Motel death being treated as homicide

        CARROLLTON — State police announced Thursday that they are investigating the death of a motel guest here as a homicide.

        Kevin Hogan, 32, of Louisville was found Monday in a room at Days Inn, near the Interstate 71 interchange.

        Mr. Hogan checked into the motel at 10:23 p.m. Sunday. The housekeeping staff discovered his body as they entered the room to clean the following morning.

        Test results are pending from the State Medical Examiner's Office in Frankfort.

        Anyone with information is asked to call Kentucky State Police Det. Greg Larimore at (502) 532-6363.
       

Longtime Kentucky journalist dies at 73

        MIDDLESBORO — Louis “Lou” DeRosett, a former Kentucky newspaper editor, reporter and columnist, died Tuesday at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville. He was 73 and living in Harrogate, Tenn.

        Mr. DeRosett, a journalist for about 30 years, began his career as a reporter for a newspaper in New Castle. He later became editor and co-owner of the Adair News in Columbia. He left Columbia in 1969 to accept the news editor position at the Middlesboro Daily News. He later was promoted to managing editor and held that job until the newspaper was sold in the early 1980s. He went on to write a weekly column for the Cumberland Trading Post newspaper in Middlesboro.

        He also wrote a history of Middlesboro for the city's centennial. He was working on a third edition of the book at his death. He co-edited a Middlesboro centennial pictorial book and produced a book, Loose Ends, a collection of columns he had written. Mr. DeRosett was born in Frankfort and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1956.

Hearings open on black-lung proposal

        FRANKFORT — The president of the Kentucky Coal Association said Thursday he sensed momentum building for passage of a black-lung bill, though his industry has opposed it.

        Bill Caylor said he hoped it would be a “rational bill,” minus some key provisions sought by Gov. Paul Patton.

        “The momentum is behind passing something,” Mr. Caylor said in an interview.

        Mr. Caylor's comments came after the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee opened hearings on Mr. Patton's proposal, which passed the House 97-0 virtually intact.

        Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, said the bill's prospects appear to be good.

        The bill would make it easier for miners to win claims for compensation for black-lung disease. Mr. Patton, a former coal operator, championed tougher rules in 1996 as part of an overhaul of the workers' compensation system. Since then, about one claim in 90 has been approved. Mr. Patton now says the changes went too far.
       

ACLU challenges federal project

        LOUISVILLE — The ACLU of Kentucky filed suit Wednesday challenging federal funding for religious groups' neighborhood projects in Louisville.

        The suit claims a nonprofit organization created by U.S. Rep. Anne Northup to disburse millions of dollars violated federal law when it limited the first round of funding to projects involving church-affiliated groups.

        Louisville Neighborhood Initiative Inc. “endorses and favors religion, in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” the suit said.

        Terry Carmack, Ms. Northup's chief of staff, said he is concerned the suits could divert money from much-needed community projects.

        “Clearly, what could happen is that money meant to revitalize the neighborhoods could go to attorneys,” he said.

        Ms. Northup helped obtain $5 million for underserved parts of Louisville because of her seat on the Housing and Urban Development subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

Examiner concludes minister killed self

        FRANKLIN — A state medical examiner has ruled that a Franklin minister found shot to death in January committed suicide.

        The Rev. James Jennings III was found Jan. 4 shot to death on a secluded gravel road.

        The weapon believed to have caused his death was found in the same area. The ruling came in a Jan. 8 report from medical examiner Dr. Barbara Weakley-Jones. The Simpson County Coroner's Office released that report to the public Tuesday.

        However, the Franklin Police Department and the coroner's office haven't made a final ruling and won't until crime lab test results are returned, Police Chief Jamie Powell said.

        The Rev. Mr. Jennings, 25, founded the ministry Taking Others Under Christ's Hand Everyday and was pastor at the Elevated Missionary Baptist Church.
       

Man shot by police troubled, lawyer says

        SHEPHERDSVILLE — A Bullitt County man who was shot five times by sheriff's deputies on Saturday has a history of mental problems, his attorney said Wednesday.

        Bryan Thomas Petty, 27, of Apache Way in southeastern Bullitt County, pleaded innocent on Wednesday to five counts of attempted murder.

        Judge Rebecca Ward set Mr. Petty's bond at $500,000 cash and recommended he be placed under a 24-hour suicide watch until he can be taken to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange.

        Mr. Petty appeared with a .38-caliber revolver after deputies arrived at a mobile home in southeastern Bullitt County on Saturday.

        The deputies called for negotiators but, before they could reach the scene, Mr. Petty fired twice at them. The deputies returned fire, hitting Mr. Petty in the leg and stomach, police said.
       

Donors pledge millions to university

        LOUISVILLE — University of Louisville administrators announced Thursday that private donors have pledged gifts totaling $10.5 million to the university.

        The gifts complete the $33 million in private fund raising needed for U of L to qualify for matching state funds under the current round of the state “Bucks for Brains” program.

        Norton Hospital gave $4 million over five years, much of which will support research at a new cancer hospital to be created by the school and Norton.

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