Devin Katayama

A Kentucky lawmaker has crafted legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the commonwealth.

Similar measures have been proposed intermittently over the past 25 years, but none have had enough support to pass. Now Democratic state representative Carl Rollins has posted a bill that has the support of anti-death penalty activists.

Rev. Patrick Delahanty with the Kentucky Coalition To Abolish The Death Penalty says even though past attempts have failed, he senses growing support for the measure.

Over 11,000 Jefferson County residents are expected to participate over the next few months in crisis phase of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, but the federal government has allocated less money for the program this year.

LIHEAP provides one-time funding for eligible residents at or below 130 percent of the poverty line in the cold winter months. Between November and December nearly 11,000 residents use the program, according to Debbie Belt, community outreach specialist for the Department of Community Services and Revitalization. 

Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth says reauthorizing the expired No Child Left Behind Act should be a priority of the incoming Congress.

But the law as it stands now would likely undergo significant reforms that follow what some states like Kentucky have already begun implementing.

Yarmuth was recently appointed to the  House Education and Workforce Committee, a position he held during his first years in office.

Louisville will host the 2013 UCI World Elite Cyclo-cross Championships early next year, which is being held outside of Europe for the first time in the sport’s 60-year history. 

Cyclo-cross is a bicycle race on multi terrains and with some obstacles where riders may have to dismount and traverse. This year, the Masters and Elite race will be held at  Louisville’s Eva Bandman Park off River Road. 

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says despite a legislative session next year that’s likely to focus on pension reform, he expects some key education initiatives to be brought up, discussed and even passed.

According to recommendations from a task force, the state needs to allocate nearly $300 million to honor its pension obligations, which would likely take money away from several other departments.

Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth  says if a deal is reached to prevent hitting the so-called "fiscal cliff," Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell should get some of the credit.

“I certainly appreciate the work he’s doing and it sounds to me like he’s taking the kind of reasonable approach to compromise that we all have been crying out for, for months," Yarmuth told WFPL.

Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-44, is crafting legislation that could hold back third grade students who aren’t at reading level, but Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says the department won’t support it.

Jenkins acknowledges the bill may not be popular, saying some educators argue it’s traumatic to hold back students and the cost of interventions built into the law could be burdensome.   

“I think the school systems are going to say, yeah that’s great but who is going to pay for interventions,” Jenkins told WFPL.

After ranking fourth in the nation for the number of Mixed Martial Arts or MMA events held statewide in 2011, Kentucky has seen a significant drop in the number of fight cards this past year.

Officials say the drop is likely due to economic factors but some say new regulations enacted by the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority--which has regulated the sport since 2007--are the cause.

Last year, Kentucky’s 81 events ranked only behind California, Ohio and Texas. In 2012, there were only 54 events.

A new book by southern Indiana historian Jane Sarles includes a collection of newspaper clips from southern Indiana over the last century. 

Sarles is chair of the Clarksville Historic Preservation Commission and president of the Clarksville Historical Society. She also writes a column in the News and Tribune called “Looking Back.” 

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says he disagrees with the National Rifle Association’s aggressive response to the Newtown, Connecticut shootings.

NRA officials made their first formal comments Friday following last week’s school shooting that left 26 dead.

During the no-questions press conference, officials listed movies and video games they believe contribute to school violence. Officials called on a task force to create a model program that would include training and arming guards who could protect school children.