New state parks commissioner is former Kentucky lawmaker

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has a new state parks commissioner after the previous head of the agency left last month. Russ Meyer of Nicholasville has been named parks commissioner by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Meyer recently resigned as state representative for the 39th House district. Meyer replaced Robert Haley Conway of Georgetown, who ran unsuccessfully last year as the Democratic nominee for state agriculture commissioner. Conway served as parks commissioner for about six months after he was appointed by Beshear on Feb. 1. A state parks spokeswoman did not say why Conway left the job.