Ninth District State Representative Myron Dossett says he is concerned about the drop in state revenue for the current fiscal year.

Representative Dossett of Pembroke expressed his concerns after receiving word that Kentucky’s current budget could face a potential shortfall.

Representative Dossett says as a member of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, he has great concern as law makers prepare to work on a new two-year budget there will not be enough revenue to support schools, state police, and other areas of government.

Dossett says that work may be further complicated if the current budget falls short of how much is spent in the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013.

Dossett released his opinions after the Governor’s Budget Office today released monthly figures that indicated revenue for Kentucky’s General Fund were down $16.5 million, or two percent, this April compared to last April. 
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(05/10/2013/MF)

Governor Steve Beshear has directed that all flags at state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Monday in honor of a Kentucky airman who died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, 30-year old Staff Sergeant Daniel N. Fannin, of Morehead, died on April 27^th in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. 

Staff Sergeant Fannin was assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Funeral services for Staff Sergeant Fannin will be held Monday morning at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma with internment to follow at Fort Gibson Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.
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(05/10/2013/MF)

Officials with the Hopkinsville Art Guild and the Princeton Art Guild will be hosting a joint plein air painting workshop next week and residents are invited to sign up and participate in the classes.

The classes are scheduled to take place Thursday, May 16, through Friday, May 18^th.

The workshop is being led by award winning artist Bill Fletcher of Lexington, whose work has been featured in Southwest Art, International Artist, and Keeneland Magazine. 

For more information, contact Henrietta Kemp at 270-886-3776.
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(05/10/2013/MF)

Back by popular demand, The Golden Pond Planetarium in Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area will once again feature laser light music nights starting Friday, May 24^th.

Park officials say shows contain laser lights that are synchronized to popular music ranging from country to pop.

Officials say this year, the featured artists will include U2, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, George Strait, The Beach Boys, Shania Twain, The Beatles.

For additional information, contact 270-924-2000.
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(05/10/2013/MF)

Eighth District State Representative John Tilley recently joined several other state law makers this week to discuss the state’s continued success at reducing prescription drug abuse during a conference hosted by the National Governor’s Association.

Representative Tilley says since early last year, the number of pain clinics in Kentucky decreased from nearly 50 to seven, and prescriptions for the heaviest pain medicine are down by at least 11 percent. 

Only a handful of representatives from various states were invited to attend the N-G-A’s policy academy meeting, with Representative Tilley the only legislator from Kentucky invited the meeting.

Representatives from the Attorney General’s office, Governor Beshear’s executive staff, the Office of Drug Control Policy and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services also attended the meeting.
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(05/10/2013/MF)