Author: Associated Press

Beshear: Third coronavirus death confirmed in Kentucky

FRANKLIN, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear has announced that a third person has died from the new coronavirus in Kentucky as the total number of confirmed cases in the state increased to nearly 90. Beshear said Saturday the 67-year-old Anderson County man who died had several other health problems. The Democratic governor also urged residents to continue social distancing…

Horse racing grapples with risks of running during pandemic

(Photo Credit: Pixabay)Horse racing is quickly learning it’s not totally immune to the coronavirus pandemic. Several U.S. tracks have decided to shut down instead of operating without fans in the stands. One prominent jockey has decided to stop riding with others refusing to travel abroad for the world’s richest day of races. A worker in New York tested positive for…

Voter photo ID bill wins final passage during flurry of work

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers have given final approval of a bill to require people to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. The measure cleared the Republican-led legislature Thursday night. It was part of a flurry of last-minute work before lawmakers started a weeklong break due to the new coronavirus pandemic. The bill now goes to…

2 men plead guilty to laundering $750K from a dating scam

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two men pleaded guilty in an online dating scheme where a Kentucky woman was scammed out of more than $750,000. Kahad Wuupini, of Seattle, Washington, and Thomas Inkoom, of Newark, New Jersey, each pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Court records said the two men led the woman to believe…

Kentucky governor draws praise as he battles coronavirus

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — He’s at war with the new coronavirus, and Kentucky’s new Democratic governor is drawing unusually strong bipartisan praise. Gov. Andy Beshear has taken a buck-stops-here approach to the global pandemic, which wasn’t even a blip on the political radar of the Bluegrass State when he took office in December. Now he is the state’s de facto…

Four Roses temporarily suspends distillery operations

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Business shutdowns caused by the new coronavirus have spread to Kentucky’s bourbon sector. Four Roses Distillery says it has temporarily suspended operations. The shutdown began Friday at the Lawrenceburg distillery. Four Roses calls it an “additional measure” to help contain the spread of the virus. Based on the “current situation,” it says it expects to resume…

Kentucky lawmakers adjust schedule amid coronavirus outbreak

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s legislature will take a weeklong break because of the new coronavirus outbreak. Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne made the announcement Thursday. The main priority is to pass a new state budget. The adjusted schedule would have lawmakers adjourn until returning to the Capitol for a one-day session on March 26. They…

Agriculture Department offers online education, contest

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture says it has developed online education opportunities for students learning at home due to the coronavirus. The agency is launching a series of online videos with Miss Kentucky Alex Francke, spokeswoman for Kentucky Proud, the official state marketing program for agricultural products. Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles says Francke will educate…

Kentucky Senate passes its version of new state budget

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Senate has passed its version of a new state budget. The plan approved Thursday reflects an expected downturn in tax collections as the new coronavirus inflicts damage on the economy. The Senate action was another phase in the budget-writing process. The next step will occur when House and Senate conferees resolve differences in their…