News

Nurse-practitioners and midwives in Kentucky will now be able to prescribe non-narcotic medications without having a written agreement with a doctor.

According to health-care advocate Sheila Schuster, the changes in the law, signed by the governor, will address what she calls the "unmet needs" of thousands of Kentuckians. That means "particularly in rural and in under-served areas of Kentucky," Schuster said.

Schuster said nurse-practitioners have been able to prescribe non-narcotic medications since 1996, but only if they had an agreement with a physician.

A re-designation of approximately 220 miles of the Ohio River would have the potential of improving the region’s ranking with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the amount of cargo being transported through the Ohio River corridor.

Melissa Johnson, director of real estate development and logistics with Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority and Eric Thomas, chairman of the Central Ohio River Business Association were the featured speakers at the Maysville-Mason County Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday (March 6).

Senator Mitch McConnell strode onto a Washington stage on Thursday (March 6) holding a rifle above his head.

The Kentucky Republican was among the speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

He presented the gun to Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma as a “Courage Under Fire Lifetime Achievement Award.” Coburn is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year. 

The Kentucky House has rejected changes to a bill that would automatically restore voting rights to many felons.

This throws out a set of revisions from the Republican-controlled Senate that would have reduced the number of affected felons by more than half.

Bill sponsor Jesse Crenshaw implored colleagues to vote against the changes.

“The Senate committee substitute is a totally different bill. It does not accomplish what House Bill 70 was intended to accomplish.” –Jesse Crenshaw

Child-care centers in Kentucky would have to be tested for radon levels every five years under a bill approved on Thursday (March 6) in the House Health and Welfare Committee. The proposal is sponsored by State Representative Steve Riggs.

The Louisville Democrat says Kentucky ranks in the top ten for radon exposure.

More than two hundred artists will display their work this weekend at the Lexington Convention Center during “Kentucky Crafted – The Market.” It’s an award-winning marketplace showcasing high quality handmade goods from across the Commonwealth. MSPR's Paul Hitchcock has more...

One of the nation's largest coal producers will pay the largest fine of its type ever levied for violations of the Clean Water Act.

Alpha Natural Resources has agreed to a settlement to pay more than 27 million dollars in fines and spend another 200 million dollars to reduce illegal toxic discharges into waterways across five Appalachian states, including Kentucky.

“Admirable, courageous and powerful”…That’s how the director of a national campaign called Freedom to Marry is describing Tuesday’s decision by Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway. Marc Solomon is talking about Conway’s choice not to appeal the ruling of a federal judge requiring Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.

Solomon is disappointed Governor Beshear has decided to challenge the decision but he believes Conway’s position on the matter will be proven to be the right one…

Animal shelters in Kentucky could not use gas chambers to euthanize animals if a bill approved today in the House Agriculture Committee becomes law. The measure is sponsored by Jefferson County Democrat Joni Jenkins…

Jenkins testified before the committee this morning. She says the bill deals only with the use of gas. It does not prohibit euthanizing animals with guns.

Kentucky farmers and landowners whose crops or property are damaged by wildlife would be permitted to kill or trap those animals if a bill approved today in the House Agriculture Committee becomes law. It would also enable the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to establish procedures for the donation of carcasses to hunger relief programs.

Bruce Harper is with the Kentucky Farm Bureau, which supports the measure…

The KFB says many farmers lose crops to deer outside the hunting season.

Morehead State Director of Athletics Brian Hutchinson has announced that Tom Hodges will not return as head coach of the women's basketball program.

Hodges compiled a 51-68 overall record and 31-35 Ohio Valley Conference record in four seasons.

A national search to fill the vacancy will begin immediately.

"I want to thank Tom for his time as head coach of our women's basketball program," Hutchinson said. "We ultimately didn't achieve the goals we set for ourselves, and as a result, it is my belief that we need a leadership change."

#530 Show Summary (There’s Your Problem, Right There Show):

As the harsh winter winds give way to the hissing of cracked and frozen pipes beginning to thaw, we thought it was time to do exactly the same thing we did last week – go over a few interesting items from medical research. We have facts and figures on cancer from the American Cancer Society, new information on gastric bypass and alcoholism, and how to get your hands on some Harvard grad student stool.

March 4th -- Chuck Mraz is joined in the studio by Russ Ward, Campus Director at the Rowan Campus of Maysville Community and Technical College. 

A bill (HB173) that proposes a statewide smoke-free law in public places awaits a vote in the Kentucky House, and supporters are urging lawmakers to think about what it could do for children's health.

According to Dr. Bethany Hodge, a pediatrician, secondhand smoke is a common trigger of asthma attacks.

The Morehead State baseball program has announced multiple updates to its 2014 schedule. The moves are due to winter weather and unplayable field conditions in the state of Kentucky.

The Morehead State vs. Eastern Michigan series opener, originally scheduled for today (March 4) at Allen Field, has been canceled due to snow. A decision on Wednesday's contest on March 5 is expected to be made today.

The Ohio Valley Conference Eagles are off to a 5-6 start this year. The Mid-American Conference Eagles are 4-7 overall.

Crews are making progress on clearing state highways across northeast Kentucky.

As of 5:30 p.m. (Mon., March 3), most main routes, such as I-64, US 23, US 60, US 68, KY 11 and other Priority A highways had improved to mostly clear and wet with some slush.

Plow crews continue to work those routes and are now working Priority B routes - which are partly covered with snow - and Priority C routes, which are mostly covered.

The Kentucky General Assembly continues to give attention to the issue of distracted driving. 

The House passed legislation on Friday (Feb. 28) to double the fines for texting while driving in school or work zones. The bill's co-sponsor is Louisville Representative Joni Jenkins.

“You know it’s a small step, but it’s to call attention to the issue and to let especially young drivers now how dangerous it is,” said Jenkins.

The threat of an ice storm brought help to the Commonwealth in the form of out-of-state utility crews.

Kentucky Utilities spokesman Cliff Feltham says about 550 workers from other states made the trip this past weekend.  Feltham says most were, in the end, not needed.

“Most of them made it in. They were staging at one of our operation centers in Louisville and many of them had gone through the safety training which we require them to do before we put them out on the streets doing any restoration,” said Feltham.

The field for the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Championship has been set after the final day of the regular season.

Belmont will be the No. 1 seed after winning the OVC regular-season championship for the second-straight year. Murray State took first place in the West Division and is the No. 2 seed. Under the league's merit-based bracketing system, both teams will receive double byes to Friday's semifinals.

The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds are Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State. Both of those teams receive a single bye to Thursday's quarterfinals.

A veteran member of the Kentucky House of Representatives who is leaving office at the end of this year would like increased scrutiny on the amount of money being spent to influence votes in the General Assembly. Democrat John Will Stacy of Morgan County was elected to the House more than 20 years ago. He made the comment last week at a meeting of the House Committee on State Government.

Stacy expressed his view during an exchange with the director of the Legislative Ethics Commission…

The sponsor of legislation in the Kentucky House that could give local governments a sales tax option calls the concept “innovative and practical”. State Representative Tommy Thompson is a Democrat from Owensboro.

He says Kentucky’s cities and counties currently lack alternatives to raise revenue for capital projects to improve their quality of life. The federal and state governments, he notes, have been scaling back their support for local government…

Ashland City Commissioner Kevin Gunderson says he’d like to see passenger rail service enhanced in northeastern Kentucky but admits that’s unlikely. Gunderson attended a public hearing in Ashland last week on the future of rail transportation in the Commonwealth. It was sponsored by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which is in the process of crafting a new rail plan for the state.

Gunderson says Amtrak operated three days a week in the Ashland area last year and carried about 2,000 passengers. He’d prefer more frequent service and investments in new equipment…

March 3rd -- Chuck Mraz speaks with Max Ammons, MSU’s Director of Military Initiatives.

Junior guard Almesha Jones scored 20 points and dished out 10 assists, while senior guard Terrice Robinson and junior forward Mackenzie Arledge chipped in 14 points apiece to lead the Morehead State women's basketball team to an 81-74 victory over Tennessee Tech on Senior Night at MSU’s Johnson Arena on Saturday (March 1).

Sophomore outfielder Lizzy Margagliotti's two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning helped lift the Morehead State softball team to a 3-1 game-two victory that helped salvage a split with East Tennessee State on Saturday (March 1) at Betty Basler Field.

Morehead State was held to just three hits in a 3-0 loss in game one. ETSU fell to 8-6, while MSU improved to 3-11.

Over the past decade, the percentage of kids ages 2-5 who are obese has dropped a staggering 43 percent nationwide, according to a new federal report.

However, according to Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, childhood obesity remains a big problem in the Commonwealth. She pointed to underlying data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that finds no change in the obesity rates.

Zepeda said a lot of good things are being done in Kentucky to address the problem.

Lewis County officials are working on a recreational trails project. Judge-Executive Todd Ruckel said the project would bring horse and walking trails to the county.

"We already have some trails," he said. "But, this project would allow for more land and would be specifically for horses or hiking."

Ruckel said he has been working to bring the trails to the county for the last year and has spoken with many residents and officials who are willing to help bring this to a reality.

A final inspection of the Cabin Creek Covered Bridge is scheduled for Monday afternoon (March 3).

According to Arnold Graton, owner of Arnold Graton Associates, the bridge was completed and all equipment was removed on Wednesday.

"All equipment was removed and everyone left on Wednesday," he said. "On Monday, the state architectures will be in town to do the final inspection."

Graton said the inspection will occur at 1:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Freshman Hayley Wild won a straight-set decision in the final match to clinch a 4-3 victory for the Morehead State women's tennis team over Western Kentucky on Friday (Feb. 28) at the EAGLE Center.

The Eagles improved to 3-6, while the Hilltoppers fell to 3-3.

The Eagles won both doubles matches played to grab a 1-0 lead and held a 3-1 advantage before the visitors tied it with two singles wins. Wild defeated Alex Crofford 7-5, 6-4 at No. 5 to seal the win.

Supporters of allowing Kentucky communities to propose local sales tax increases hold out hope for legislative action in the remaining weeks of the current session. 

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray testified before a House committee on Thursday (Feb. 27).  Cities are promoting this measure as a way to pay for specific local projects.  Gray continues to say it is not a factor in the Rupp Arena project.