Friday, April 07, 2000
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Man, 38, confesses in fatal shooting
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — A disagreement over $80 led to Steve Berryman fatally shooting Estil Davidson in January, Police Lt. Col. Bill Dorsey said Thursday.
Mr. Berryman, 38, turned himself in Thursday — the day after police requested the public's help in finding him — and confessed to shooting Mr. Davidson, 67, in the chest and head on Jan. 26.
Mr. Berryman will be arraigned today in Kenton District Court on a charge of murder. He remained in the Kenton County Jail on Thursday.
He had been living in a Russell Street apartment above Mr. Davidson's residence when the shooting happened.
Mr. Davidson's relatives found his body in his residence and reported the slaying to police.
Hearing for accused killer rescheduled The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — A preliminary hearing for Shawn William Ernst, who allegedly strangled his landlady, Sandra Kay Roberts, because of a disagreement over a long-distance phone bill, was canceled Thursdayand rescheduled for Monday.
Boone Circuit Judge Jay Bamberger excused himself from hearing testimony because his son is involved in the case. The younger Mr. Bamberger is the public defender representing Mr. Ernst, 28.
Florence Police say he moved into Mrs. Roberts' home about three weeks ago, and they argued over the weekend. Her body was found Monday in Gallatin County.
Mr. Ernst told police he took the body there after they argued and Mrs. Roberts, 59, collapsed and died in front of him.
Boone District Judge Michael Collins will preside over Monday's hearing, which is set for 1 p.m.
Health fair to offer tests, information The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — A health fair offering tests, screenings and information on health topics will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Florence Mall.
St. Luke Hospitals are sponsoring the 11th annual fair, “Charting Your Course to a Healthy 2000,” in recognition of National Hospital Week, May 7-13.
Topics will include cancer, diabetes, stress management, sleep disorders, chemical dependency and behavioral medicine.
For more information, call 585-8116.
Budget talks making headway, official says The Associated Press
FRANKFORT — The prospects for reaching an agreement on a state budget for the next two years are looking up, House Speaker Jody Richards said Thursday.
Mr. Richards, Senate President David Williams, some of their legislative colleagues and Patton administration budget officials met privately for several hours Thursday to try to work out some of their differences.
The General Assembly recessed last Wednesday without a budget. Conference committee members met Thursday for several hours, but were unable to make much headway.
The formal conference committee will now meet Monday, the day before the session resumes, Mr. Richards said.
The House and Senate can meet only two more days and must adjourn by April 15. Committees, though, may meet in the days when there are no sessions in chambers. The Kentucky Constitution limits the session to only 60 days.
The state's fiscal year ends June 30 and some sort of spending plan has to be in place before then or risk closing down state government. The session ended in 1994 without a budget when then-Gov. Brereton Jones vetoed it. A special session was held in June of that year to write a budget.
Fire destroys building at Murray State The Associated Press
MURRAY — Fire of undetermined origin destroyed one building under construction and heavily damaged another that would have served Murray State University students.
The face of a third building in the 11-building complex was scorched.
No one was injured Wednesday afternoon, but four University Heights buildings were evacuated.
The apartment buildings that were damaged or destroyed are part of a complex being built by Place Collegiate Properties of Atlanta.
Most of the units in the burned buildings had been leased by students who planned to move in when the complex is scheduled for completion in August.
No damage estimate was available.
Income limits raised for insurance program The Associated Press
FRANKFORT — Income limits for eligibility for a health insurance program for children have been raised.
The Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program — KCHIP — is a federally underwritten program to provide medical care for kids whose families' incomes do not otherwise qualify for the Medicaid program. KCHIP is open to children from birth to age 19.
At the end of March, 44,511 Kentucky children were enrolled in KCHIP.
For a family of three, for example, the income limits are now $28,300, up from $27,760.
More information about the program can be obtained at local health departments, Department for Community Based Services offices or school Family Resource and Youth Services centers. Or, toll-free calls can be placed to (877)524-4718.
$16M would have aided Paducah plant The Associated Press
PADUCAH — Union officials blame political maneuvering for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant missing out on money that would have helped ease more than 400 job cuts and hastened a health study of workers.
The U.S. Senate took no action Tuesday on $12.7 billion in supplemental federal funding for the current fiscal year. That money included $11.3 million for the Paducah plant pledged by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson in January.
Most of that money — $8 million — was for environmental cleanup work to help offset job losses and the other $3.3 million was to speed up health screening of many former workers, who may have been exposed to radiation years ago.
The union said that without sufficient funding, the screening could take up to 14 years.
Also lost was $4.5 million for enhanced severance for some of the 425 workers who stand to lose jobs due to cutbacks. About 850 workers could lose their jobs at the Paducah plant and at a similar plant in Piketon, Ohio.
Weird weather due for weekend
Readers cry foul over ballpark design
City supervisor put on paid leave
Driver who wrecked festival gets 141
FWW crackdown widens
Teacher's union losing president
Bad time to switch city managers
Preparing kids for a multicultural world
Teach kids to be 'culturally competent'
Minority health fair addresses barriers
Minority scholars program to honor namesake at events
New look, new content coming to the Enquirer
Adult club to open near speedway
Autopsy scheduled on 18-month-old boy
Children report abduction attempt
Defendant admits he killed girl
More students face drug counts
Police chief's leave a mystery
GET TO IT
NBC to bench Saturday night shows
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
More summer camps for kids
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Woman blessed with love for two careers
2 admit 9 Toledo slayings in '80s
3 taken to hospital after leak at plant
ACLU welcomes censorship foe
Cheviot, workers OK pacts
Cities: Cable bills stifle competition
City planner promoted to head
Death for killer upheld
Growth strategies proposed
Kids help school buy curtain
Lebanon names city planner to head department
Paducah teen killer's motives remain unclear
Range of care to be offered
Schools to battle fund cap
Schools to make up threat days
Two more resign from Warren MRDD board
Village, county clash over cash
