Minipower plant hearing to wait year

        ERLANGER — It could be more than a year before a dispute over a state permit issued to Cinergy Corp. for a minipower plant in Erlanger is settled.

        The hearing on the appeal of Cinergy's air quality permit has been set for 10 days, beginning July 29, 2002. Lawyers for both sides told a hearing officer Tuesday they need that much time to prepare.

        In May, the state Division of Air Quality approved the permit for a gas-fired peaking station on the Erlanger-Crescent Springs border.

        Eight Kenton County cities, citing concerns about pollution, have opposed the plant, which would be 600 feet from the Baptist Village assisted-living complex, less than 800 feet from homes and 600 feet from the new Erlanger branch library.

        An appeal seeking to revoke the air quality permit was filed June 1 on the grounds that the permit was issued without the required technical review.

        Cinergy Corp. recently agreed to hold off building the plant for at least six months, but spokesman Steve Brash said the utility will continue to defend the air quality permit.
       

Homeless coalition lauds Covington police

        COVINGTON — The Northern Kentucky Housing and Homeless Coalition will recognize Covington Police Chief Al Bosse and the rest of the police department for their efforts in furthering understanding of Northern Kentucky's homeless.

        The award will be presented at 1 p.m. Monday at the Northern Kentucky Area Development District offices in Florence.

        Chief Bosse will be recognized for starting a “Homelessness 101” class for the Covington Police Department. The class was taught by the housing and homeless coalition.

        Each officer received a resource card with homeless assistance information.

        “Police are often on the scene when a homeless person needs help,” said Joan Weingartner, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Housing and Homeless Coalition. “There is a lack of shelter space for men especially, and we know that in the winter, the police pick up homeless men and put them in jail so they do not freeze to death.”

        For more information on the class, call Ms. Weingartner at (859) 431-8003.
       

Renovation closing Florence library

        FLORENCE — The Florence branch of the Boone County Public Library on U.S. 42 and Niblack Boulevard will be closed starting Monday until sometime this fall to complete a renovation project that began in May.

        Library spokeswoman Lynn Gorz said Florence customers with items due after Sunday may return them to either the Scheben Branch on U.S. 42 in Union, the Lents branch at the corner of Ky. 237 and Cougar Path in Hebron or the Walton branch on Main Street.

        Information: (859) 384-5550.
       

Counties' ex-official pleads guilty to theft

        FRANKFORT — A former official with the Kentucky Association of Counties pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft and attempted theft of $100,000 from the organization.

        David Santana, 36, of Louisville pleaded guilty to three felony charges and a misdemeanor in Franklin County Circuit Court.

        No sentencing date was set by Judge William Graham. Mr. Santana had earlier delivered a restitution check for just under $52,000 as a part of the plea arrangement.

        Administrators at the organization, which represents county governments and operates an insurance program for counties, raised questions about expenditures and invoices approved by Mr. Santana.

        Kentucky State Police and U.S. Postal Service investigators said the thefts occurred between January and March of this year.

        Mr. Santana, a KACO employee since 1989, had been a program administrator.
       

Warden fired after uprising at prison

        WHEELWRIGHT — The warden and his top assistant were fired at a privately operated prison where inmates rioted two weeks ago.

        William Wolford was fired last week as warden at Otter Creek Correctional Complex in Floyd County because of policy violations, said Steve Owen, a spokesman for Corrections Corp. of America.

        Mr. Wolford's top assistant, David Carroll, was fired a couple of days later for the same reasons, Mr. Owen said.

        The changes came after a meeting among corrections officials and prison company officials to investigate the nine-hour riot, which ended on July 6.
       

Group urges tax help for historic homes

        LOUISVILLE — Kentucky should encourage people to renovate historic homes by offering them tax breaks, said some members of a group affiliated with Gov. Paul Patton's Smart Growth Task Force that is studying housing and development issues in the state.

        “It's a smart growth tool to reward people for investing in existing houses,” said David Morgan, executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council, during a daylong seminar Tuesday.

Flash floods kill 2 in Fairfax, sweep teen to her death
teens were on way to help out a friend
Victims were kind, helpful
Dozens rescued in flood from rising Little Muddy
Flooded businesses forced to close
Floods of recent past carried stunning deadly force
Smallest creeks can be deadliest
Storm notebook
System swooped in from northwest
Be wary of flood water
Educator Maynard coming back to zoo
Feds talk to police review members
Man arrested in saliva-throwing case
Ujima culture festival gearing up
Wehrung to be tried as an adult
Ohio River yields up sixth body from crash
Police to get pepper-ball rifles
PULFER: Keeneland sale
Tristate A.M. Report
Lebanon may curb multiunit dwellings
Mason schools add administrators
Talawanda students lose automatic MU admission
Death sentence upheld
New plates hit road in October
Prison chief wants electric chair retired
Schools swing back to segregation
Sensors show 'weigh' to go
Society to mark 1790s military post
16 named to Civil Rights Hall
Boone chiefs begin planning fire training center
Civil rights pioneers enter hall of fame
Commandments ruling is appealed
Kentucky News Briefs
OxyContin maker defends strong pill
Spirited bidding at Keeneland sale