Pendleton County Public Properties Corporation annual meeting agenda. Call to order, approve minutes from last two meetings, approve Properties Corporation treasure's report, approve reappointment of all office holders and adjourn.

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Senator Katie Stine (R-Southgate) was sworn in as senate president pro-tem on Tuesday, Jan 8th by her husband, Campbell County Circuit Court Judge Fred A. Stine V. Photo Courtesy LRC Public Information.

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U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell met with Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Acting General Counsel Bill Schultz in Washington on Wednesday, December 19 to emphasize the seriousness of the prescription drug crisis in Kentucky. During the meeting, Senator McConnell told HHS’ top lawyer that “prescription drug abuse is a significant problem in Kentucky that will be made worse by the imminent availability of these crushable pain pills and I encourage the administration to take action immediately to avert the looming threat to Kentucky from these frequently-abused, crushable-pain pills.”

Attorney General Jack Conway announced today’s decision by the U.S Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit that affirms a lower court’s order returning a 2007 lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, to Pike Circuit Court in eastern Kentucky.  Shortly after the case was filed, Purdue Pharma removed the case to the Southern District of New York.  The two-judge panel today upheld the prior decision of the U.S. District Court, which allowed the attorney general’s motion to proceed with the litigation in Pike Circuit Court where it was originally filed.

“OxyContin is highly addictive and easily abused prescription drug that has wrought tragic consequences throughout the commonwealth, and Purdue Pharma's misrepresentations about its addictive nature helped fuel an epidemic of prescription pill abuse across Kentucky,” General Conway said.  “After years of delay tactics, Purdue will now answer to a Kentucky court and a Kentucky jury."

Veteran Bill Ashcraft told the newspaper that it will soon be 22 years on January 17 that a rally was held at Pendleton County High School in support of our troops with the start of the Iraq war. "There were 750 attending that rally," he said. "It's hard to believe that time has gone so fast."

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In 2035, what will be our transportation needs for Kentucky? Will our focus be on maintaining and improving existing roadways, constructing new roads, or issues concerning other modes of transportation? Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials are asking these questions as they update the Kentucky Long Range Transportation Plan.

In determining the transportation needs for all areas of Kentucky over the next two decades, the updated plan will consider changes in communities, freight movement, financial resources, economic development, rural and urban transportation, the environment and other transportation issues that are impacting you.

The General Assembly returned to the Capitol last week, kicking off another legislative session as it always does in odd-numbered years: electing House and Senate leaders and establishing membership of the various committees for the next two years.

I’m proud to say that I will have the opportunity to serve again as chairman of the House Agriculture and Small Business Committee, which gives me a strong voice in setting the state’s policy in these two areas.  I will also serve on the Local Government and the Tourism Development & Energy committees, both of which have a major impact on our communities, as well as the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee and the Tobacco Task Force.  On budgetary matters, I am also a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection.

Traditionally, these opening four days are just set aside for organizational matters, with no bills being voted on.  That is handled instead when the General Assembly returns in early February to complete the session’s remaining 26 days.

Although it is too soon to say what will become law, there is a growing agreement on what needs to be discussed.  That includes possible tax and public pension reforms, which were studied extensively last year, and seeing what tweaks may be needed to last year’s law designed to crack down on prescription drug abuse.

Greetings and best wishes for a new year! A new year also marks a new season in our state capital. On Tuesday, January 8th, the Senate convened for the 2013 General Assembly Session, a session that will last 30 days. The first week is traditionally an “organizational” week in which the respective caucuses choose their leaders and committee assignments are disbursed to members. In the Senate, we have already done this. I am pleased to continue my service as president pro-tem. I will also serve as vice-chair of the Committee on Committees, the Judiciary Committee, the Legislative Research Commission, and the Rules Committee. I will be a member of Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee, the Health and Welfare Committee, and the Enrollment Committee.

The 2013 Session is technically a “short” one but it surely will not be short on issues. While odd-year sessions are not typically budget years, there are several issues that could affect budget-planning.  First and foremost is the issue of public employee pension reform. The public employee pension system is only about 26% funded which represents a $33 billion unfunded liability. (Please note that teachers’ retirement is entirely different and these discussions do not apply to it.)  The Senate since 2005 has tried to encourage the House to address this issue. I am hopeful that the findings of the recently formed task force that met over the interim which heard from a diverse group of advocates and experts such as state employees, business groups, and the Pew Center will finally encourage the House to act. One of the principle recommendations is to fully fund the actuarial recommended contribution. Undoubtedly, tough decisions are ahead. What is clear, though, is that the system is in dire need of reform because the retirement system will end up consuming much of the budget to the exclusion of everything else including education and human services.

Kentuckians can reduce cancer risk through healthy lifestyle choices in 2013.

Guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention from the American Cancer Society stress the importance of healthy behaviors. The American Cancer Society estimates that about half of all cancer deaths are preventable if health is made a top lifestyle priority.

American Cancer Society guidelines for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing cancer risk include four major recommendations:

1) Achieve and maintain a healthy weight throughout life.

2) Adopt a physically active lifestyle with at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise activity each week.

3) Consume a healthy diet, with an emphasis on eating at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and fruits each day.

4) Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages to no more than one drink per day for women or two per day for men.

Avoiding tobacco products altogether is one of the most important steps to a healthier body. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of cancer and premature death in the country. Quitting smoking can add up to 10 valuable years to a person’s life.

Getting recommended routine cancer screening check-ups and examinations can be lifesaving. Regular screenings performed by a health care professional can help find cancer early when it is easiest to treat. At least half of all new cancer cases are cancer types that can be prevented or detected earlier by screening. Depending on age, sex, and cancer risk, screening recommendations vary.

For more information about cancer screening guidelines, tips on eating healthy and incorporating exercise, and ways to quit smoking, call the American Cancer Society 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. However, awareness surrounding the disease is relatively low, according to a recent survey from the American Optometric Association.

That’s why the Kentucky Optometric Association (KOA) is emphasizing the need for an annual dilated eye exam during Glaucoma Awareness Month in January.

Early detection and treatment is critical to protect the eyes from glaucoma, which will be diagnosed in an additional 1 million Americans over the next 10 years.  More than half of Americans who have glaucoma remain undiagnosed, primarily due to a lack of annual comprehensive eye examinations.