Regional

By Dan Modlin

Bowling Green, KY – The Special Judge assigned to the Katie Autry murder
case in Bowling Green is admonishing attorneys in
the case not to talk to the media. At a pre-trial hearing
in Bowling Green, Judge Tom Castlen said the case
has already drawn plenty of media attention. The Judge
urged defense and prosecution attorneys to "try the case
in the courtroom."

By AP/Dan Modlin

Gilbertsville, KY – Former Democratic Congressional Candidate Brian Roy
has appealed the state's intent to fire him as Manager of
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. Roy's
attorney, Kerry Harvey, says his client has requested
a "pre-termination" hearing to reply to allegations made
by the Fletcher Administration.

By AP

Lexington, KY – After being upheld by a recent decision of the
Kentucky Supreme Court, a smoking ban in
Lexington goes into effect today. The ban prohibits
smoking in most public buildings
in a city which is located in the heart of the burley
tobacco belt.

The new ban does not apply to private dwellings,
rooms used for social functions, retail tobacco
stores, or facilities operated by private organizations.
The ban also does not apply to indoor smoking areas
in government buildings.

By Dan Modlin/AP

Frankfort, KY – Governor Ernie Fletcher has ordered flags at state
office buildings to be flown at half-staff. The order
coincides with funeral arrangements for First
Lieutenant Robert Henderson the second of Alvaton,
Kentucky, who was killed in action in Iraq.

First Lieutenant Henderson was a platoon leader
for Detachment 1, 21-23rd Transportation Company
for the Kentucky National Guard. He was killed
when his convoy came under attack on April 17th,
in Diwanlyah.

By Dan Modlin

Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Department of Employment Services
says unemployment rates for February were down
in 98 Kentucky counties---compared to February of
2003. In February of this year, fifteen counties had
jobless rates of ten percent or higher, while 38
counties had jobless rates that high in the previous
year.

Woodford County has the lowest unemployment
rate in the state, at three percent. Magoffin County
has a jobless rate of 16.2 percent, which is the
highest in Kentucky.