Regional

By SCOTT WARTMAN

The Kentucky Enquirer

Northern Kentucky’s pugnacious major league pitcher and former U.S. Senator Jim Bunning died on Friday at the age of 85.

The wave of condolences from the political and sports realm showed that in spite of his gruff demeanor - or perhaps because of it - the Southgate resident commanded respect.

“Jim hit 187 batters in his career,” his friend and former legislative director Rick Robinson said. “He took that pitcher’s mentality to politics.

By DANIEL DESROCHERS

and JACK BRAMMER

Lexington Herald-Leader

Kentucky legislators approved a flurry of bills Tuesday, March 14, as this year’s law-making session nears its end.

Tuesday marked the 27th day of the 30-day legislative session. Lawmakers are to meet again Wednesday to consider bills and then are scheduled to wrap up the session March 29 and 30, when they will consider any vetoes issued by Gov. Matt Bevin.

Here are some of the key bills that won approval Tuesday:

Campaign finance

Spring and summer can bring severe weather leaving behind everything from hail-damaged roofs and siding to downed trees. Often, following the storms are thieves known as “storm chasers.”

These scam artists present themselves as contractors able to fix the homeowners problems.

They go town-to-town, door-to door, taking money for work, underperforming or not performing at all, and then move on to the next town often before the homeowners know they’ve been ripped-off.

Lexington Herald Leader

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky House gave final passage to a bill Monday that would give students the freedom to express their religious or political views in public schools and universities.

Senate Bill 17, sponsored by State Sen. Albert Robinson, R-London, would affirm the constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom, supporters of the bill argued.

“All this legislation does is put into law and recognize those constitutional facts,” said Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington.