By AP/Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – A report from Frankfort says the Kentucky unemployment
rate in February was 5.3 percent, which is unchanged
from January's figures. The jobless rate was down
eight-tenths of a point from February of 2003.

The report comes from the Kentucky Department for
Employment Services. The report says February of
2004 marked the lowest February jobless rate since
2001.

The jobless rate is seasonally adjusted.

By AP/Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – Local zoning restrictions would not apply to federally
licensed gun dealers and manufacturers under
a bill approved by the Kentucky General Assembly.
Under the legislation, gun dealers and gun makers
could operate alongside any other business, and
gun importers would be safe from zoning restrictions.

By AP

Frankfort, KY – Reports from Frankfort indicate the State Senate probably won't take up the budget
until Monday. The delay means getting a
budget agreement could be a close call this
session.

Monday will mark the 58th day of the current legislative session, which runs
sixty days. The only days left after Monday
are already designated as time for legislators to overturn vetoes of the
Governor. However, the two veto days can
be used to pass bills.

By Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – Legislation which was originally intended to
exempt homeland security-related documents
from open records laws was approved by the
Kentucky Senate. However, the Senate version
of the bill would also exempt donor records at
state universities--- if a donor wants to remain
anonymous.

By Dan Modlin

Louisville, KY – Kentucky Auditor Crit Luallen has released a report
on the University of Louisville's Foundation---and on
the spending of former U of L President John Shumaker.
The report concludes that Dr. Shumaker did not use the
Foundation for inappropriate personal benefit. However,
the State Auditor is calling for tighter controls and guidelines,
particularly regarding gifts received and distributed.

By AP/Dan Modlin

Bowling Green,KY – One of the two men charged in connection with last
May's death of Western Kentucky University student
Katie Autry has entered a guilty plea. Stephen Soules
of Scottsville entered the plea this morning in
Warren Circuit Court.

By AP/Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – Four ethics bills sponsored by House Speaker
Jody Richards are being ignored by Senate Committees,
and the bills could be doomed. The bills were proposed
by the Democrat from Bowling Green to curb nepotism,
cronyism and no-bid contracts in the state's executive
branch.

By AP

Nashville, TN – The U-S Secret Service is warning people selling
cars not to send money to unknown individuals.
The agency reports that one scam recently detected
in Tennessee involves someone paying more than
the advertised asking price for a car listed in a
small newspaper ad.

By Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky House approved Senate Bill 37 by
a unanimous vote. The legislation is designed to
make coal mines safer places to work by updating
standards for electrical safety.

The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Senator
David Boswell of Owensboro. It includes new
requirements that power circuits and electrical
equipment in mines must be shut off before they
are worked on. In addition, insulation would be
required around suspended cables.

By AP

Fort Campbell, KY – President Bush is thanking about twenty thousand
soldiers who have returned from Iraq. As part of
his trip to persuade Americans to give him another
four years as Commander in Chief, the President
is meeting with families of some soldiers who were
killed in the war.

Members of the 101st Airborne have been actively
involved in the combat and rebuilding effort in Iraq.
Sixty soldiers from the 101st were killed in Iraq.