Regional

By AP

Murray, KY – The family of a student killed in a dormitory fire at Murray State University six years ago has settled a lawsuit with the school for $200,000.
Michael Minger's mother had sought as much as $4,000,000 in the suit.
The University has denied fault in Minger's death in September of 1998. The Niceville, Florida sophomore music student died of smaoke inhalation in the fire at Hester Hall. Police said the fire was intentionally set, but a jurt deadlocked in the trial of the only person charged.

By AP

Henderson, KY – Voters in six western Kentucky counties will elect
a State Senator on Tuesday. The outcome may hinge
on what voters think of the Republican candidate's
recent decision to switch parties.

Republican David Thomason is a previous member
of the Kentucky House, who used to be a Democrat.
He is running against Democrat Dorsey Ridley to
replace the late Senator Paul Herron of Henderson,
who died in June.

By AP

Louisville, KY – A Federal Judge has permanently barred the state from
preventing jockeys from wearing ads or union logos
during races. U-S District Judge John Heyburn the Second
issued the ruling, ending a dispute that started just days
before the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Heyburn backed up his initial ruling that said the state's
regulations impinged on the jockey's first amendment
rights. Heyburn said the free-speech rights of jockeys
outweighed the state's concerns.

By Dan Modlin

Lexington, KY – State Senator Ernesto Scorsone is planning to hold
a public forum Monday, to get public input on Governor
Fletcher's proposed changes to the Kentucky Commission
on Human Rights. The Democrat from Lexington says
concerns from the public should be heard, before
major changes are put into place.

By AP

Frankfort, KY – The possibility of wartime deployments for hundreds of
Kentucky National Guard soldiers and airmen is not
discouraging re-enlistments. Officials say about
93 percent of those eligible to leave the Guard in the
past eighteen months have instead opted to re-enlist.