McCracken County Judge Executive Van Newberry is under fire for allegedly altering zoning maps without going through the proper legal channels.

Deputy Judge Executive Doug Harnice said the map changes, which occurred sometime between 2007 and 2008, are the result of minor computer errors, but Paducah attorney Burton Washburn says he thinks differently.

The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training said the commonwealth’s April unemployment rate has fallen 0.3 percent from a year ago and has dropped a tenth of a point from March 2013.

Kentucky’s 7.9 percent rate reflects a similar trend in national numbers over the same period. 

Henry County Mayor Brent Greer said several county budgets are being delayed because departments are having difficulty adjusting to new policies prompted by the Affordable Health Care Act.

Greer said the issue stems from departments having to make final rulings on which employees will be considered full time. In Henry County, a 28-hour work week represents full-time status.

The proposed Cadiz restaurant tax ordinance received its first reading at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The ordinance championed by Cadiz and Trigg County Tourism Commission Executive Director Bill Stevens would levy a 3% tax on all city restaurants with a business license. Revenues collected would fund the tourism commission’s marketing and promotion campaign. The council split 3-3 last week to draft the ordinance.  Mayor Lyn Bailey broke the tie in favor.

On this day in 1868, the US Senate failed to convict President Andrew Johnson by one vote. The primary charge was that Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. He was later acquitted. The Act was repealed in 1887. 

It’s Thursday, May 16

Hopkinsville native and Georgetown College student Brendan Jones gives a brief concert on the historic Estey pipe organ at Grace Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville tomorrow at noon. The public is invited to attend.

From NPR: Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is introducing legislation with other lawmakers Thursday that would change the way the military prosecutes sexual assault cases. It's the latest high-publicity move for a senator who was almost unknown four years ago when she was appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

Richie Farmer's federal trial on charges of misappropriating government resources when he was agriculture commissioner has been moved to this fall. Farmer’s lawyer, Guthrie True, said he needed more time to prepare for what he expected to be a complex case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor objected to delaying the trial that long, and U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ordered yesterday that it be continued until October 22.

Illinois 17-year-olds would be able to vote in primary elections in some cases under legislation headed for Governor Pat Quinn.  The measure would allow voters as young as 17 to cast ballots in primaries if they will be 18 by the time of the general election.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is honoring its fallen troopers this week. In honor of National Police Week, the agency, along with the state Safety Department and Homeland Security, will have its annual memorial service at 9 a.m. Friday at the Safety Department's headquarters in Nashville. Maj. Gen. Terry Haston, Tennessee's adjutant general, will be the keynote speaker. 

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is kicking off National Safe Boating Week with Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day tomorrow. The goal is to promote the use of life jackets as the 2013 summer boating season begins. Participants are asked to wear a life jacket to work in order to demonstrate how easy to wear one.