High court ruling cited in Kentucky child services dispute

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republicans have turned up pressure on Kentucky’s Democratic governor to renew a contract with a Baptist-affiliated children’s agency. The state’s GOP attorney general and lawmakers were reacting to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday. They say the ruling should settle the Kentucky dispute between religious beliefs and gay rights. Gov. Andy Beshear was noncommittal Thursday about the future contract status of Sunrise Children’s Services. Beshear acknowledged that “at least some of the initial language” in the ruling “suggests” it might resolve the Kentucky dispute. Sunrise’s attorney, John Sheller, says the high court ruling “applies fully” to the Kentucky dispute.