By Molly Burchett and Al Cross, Kentucky Health News

One-third of Kentucky adults have friends or relatives who have experienced problems from abusing prescription pain relievers, and 8 percent have used pain medicine when it wasn't prescribed or for the feeling it caused, according to a statewide poll conducted last fall.

The Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that in Eastern Kentucky, 45 percent reported that prescription drug abuse have caused problems for friends or family members. In the 17-county Bluegrass Area Development District, which includes some Appalachian counties, the figure was 37 percent. It was 32 percent in Northern Kentucky, 31 percent in the seven-county Louisville area and 25 percent in Western Kentucky.

The Pendleton County Conservation District is now accepting Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Applications on a continuous basis. This continual sign-up is designed to make the program more “landowner friendly” and help address the needs of a landowner at any time during the year. As landowners plan conservation projects with the assistance of their local conservation district, they will be able to apply for financial assistance for those projects without having to wait for a designated sign up period.

Thousands of Kentucky landowners have received state assistance through the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share program. Known informally as state cost share, the program was created in 1994 and helps landowners implement best management practices to protect soil and water resources on their property. Since the program’s inception, more than $129 million has been approved for use in implementing best management practices through more than 15,000 submitted applications. This money has assisted landowners in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

By Merrill Matthews

"There's nothing like being a victim of your own success."

That must be what American natural gas producers are thinking right now. Their profound success in recent years in expanding our national energy supply has inspired American policymakers to consider strapping them with strict new trade restrictions.

These regulatory efforts are deeply misguided and will, ultimately, deprive the country of jobs and growth.

Kentucky Press News Service

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent in December from a revised 8.2 percent in November, according to the Office of Employment and Training.

The preliminary December 2012 jobless rate was .9 percentage points below the 9 percent rate recorded for the state in December 2011.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained at 7.8 percent from November 2012 to December 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based on estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. It is designed to measure trends rather than to count the actual number of people working. It includes jobs in agriculture and those classified as self-employed, according to state news release.

By Scott Wartman, The Kentucky Enquirer

Kentucky legislators last week began the 30-day regular session of the General Assembly.

Some say that’s 30 days too many.

Lawmakers have often remarked that the 2013 session’s brevity will make passing legislation tough.

Instead, some still believe the schedule prior to 2001 was more efficient when the General Assembly met in a 60-day regular session every two years and met in special sessions in the interim when called by the governor.

When the 1995 Dodge Power Ram driven by Tanner Florence, 20, of Ryan Road, Falmouth, left U.S. 27 on January 13 striking an electric pole it was "lights out" for eleven members of Blue Grass Energy. Florence was traveling northbound on U.S. 27 south of Falmouth in the rain when he applied his brakes. The brakes locked up causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a Blue Grass Energy electric pole.

The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather. It’s not too late to have your vehicle checked, saving you from the cost and hassle of unexpected emergency repairs when severe weather strikes.

• Battery - Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Batteries don't always give warning signs before they fail completely so it’s wise to replace batteries that are more than three years old.

• Antifreeze - Antifreeze (coolant) should be flushed and refilled at least every two years in most vehicles. As a reminder, do not add 100 percent antifreeze as full-strength antifreeze actually has a lower freeze point than when mixed with water.

• Brakes - Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item and is key while driving on icy or snow-covered roads.

• Tires - Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly as tires will lose pressure when temperatures drop.

• Oil - Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to low-viscosity oil in winter, as it will flow more easily between moving parts when cold.

• Wiper Blades - Cold weather can affect the life of windshield wipers. Wiper blades that are cracked or torn, or that chatter, streak and don’t properly clean your windshield, should be changed. Check the windshield washer reservoir in case it needs fluid.

• Be sure to keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full as that decreases the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. If you’re due for a tune-up, consider having it done as winter weather magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling. To help you drive smart and save money, visit www.carcare.org and check out the free digital Car Care Guide.

Source: Rich White, Executive Director, Car Care Council, 301-654-6664

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism.

A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. He also established his reputation as a radical, and became an object of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's COINTELPRO for the rest of his life.

With the winter season in full swing, homeowners should be thinking about how to best protect their plants, trees and shrubs from snow, ice, winds and winter temperatures. Taking steps to "winterproof" lawns and landscapes will help to minimize potential damage and get the landscape ready for the spring season.

The following are winter care tips from the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the national association of landscape professionals:

1. Mulch Trees, Plants and Shrubs.

Mulch around trees, plants and shrubs to add extra protection for winter. Mulching is an important control for erosion and loss of water and a two-inch layer of mulch will reduce water loss and help maintain uniform soil temperature around the roots.

Kentucky failed to protect children from Big Tobacco's marketing tactics by neglecting to invest in programs and policies proven to reduce tobacco use according to the American Lung Association's "State of Tobacco Control 2013" report released today.

The Lung Association's "State of Tobacco Control" report tracks progress on key tobacco control policies at the federal and state level, assigning grades based on whether laws are adequately protecting citizens from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives and the economy.

The 11th annual report shows how money is often at the root of the leading cause of preventable death, as state and federal policymakers are failing to battle a deep-pocketed, ever-evolving tobacco industry.