The Richmond Register

State News

August 10, 2009

Murray Housing Authority bans smoking inside units

MURRAY — The Housing Authority of Murray is having its own version of a smoke-out.

The agency has instituted a new smoke-free policy at all of its housing units, starting Sept. 1. The policy means residents will not be allowed to smoke inside their homes — instead they’ll have to light up in the yard.

WPSD-TV in Paducah reported that Housing Authority Executive Director Faye Dodd says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has pushed smoke-free public housing across the country.

Walter Wyatt, a smoker for 62 years, says the government agency shouldn’t tell him where he can smoke, particularly not in his own home.

“To tell me what to do in my own place, I don’t think that’s right, and I don’t believe the people that’s putting them orders out would like for someone to tell them what to do in their house,” Wyatt said.

Allowing smoking in homes causes multiple problems, Dodd said. Among the issues are smoke drifting through central air units from smokers to the homes of nonsmokers.

Dodd also cited safety after a recent fire in Murray destroyed two units when a smoker fell asleep and dropped a lit cigarette.

Finally, Dodd says they just can’t afford the costs of cleaning a unit when a smoker moves.

“No one wants to feel limited in their own home. I understand where they’re coming from, but our main objective is the care and feeding of the agency, and we want to stay alive, and being fiscally sound is the best way to do that,” Dodd said.

The idea isn’t to force people to quit smoking, just quit smoking indoors, Dodd said.

Smokers can get an exemption to allow them indoor smoking privileges until their lease is up, Dodd said. With a new lease, though, comes the smoke-free policy. Breaking the policy could result in a lease violation, three of which prompts an eviction.

Text Only
State News
  • State lawmakers call for constitutional convention

    With U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading the cheers, the state Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a limited constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
    The vote was 22-16 — Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville joined the 15 Democrats in opposing the measure — on the measure sponsored by Senate President and Republican candidate for governor David Williams. The vote followed Paul’s speech to the body and his earlier remarks to the Senate State Government Committee.

    February 23, 2011

  • Company that blundered pollution reports will again test mining sites

    The same people blamed for inaccurate pollution reports from mining sites operated by ICG Coal will be responsible for collecting samples under that company’s corrective action plan submitted to the state.
    ICG and Frasure Creek Coal entered a consent decree with the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet in December after environmental groups discovered reams of inaccurate pollution reports by the two companies.

    February 17, 2011

  • Immigration bill delay may be about political leverage

    The House Local Government Committee conducted a second day of hearings on a Senate immigration bill Wednesday without taking a vote, but the delay may be about political leverage as much as it is about philosophical objections.
    The hearing also got testy, when the sponsor, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, objected to critics who have characterized the measure as racially motivated and after suggestions by one Democrat committee member that another supporter of the bill used “self-righteous and venomous” language in his testimony.

    February 10, 2011

  • House passes immigration bill

    The Democrat House overwhelmingly passed its version of immigration control Tuesday while Senate leaders tried and fell short for now to garner enough votes to pass a bill to require a prescription for cold remedies used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
    The House voted 90-6 to pass HB-3, which would require employers who contract with the state and public agencies to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal EVerify system. Those who violate the law would be prohibited from securing state contracts for one year after the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would bar contracting with the state for five years.

    February 9, 2011

  • Payday lenders targeted for interest rates

    Mary Love doesn’t look the part. A retired pastor and former employee of UPS Logistics from Oldham County, Love, 65, found herself retired, divorced and trying to live off “a small pension.” Soon, she found herself in a “debt trap.”
    It began when one month she was a bit short and her rent was due. She visited a “payday lender,” and wrote a $230 check that the lender held for two weeks. She walked out with $200. But two weeks later she owed the lender $230 and still couldn’t make ends meet. This time she wrote a check for $460 and left with $400.

    February 8, 2011

  • State settles case with Medicaid administrator

    The third-party administrator for a Medicaid managed care program has agreed to pay more than $2 million in damages for falsely reporting patient results in order to secure a $700,000 bonus payment.
    The settlement was the result of a nine-month investigation by the office of Attorney General Jack Conway acting on tips from a whistleblower inside AmeriHealth Mercy, the administrator for Passport Health Plan, the state-funded managed care program which serves clients from Louisville and 15 surrounding counties that has come under scrutiny by the state auditor and lawmakers. The over-reporting of positive health outcomes occurred in 2009, and the state Medicaid fraud statute allows the state to assess the company triple damages, Conway said.

    January 27, 2011

  • Republican primary for governor grows

    The Republican primary for governor grew by one on filing deadline day as expected, but Gov. Steve Beshear is getting a free pass in the Democratic primary.
    Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and her running mate, retired naval officer and high school teacher Bill Vermillion, filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, promising a competitive race despite a late entry and delayed fundraising start.

    January 26, 2011

  • Williams-Farmer ticket is official

    FRANKFORT — Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and his running mate, Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer, made it official Monday. They filed paperwork to run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

    January 19, 2011

  • Poll: Majority favors state smoking ban

    Though advocates of anti-smoking laws don’t believe a statewide smoking ban will pass in the General Assembly this year, they see public support for it and have come to the conclusion that it is time to get the discussion started.

    January 14, 2011

  • 1-14-smoke-meth.jpg Lawmakers consider requiring prescriptions for meth precursors

    FRANKFORT — Kentucky ranks No. 3 among 50 states in the number of reported meth labs, which is why lawmakers are considering legislation that would require a prescription to purchase such meth precursors as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

    January 14, 2011 1 Photo

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Poll

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Yes
No
     View Results