Northern Kentucky seniors can learn more today about Medicare HMOs and other health coverage options for next year.

        About 27,000 Tristate residents were dropped this year by three Medicare HMOs that pulled out of the area. The HMOs say they aren't getting paid enough through the federal government.

        Next year, seniors can enroll in remaining Medicare HMOs or they can return to regular Medicare. Many who return to Medicare will face buying a supplemental insurance plan to cover co-payments and deductibles.

        Seniors can go over the details at a 2 p.m. meeting at the Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike. The meeting will include representatives of Medicare, a state insurance program for seniors and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield.
       

Waffle House settles
discrimination lawsuit

               LOUISVILLE — Waffle House has settled a $4.5 million federal lawsuit claiming racial discrimination by three people who were passing through Shepherdsville in 1998, but the terms were not disclosed.

        A $4.5 million lawsuit against Shoney's Inc. has not been resolved and is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 29.

        Earl and Sarah Henson of Rockford, Ill., and his mother, Jaqueline Fowler of Miller Beach, Ind., sued Shoney's Inc. and Waffle House of Georgia Inc. in U.S. District Court in Louisville on June 1, 1999. They allege that employees of both restaurants near Ky. 44 at the Interstate 65 exit in Shepherdsville violated their civil rights by harassing, intimidating and refusing to serve them because they are black.

        Christopher O'Bryan, a Louisville attorney representing Waffle House, said the restaurant agreed to settle but maintains its innocence.
       

Justice center work
nearly complete

               LOUISVILLE — A 21-month renovation project is nearly finished at the Jefferson County Hall of Justice, considered one of the busiest public buildings in Kentucky.

        The $16 million project is about a month from being finished, but all but one court division was expected to be back in their offices Monday.

        One traffic court will continue at a satellite location, court officials said.

        Turner Construction Co. began renovating the Hall of Justice in February 1999. Its crews transformed 36 small, dark courtrooms into 18 bigger, brighter ones.

        “We hope the public will find the building to be a little more user-friendly,” said Circuit Court Clerk Tony Miller.

        Just about all of the 200 or so people who work in the Hall of Justice — clerks, secretaries, judges and others — have moved, and at times have had to contend with noise, dust and heat.

        The building was constructed in 1976 and this is its first major renovation.
       

Historical society
sponsors statehood talk

               FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Historical Society hosts Richard Brown at noon Wednesday at the Kentucky History Center here. Mr. Brown's lecture, “From First Frontier to the 15th State,” focuses on the state's journey to statehood.

        This talk, part of the brown bag series, is free, but an optional lunch is extra. Call (502) 564-1792, ext. 4467, for more information.
       

Deer hunter dies
in shooting accident

               DIXON, Ky. — A Webster County man died after he accidentally shot himself while deer hunting, said Kentucky State Police.

        Jeffery C. Taylor, 37, was hunting alone in his stand when his muzzle loader deer rifle discharged, police said. Mr. Taylor suffered a head wound, police said.

        Webster County Coroner Larry Vanover pronounced Mr. Taylor, of Henderson, dead at the scene Sunday afternoon.
       

One brother killed,
other hurt in attack

               BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A man was killed and his brother was seriously injured over the weekend in an attack at a trailer park.

        James Campbell, 68, died Saturday of blunt-force trauma to the head, said Warren County Deputy Coroner Chris Smith.

        Mr. Campbell's brother, Darrell Campbell, 51, was injured and taken to a hospital. His condition was not immediately known.

        The attack was discovered late Saturday after Darrell Campbell failed to show up for work and a co-worker went to check on him. When the employee reached the Campbell home, he saw the brothers' vehicles in the driveway, but neither brother answered knocks at the door. Police said that during a third knock, the employee thought he heard moaning, so he called Kentucky State Police.

        The co-worker made a second call to state police about 10 minutes later after forcing his way into the trailer and finding James Campbell unconscious on the floor.

        Police are investigating.

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