics

“Comment on Kentucky” and “Kentucky Tonight” will discuss political news in the state on their next shows on the Kentucky Educational Television network.

Joining host Ferrell Wellman on this weekend’s “Comment” will be three journalists — Bill Estep, Somerset bureau reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader; Kenny Colston, Frankfort bureau chief for Kentucky Public Radio; and Don Wilkins, editorial page editor for The Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro.

The show will air live a 8 p.m. Friday on KET.

On the Monday, May 20, edition of “Kentucky Tonight” at 8 p.m. on KET and at www.ket.org/live, host Bill Goodman and guests will discuss the 2014 elections.

Scheduled guests are Steve Robertson, chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky; Jonathan Miller, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party; Ellen Williams, former chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky; and Bill Garmer, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Viewers with questions and comments may send email to kytonight@ket.org or use the message form at ket.org/kytonight. Viewers may also submit questions and comments on Twitter @BillKET, #kytonight, or on Kentucky Educational Television’s Facebook page. All messages should include first and last name and town or county. The phone number for viewer calls during the program is 1-800-494-7605.

“Kentucky Tonight” programs are archived online, made available via podcast, and rebroadcast on KET and KET KY. Archived programs, information about podcasts, and broadcast schedules are available at ket.org/kytonight.

“Kentucky Tonight” is a weekly KET production, produced by Deidre Clark. Goodman is host and managing editor.

–Jack Brammer

Internal investigation of Jefferson County social services office concluding

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — An internal investigation into one of Kentucky’s largest regional child protection and social services office should conclude in coming weeks, said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes.

Haynes told the Lexington Herald-Leader editorial board last week that she asked the cabinet’s Office of Inspector General to look at the Jefferson County Department for Community Based Services, which handles child and adult protection and other programs, such as food stamps.

Haynes declined to say what the Office of Inspector General was investigating. She said the Office of Inspector General is also investigating another regional office in Kentucky but declined to name it.

Jill Midkiff, a spokeswoman for the cabinet, said more details about the investigations will be released when the reports are final, which Haynes said she hopes happens in the next several weeks.

Richie Farmer trial moved to Oct. 22

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — A federal judge has rescheduled the trial of former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer to Oct. 22.

Attorneys for Farmer had asked to delay the original July 2 trial date to February 2014 because of the complexity of the case and scheduling conflicts. Federal prosecutors argued in court documents that a seven month delay was too long and asked for a fall trial date. The trial is expected to last three weeks.

In his Wednesday order, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove said Farmer’s lawyers will need additional time to prepare for trial but not until February.

Maysville, Bardstown named Kentucky Cultural Districts

FRANKFORT — The cities of Maysville and Bardstown have joined the list of official Kentucky Cultural Districts, bringing the total number of state-certified communities to six.

“Kentucky Cultural Districts are proven cultural destinations for visitors and provide a high quality of life for residents,” First lady Jane Beshear said Tuesday in making the announcement abouit Maysville and Bardstown. “Arts and culture in these communities play a vital role in creative and economic development, not only for the cities but for the entire Commonwealth.”

The Kentucky Cultural District Certification Program is an initiative of the Kentucky Arts Council.

Richie Farmer’s lawyers asks for detailed discovery documents

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Lawyers for former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer want federal prosecutors to provide all documents that could be used against Farmer and want all criminal records of any potential government witness.

In documents filed in federal court Monday, lawyer J. Guthrie True asked a judge to compel prosecutors to turn over reams of information to Farmer’s defense team. The items requested include criminal convictions of any potential witness, details of any deal brokered by federal investigators in exchange for testimony or evidence against Farmer, all documents the federal government plans to use in the expected three-week trial, and a summary of all witness testimony. Such discovery requests are common in criminal cases.

Federal prosecutors have already turned over 16 compact discs to Farmer’s lawyers, according to previous court filings.

Farmer has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged misuse of approximately $450,000 in taxpayer funds. He is accused of giving plum gigs to friends — including a girlfriend — who performed little or no work, taking guns and other gifts intended for a 2008 agriculture convention, and taking state refrigerators, computers and other equipment. Farmer, who was agriculture commissioner from 2004 to 2011, is also a former University of Kentucky basketball stand out. He is currently unemployed.

A federal magistrate judge has set a trial date for July 2, but True has requested a delay until February 2014. Prosecutors have asked for a fall 2013 trial date.

For first time ever, Kentucky has 3 women on state Supreme Court

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT –For the first time in Kentucky’s history, three female justices will serve simultaneously on the state’s highest court.

Former Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Michelle M. Keller of Ft. Mitchell was formally invested Tuesday as the fifth woman ever to serve on the Kentucky Supreme Court and the third currently serving on the seven-member court.

In a ceremony in the crowded Supreme Court chambers in the Capitol, Gov. Steve Beshear called Keller “a woman for all seasons.”

Barr welcomes Michelle Obama to Kentucky with a message on coal

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington,is welcoming First Lady Michelle Obama to Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District with an expressed hope she learns more about coal.

Mrs. Obama is to be the commencement speaker Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University, which is be attended by Gov. Steve Beshear and Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear.