Monday, August 07, 2000
Kentucky Digest
UK football tickets go on sale today
By
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEXINGTON — Single-game tickets for five of the University of Kentucky's home football games go on sale today.
Single-game tickets cost $22 each and are available for games against South Florida (Sept. 9), Indiana (Sept. 16), South Carolina (Oct. 7), Mississippi State (Nov. 4) and Vanderbilt (Nov. 11). No tickets are available for the home game against the Georgia or the away game against Louisville.
Tickets may be bought three ways: at the UK Ticket Office in Memorial Coliseum in Lexington from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; over the phone using Visa and Mastercard by calling (800) 928-CATS; or over the Internet at ukathletics.com and ticketweb.com.
Tickets for away games at University of Florida (Sept. 23), University of Mississippi (Sept. 30), Louisiana State University (Oct. 14) and University of Tennessee (Nov. 18) will be available for purchase today, but only at the ticket office or over the phone.
Hospitals spar with UnitedHealthcare
LEXINGTON — As several deadlines loom in contract disputes between Kentucky hospitals and managed-care giant UnitedHealthcare, some are preparing for the worst.
Franklin County Judge-executive Teresa Barton plans to ask the fiscal court for permission to look for another insurer for the county's 157 employees, despite continuing negotiations between the nation's second-largest HMO and Franklin Regional Hospital.
“We're being proactive. If United won't cover care with local hospitals and doctors, then we'll find someone who will,” Ms. Barton said.
The University of Kentucky Hospital, Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington Clinic, Frankfort Regional Medical Center, The Medical Center in Bowling Green and Greenview Regional Medical Center all report difficulties with the HMO.
Central Baptist announced in mid-July it would drop UnitedHealthcare by Oct. 1 if there is no contract. Frankfort Regional and Greenview recently started new negotiations, but their contract could end this month. The Medical Center in Bowling Green could stop by the end of the year.
UK officials said if they reach no agreement with UnitedHealthcare by the end of August they could send a termination notice by September.
Details of the contract negotiations remain undisclosed. But doctors complain of unpaid bills and low reimbursements.
Cancer surgeon in line for UK post
LEXINGTON — Internationally known colon cancer surgeon Dr. Alfred M. Cohen is in line to be named director to the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center.
The UK board of trustees will vote this month to approve Dr. Cohen, 59. If approved, Dr. Cohen would take the post in September, replacing Dr. Kenneth Foon, who left last year to become director of the University of Cincinnati's Barrett Cancer Center.
Dr. Cohen, a graduate of Cornell University and the Johns Hopkins University Medical School, has been chief of colorectal surgical service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York since 1986.
Mr. Cohen is chairman-elect of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer.
Corps of Engineers reforms go slowly
WASHINGTON — Longtime critics of the Army Corps of Engineers thought lawmakers would flock to their cause after allegations top agency officials rigged data to favor costly construction on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
Nearly a half-year later, however, their goal of overhauling the way major corps projects are approved remains elusive.
“There doesn't seem to be any real effort in Washington to fix things,” said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
While the corps' reputation has taken a hit from allegations, the right for reform must overcome the cozy relationship between Congress and an agency responsible for projects that are popular in lawmakers' districts.
The corps oversees a $4 billion public works portfolio, mostly for commercial waterway navigation and flood control.
In February, corps economist Donald Sweeney, in an affidavit filed with the federal Office of Special Counsel, alleged corps officials had altered a study to make it appear the $1 billion cost of doubling the length of seven barge locks on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers would be justified by the economic benefits.
Corps officials have denied any wrongdoing.
While the study is not expected to be completed until later this year, its initial conclusions favor the construction that politically connected agribusiness companies are pushing.
The charges prompted investigations by the Army's inspector general and the National Academy of Sciences, both of which continue. Some lawmakers also have asked for reviews.
Just before Congress adjourned for its August recess, three House Democrats introduced legislation that would require independent review of the corps' largest projects, increase public participation and add environmental safeguards.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., sponsored legislation to create a commission to investigate the agency and review privatizing some of its functions.
“It's time to let the sun shine in ... early on in the process so that some of the integrity and the trustworthiness of these projects can be restored,” said Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., who sponsored the House bill with Democratic Reps. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon.
Their proposal mirrors changes sought by environmental groups, including putting environmental concerns on par with economic benefits as projects are considered.
Couple arrested after 650 pot plants found
CAMPBELLSVILLE — A Taylor County couple has been arrested after more than 650 marijuana plants were allegedly discovered growing in the basement of their home, the sheriff's office said.
Clifford Hutchison, 40, and his wife, Cynthia, 42, were arrested on one count each of cultivation of marijuana over five plants and were lodged in the Marion County Detention Center on $10,000 bail.
Taylor County deputies discovered the growing operation at about 10 p.m. Friday night, the sheriff said. Also found was a watering system and several pounds of processed marijuana, a statement said.
The marijuana is estimated to be worth $500,000.
headDAYBOOK
Covington: Ninth District Elementary Site-Based Decision-Making Council, 4 p.m., library, 28th Street and Indiana Avenue.
Covington: Latonia Elementary Site-Based Decision-Making Council, 4:30 p.m., music room, 39th Street and Huntington Avenue.
Newport: City commission, 7 p.m., city building, 998 Monmouth St.
Newport: Newport High School Site-Based Decision-Making Council, 5 p.m., library, 301 E. Eighth St.
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