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Pike Co. News 4.27.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Appalachian News
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Express for news in Pike County. Your reader today is Maya.
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We'll begin with the online edition dated in April twenty fourth,
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twenty twenty six, which the publishers have donated to RADIOI
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as a reminder. RADIOI is a reading service intended for
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people who are blind or have other disabilities that make
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it difficult to read printed material. Our first story is
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called Fiscal Court recognizes National Prayer Event by Terry L. May.
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The Pike County Fiscal Court issued a resolution recognizing Pike
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County's observance of a National Prayer Event, along with several
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other matters, during its April twenty first meeting. The proclamation
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declare that Thursday, May seventh will be observed as the
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National Day of Prayer in the county. The resolution was
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presented to members of the Local Planning Committee. Quote then
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National Day. The National Day of Prayer is an annual
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observance inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.
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The resolution reads, because of the faith more founding fathers,
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public prayer and National Days of Prayer have a long
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standing and significant history in American tradition. The National Day
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of Prayer was first established in nineteen fifty two by
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a joint Act of Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman,
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according to the resolution. Later in nineteen eighty eight, President
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Ronald Reagan set the event for the first Thursday in
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May each year. The theme of this year's National Day
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of Prayer is Glorify God among the nations, seeking Him
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in all generations. According to the resolution, this is based
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on the Bible verse quote tell of His glory among
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the nations, his wonderful deeds among all peoples from First
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Chronicles sixteen twenty four end quote quote, I raise An Jones,
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the second Pike County Judge Executive. The Pike County Fiscal
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Court urged all citizens to give thanks for their many
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blessings and asked for God's continued guidance, protection, and mercy
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as we meet the challenges before us. End quote. The
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proclamation states. In the other actions, the Fiscal Court acknowledged
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the receipt of the Pike County Extension District Board budget
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for the upcoming fiscal year, acknowledged the report of financial Statements,
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supplementary information, and the audit of Pike County Housing Authority
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Elkhorn City, the Third Elderly Citizens Housing Opportunities Incorporated, and
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BlackBerry mccarr's Development Incorporated HID Project for the year ending
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June thirtieth, twenty twenty five. It also authorized the annual
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orders of afflation for Shelby Creek Volunteer Rescue Squad, Kimper
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Fire and Rescue Car Squad, and Pike County's Technical Rescue.
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It also approved the application to the Kentucky Division of
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Abandoned Mineland's Economic Revitalization Program to construct a build ready
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site pad at the Wolfpit Industrial and Technology Park, and
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it approved a contract extension for Title basin. Our next
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story is trial and Amber Spradlin murder case to go
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forward to May eleventh by Russ Cassie. The trial of
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a Florid County man accused of murdering Amber Spradlin in
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twenty twenty three and the two men accused of attempting
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to cover it up will go forward on May eleventh.
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Special Judge Eddie Coleman issued a ruling at the end
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of a hearing on April twenty third against a prosecution
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motion that requested the trial be delayed because DNA testing
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on evidence from the scene had not yet been completed
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by the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab. In the case,
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Michael m K McKinney the third, a twenty six, is
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accused of murder, while he and his father, Michael McKinny
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the second, fifty eight, and family friend Josh Mullen's aged
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twenty five, are accused of evidence tampering. In the case,
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Floyd Commonwealth's attorney Brent Turner said during the April twenty
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third hearing that he cannot say when testing will be completed,
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and he has not received information from the lab about
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a timetable quote. They have given pretty They have pretty
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commonly given me unrealistic timelines. He said, they didn't even
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give me a time frame this time. Turner pointed out
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that one of the factors driving the push to hold
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the trial was the fact that m K. McKinney was
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being incarcerated, which has changed since his bond was reduced.
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That Turner said would lead him to argue that with
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all three defendants out on bond, it would make less
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sense to rush the trial. Turner said he is concerned
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that if the trial goes without evidence testing being completed,
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than a guilty verdict, if obtained, could be reversed based
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on evidence that emerges later. Further, he said the evidence
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could even prove to be exculpatory to the defendants. Quote.
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We don't want to try it more than once, I guess,
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is what I'm getting at, Turner said. End quote. Turner
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asked that Coleman either set a new trial day and
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hope the evidence comes back in time, or set a
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status conference to check the status later. Quote. I would
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be surprised if the final stuff was back before a
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fall and Turner said. Turner said Spraglin's family is in
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agreement with delaying the trial. Quote they want it to
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be done right more than they want it done fast.
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I think we've all agreed, quote, Turner said. Attorneys for
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both Michael McKinny the Second and Mullens told Coleman they
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agreed with the delay, but asked that holmancarceration and other
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bond conditions be removed if it was granted. However, attorney
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Brandy O'Neill, representing MK McKinney, opposed the delay, even with
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MK McKinny being free on bond. Quote, his life is
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still on hold end quote, O'Neill said. Coleman said that
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d NK McKinney's opposition to the delay, he would quote
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unquote see the parties on the previously set trial date
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of May eleventh. The trial is set to be held
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in Coleman's courtroom at the Pike County Judicial Center. Our
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next story is called Candidates make Quick Cases to Hillbilly
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Day's festival Goers by Russ Cassidy. Candidates seeking several offices,
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including those seeking to replace US Senator Mitch McConnell and
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US Representative How Rogers, were given minutes to address Hillbilly
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Days festival goers at the annual Stump Speaking event held
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on April eighteenth. These candidates for federal offices were each
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given three minutes to make a speech, while candidates for
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state and local offices were given two minutes. Vitalating violating
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the time limit resulted in them being quote unquote played
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down by a bluegrass band. However, the candidates for US
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Senate and the US House made the most of their time,
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focusing on several issues, including Eastern Kentucky's future and national debates.
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For US Senate, US Representative Andy Barr, a Republican, kicked
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off the roster of candidates seeking to replace McConnell. Barr
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said that it was important that coal mining be restored. Quote,
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after one hundred and twenty five years proud ar of
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mining coal in eastern Kentucky, we still have a billion
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tons of coal in these mountains. Bar said, we need
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to put our coal miners back to work, not just
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for the prosperity of our people in Appalachia, but for
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the national security of the United States of America end quote.
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Bar said using coal for electricity can play a key
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role in lowering costs and powering technologies of the future.
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Barr said he has supported President Donald Trump in several ways,
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including helping to write the quote unquote One Big Beautiful Bill,
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helping to enact Trump's energy policies, and voting for Trump's
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immigration policies. Barr also cited his experience in Congress and
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said that while McConnell's departure will mean in Kentucky will
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lose influence, electing Bar will help ensure that someone experienced
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in Washington takes the sea. Quote. I don't need a
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learning curve. I can hit the ground running on day one,
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Barr said. Democrat Charles Booker spoke on the knee for
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people to be unified to push back against Republican policies.
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I know we've been up against it, he said. We've
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seen the floods come, we've seen storms, we've seen dark times.
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We've seen jobs leave, We've seen prices rides and gas
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and groceries and health care end quote. Booker also spoke
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against quote unquote cuts to vital services and the plight
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of homeless veterans. However, Booker said the issue is not
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one of Republican versus Democrat. Quote. If you're ready for
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a government that works for you, stand with me. Booker said.
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If you want a leader in the Senate that will
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fight to protect our families instead of protecting the EPSTOM files,
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stand with me. And if you want a working people's
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bill of rights, if you want Medicare for all, if
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you want universal basic income, if you want child care,
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if you want good paying jobs as true living wages,
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if you believe in organized labor, if you stand with
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our teachers, if you believe our veterans deserve the care
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they need for the sacrifices they've made, stand with me.
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End quote, he continued. Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron,
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a Republican told the crowd that he was at the
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stump speaking for the same reasons they were. Quote. You
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care about a commonwealth and a country that is built
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on the ideas of merit and opportunity, and we have
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seen too much division in this country that has been
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built on the back of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Cameron said. Instead,
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Cameron said, Cameron said the country should be built on merit, excellence, intelligence,
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and integrity. The Senate, Cameron said, can ensure that the
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conditions are set to allow people to quote have more
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money in their pocket as opposed to bureaucrats in Washington
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end quote. Cameron said, it is important that the Safeguard
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American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the Save America
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Act be passed. Quote. Another form of setting the conditions
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in Washington is to make sure that we pass the
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Safe America Acts so that we ensure the integrity of
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our elections and ensure that illegalis do not vote in
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those elections. Endue, Cameron said. Cameron said he will fight
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for coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy to be used
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and will use the Senate seat to support law enforcement. Quote.
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We will always back the blue end quote. Cameron said.
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Republican Jimmy Leon spoke on several initiatives he wanted to
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undertake if elected, including a balanced budget, amendment policies related
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to the protection of life, and ending parental alienation. Democratic
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candidate Amy McGrath said change is needed. Quote what we
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are seeing right now today in our country is dangerous
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and normal. She said. We're seeing prices for everything through
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the roof health care being taken away, and we are
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in another Middle Eastern war end quote. McGrath also blasted
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several policies of the Trump administration. Quote, I'm going to
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take away these tariffs that drive the prices of everything
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up end quote. McGrath said. She also pointed to changes
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in Medicaid. Quote did anyone vote for their hospitals to close?
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I don't think so. McGrath said, Well, that's what we're getting,
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and that's why we need new leaders end quote. McGrath
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said Eastern Kentucky is owed twenty first century infrastructure for
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powering the nation. Quote. We need investment here, not more slogans,
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she said. Democratic candidate Dale Romans set his advocacy for
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the thoroughbred training industry in which he works made him
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realize that change is needed in Washington. Quote I realize
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how badly the system is broken, and something needs to change.
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He said. We need common people to run for these
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offices end quote. Romans said he wants to bring the
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Democratic Party back to the center and see more compromise. Quote.
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You're paying me to go to Washington to work, and
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that's what I want to do. He said. I can
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reach across the aisle and work with anybody. Fighting has
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gotten us nowhere. We've been fighting for the last ten years.
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Eastern Kentucky has been treated unfairly. You produce all the energy,
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but you're paying the highest energy costs, he said. Romans
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also addressed the Trump administration's immigration policy, saying that it's
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not right to simply deport millions of people. Quote we
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need to document them and make them productive Americans that
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are paying into taxes like they're supposed to end quote,
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Romans said. Vincent Thompson, a Democrat seeking the Senate seat,
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said he said he was inspired to run by his
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late wife's struggles within the health system. Quote. Health care
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should be at the hands of doctors and nurses and
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those that are trained to do it, not the insurance companies.
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End quote. Thompson said. He also said his late wife's
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work with special needs students inspired another plank of his platform. Quote,
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We're doing a tremendous disservice to all of our kids,
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Thompson said, adding that early and continuing education should be
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available to all children so they can be prepared for
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life's challenges. Several candidates, including Republican Nate Morris, did not
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attend the event. For US House. U S Representative hol Rogers,
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who was seeking re election to the fifth congressional district seat,
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did not attend the stump speaking, but several of those
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seeking to replace him did. Republican Benjamin hurt Hurley said
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his focus is on the region, especially after he returned
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from his service in the U. S. Army, to find
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a rampant drug problem, a lack of jobs, and a
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people weaving due to the lack of opportunity. Quote my mission,
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my overarching goal is to put Eastern Kentucky first, he said.
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Hurley said bringing jobs into the district is vital. Quote.
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I really do want to bring in some better paying jobs,
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Hurley said, pledging that he will set his salary at
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the median household income at the district if the median
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income goes up, then his own pay would go up,
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but the inverse would also be true. Quote if I
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don't do my job and the median household income goes down,
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then obviously my pay goes down too, Hurley said. Hurley
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also said he wants to see term limits set for
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members of Congress. Quote. Career politicians need to get out
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of Washington, he said, adding that he is pledging to
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only serve three terms if elected and re elected, Hurley
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said he will work to ban stock trading by members
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of Congress and is pledging not to buy any if elected.
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Democratic candidate Ned Pillersdorff said his focus is heavily on
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the current administration's quote unquote attack on social programs. Quote.
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I am going to reverse and fortify and save the
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safety Debt, which is under vicious attack by Republican administration.
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Pillersdorff said. We are the poorest congressional district in the nation.
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The one big beautiful bill, Pillersdorff said, will be devastating,
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but the impacts will not occur until after this year's
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midterm elections are complete. Quote. That bill is a nuclear
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bomb headed toward our most vulnerable citizens, endo said, Pillarsdwarff.
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The Republican viewpoint, he said, is a factor in the changes. Quote.
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The Republicans have made the political calculation that they can
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crush the less fortunate as long as it helps their
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billion dollar donors, Pillinstorf said. Republican candidate Jerry Lee Shelton
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said that he wants to see term limits and a
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cap on interest charged by credit card companies approve, along
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with stop on cuts to Medicaid payments. Republican Kevin Smith
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said he wants to play a role in baking the
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region better. Quote in Congress, I'm going to fight for family, faith, freedom,
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and the future of Eastern Kentucky. Smith said. Our next
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article is called ruling denies the attorney's attempt to replace
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Circuit Judge Hall in civil cases. A News Expressed staff report,
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the Kentucky Supreme Court's Chief Justice has denied the request
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of a Pikeville attorney to have a special judge appointed
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to replace pike Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall in several
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cases he has before the judge. According to the order
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issued April eighteenth by Kentucky's Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah
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Henbry Lambert, Pikeville attorney Glen Martin. Hammond offered no specific
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evidence that suggests Hall is biased or partial. The issue
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stems from Hammond's hiring a former FBI agent, Clay Mason,
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to quote investigate information about Judge Hall's rulings that rendered
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preference to select parties, attorneys, or defendants end quote before
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hiring Mason. Records show Hall ruled that Hammond has filed
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a quote materially false end quote affidavit to avoid the
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state the Statute of Limitations in a case against three
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M Company regarding the company's dust masks used by miners
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in the coal mining industry. Hammond's hiring of Mason was
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brought to light while under indictment of charges of mail
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fraud and theft of government funds, charges on which Hall
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was ultimately found not guilty by a jury. After Hall's
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suspension by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission ended and he
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was restored to the bench, Hammond filed motions in several
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cases asking that Hall be recused from presiding overcations cases
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in which Hammond is an attorney, who ultimately recused from
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cases in which no parties opposed Hammond's motion, but remained
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as the judge in the cases where the defendant's attorneys
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opposed the move. In the order, Lambert wrote that a
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reasonable observer might reasonably question whether Hall could maintain impartiality
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to an attorney who had hired a private investigator to
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scrutinize his rulings. However, Lambert wrote, upholding Hall's recusal would
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raise other issues. Quote. But that same reasonable observer, knowing
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all the facts, would also know that the attorney for
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the party complaining of bias acted in a way that
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he could have reasonable reasonably foreseeing to create that bias.
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Lambert wrote, Giving the party or the party's attorney the
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benefits of this factory conflict would only encourage similar behavior
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from other litigants end quote. Lambert wrote that if a
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judge believes that this type of situation would prevent them
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from acting without bias or partiality, the code of judicial
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conduct requires that they step aside. Quote. Since Judge Hall
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has declined to recuse himself in this case, the Chief
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Justice presumes he has made that self inquiry and determined
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that he is able to proceed with an unbiased mind
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end quote, Lambert wrote. In the order, Lambert noted that
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the denial is without prejudice of any party to seek
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appellate review after entry of a final judgment. Our final
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article is titled County Morris asked for ARH lawsuit over
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psych services to be dismissed Written by a News Express staff.
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An attorney for Pike County and Jyler Brian Morris, has
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filed a motion asking for the dismissal of a lawsuit
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in which Appalachian Regional Healthcare or ARH, has alleged to
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the jail failed to play three point two million dollars
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in bills for psychiatric services. The lawsuit was originally filed
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in December, but was not served on Pike County Jayler
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Brian Morris until April twond The civil lawsuit alleges that
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the PCDC has an outstanding balance of three million, two
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hundred and sixty five thousand, four four hundred and seventy
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five dollars in remuneration. ARH seeks full payment of the balance,
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accrude and accruing interests, attorneys, fees, a jury trial, and
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other for reef for which it may be entitled. Morris
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told the News Express that the individuals who received the
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services from ARH were not inmates at the jail at
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the time they received treatment. I have not yet had
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an opportunity to fully investigate the claims made, but believe,
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based upon the facts alleged and initial review, that each
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of these individuals had been released from jail and were
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no longer in custody, nor were they prisoners at the
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time of their alleged treatment by ARH. Morris told The
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News Express, it is my understanding that ARH was made
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aware of this fact prior to initiating this lawsuit. An
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emotion filed April twentieth, attorney Jonathan C. Shaw asked for
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the lawsuit to be dismissed mainly because of the lack
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of a contract for the services provided. While ar H
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alleges in their lawsuit that a contract arose through Pike
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County's prior payment of invoices, no written contract was filed
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as part of the case. Shaw wrote, quote the complaint
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identifies no written agreement, no specific communications forming an author
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and acceptance, and no definite terms governing rate scope, duration,
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authorization procedures, payment, timing, or conditions of performance. Shaw wrote,
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under Kentucky law, a contract requires mutual ascent to sufficiently
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definite in certain terms. The allegation that prior payment established
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a course of dealing is conclusiory and cannot supply the
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missing essential elements of contract formation end quote. Shaw also
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wrote that the motion that claims against Morris are redundant
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and should be dismissed since the complaint alleges only conduct
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attributor to the county's institutional obligations. This concludes the reading
24:16
of the Appalachian News Express for news from Pike County.
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Your reader today has been Naya. Now please stay tuned
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for continued programming on Radio I on behalf of everyone
24:28
here at Radio I. Thank you for listening and we
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hope you have a good day. Hello, this is Bob
24:36
Blake for Radio I. Now it's time to bring you
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the reading of the Louisville Eccentric Observer. Today I will
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be reading from the