Drew Adams

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has appointed a 23-member ‘blue ribbon commission’ to study the state's tax system and propose a reform plan. The commission will be headed by Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson and will review the state's current tax system and make recommendations by November 15th. Beshear says the state needs to ensure it has a tax system that produces adequate revenue to meet Kentuckians’ needs. He also says tax revenue has been growing at a rate of 70 to 75 percent of the economy's growth and state government has cut spending by $1.3 billion.

A coalition of groups has formed to press Kentucky lawmakers to approve a constitutional amendment that could legalize casinos in the Commonwealth.  The coalition includes several longtime gambling proponents from business and labor.

Kentucky education officials are adding a requirement to school health screenings to combat growing childhood obesity problems. The Board of Education recently approved a proposal requiring schools to record a child's body mass index, the relation of body fat to height and weight. Pediatricians say early intervention can prevent life-threatening adult conditions like Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. The proposal also eliminates a decades-long practice of checking middle-school students for signs of the spine condition scoliosis.

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The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at the Capitol to make what they call a major announcement regarding support for a proposed constitutional legalized gambling amendment. The event is set for noon Central. Governor Steve Beshear says he's expecting a proposal to amend the state Constitution to allow casino-style gambling to be filed soon. He also says lawmakers still have plenty of time remaining in the legislative session to get it passed. The legislative session is scheduled to run into April.

The Murray State Racers Thursday home match up with Tennessee State could net the Racers at least a tie for the regular season title in the OVC with a 12-0 record conference play. TSU  is coming to Murray having won their last five games and are looking to stop the Racer’s streak.  Winning their last game against U-T Martin ensured the Racer’s their 25th consecutive winning season, which ties them with Connecticut at fourth best winning  streak in the nation. Thursday’s game begins at 7:00pm at the CFSB center.

From a Murray State Press Release:

A two-year study will look for the reason the treatment of lung cancer is lagging in southern Illinois. Previous research has shown that death rates due to and cases of lung cancer are higher in southern Illinois than in other parts of the state. The Illinois division of the American Cancer Society is funding the project. Collaborating on the project are the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Southern Illinois Healthcare Cancer Institute in Carbondale and the Illinois State Cancer Registry. The 16 southernmost counties in Illinois will be included.

Amish men from across Kentucky arrived at the Capitol Tuesday to watch the Senate approve a bill allowing them to use reflective tape on their horse-drawn buggies rather than the bright orange triangular signs some object to on religious grounds.  The vote passed unanimously and that now goes to the House for consideration.  Murray Republican Ken Winters sponsored the measure that allows buggy drivers to use gray or silver reflective tape to outline their vehicles. Winters says tests show the reflective tape makes the buggies visible up to 1,000 feet away.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry will delay service this morning until 9. Kentucky Transportation board spokesman Keith Todd cites an electrical issue at fault for the delay.  He says the problem should be addressed quickly.

Nine years of war in Iraq is symbolically coming to an end.NPR reports the number of troops in Iraq has fallen from 20,000 to 4,000. Hopefully the real end is on its way as well.