FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear has replaced the Kentucky Parole Board’s chairwoman. She oversaw a disputed policy change that would have given dozens of convicted murderers another chance at cutting short their life-in-prison sentences. The parole board says Beshear on Monday appointed a new board member to replace Lelia VanHoose, whose term expired. Beshear designated Ladeidra Jones to replace VanHoose as the board’s chairperson. The governor’s office didn’t give a reason for the shakeup. The parole board’s policy change, issued this spring, sparked an outcry from prosecutors and drew a legal challenge from Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele.
