Regional

By Dan Modlin/AP

Bowling Green, KY – Republican Congressman Ernie Fletcher defeated
Democratic Attorney General Ben Chandler to become
the first Republican governor in Kentucky since
the early 1970s. Fletcher will leave his sixth district
seat in the U-S House of Representatives to
become governor.

By AP/Dan Modlin

Bowling Green, KY – Kentucky Secretary of State John Y. Brown now
says today's turnout in the gubernatorial election
could be larger than his earlier prediction of
forty percent. Some areas in the state are
reporting a number of calls from voters wanting
to know where they should go to vote.

Voter turnout in Warren County is described
as "steady."

By Dan Modlin

Bowling Green, KY – Warren Circuit Judge Tom Lewis heard arguments
today on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by
the mother and aunt of Katie Autry. She's the
student who died last May after being assaulted
and burned in her residence hall room.

By Dan Modlin

Bowling Green, KY – The governing board of Western Kentucky
University has unanimously approved a mid-year
tuition increase of $200. The new tuition rates
will take effect for classes which start in January.

University President Gary Ransdell says the change
is necessary because state funding has failed to
keep pace with rapid enrollment growth. He
describes Western as the "fastest growing
public university in the state."

By Dan Modlin

Bowling Green, KY – Kentucky Agriculture Commissoner Billy Ray Smith
says lawmakers in Washington should support
efforts to expand ethanol production. Speaking
with Western's Public Radio, Smith stressed that
ethanol fuels can help to provide a valuable market
for farmers and can reduce the country's reliance
on foreign oil.

House and Senate conferees have been trying to
resolve differences over the issue in the new
Energy Bill.