A notorious feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky is once again making national news, but this time it is for a discovery of artifacts associated with patriarch Randall McCoy’s home and site of an infamous 1888 attack. The findings were confirmed by Dr. Kim McBride, a historic archaeologist with the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, a joint partnership with the University of Kentucky Department of Anthropology and the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office.

McBride’s work is central to the story of the site, and what the artifacts and their context of recovery can contribute to our understanding of the events that happened there. Her work will be featured in an upcoming episode of the National Geographic television series “Diggers,” airing at 10 p.m. EST Tuesday.

By: Carla Jimenez, Kentucky New Era

When a soldier returns from deploying overseas, he or she sometimes faces a change in custody or visitation rights for his or her children. But State Rep. John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, wants to change that.

Tilley is sponsoring legislation for the 2013 regular legislative session that would amend Kentucky’s child custody laws. House Bill 69 would keep a service member’s custody or visitation rights the same when they return from service.

By: Scott Wartman

The wide level of support in Kentucky for industrial hemp have raised hopes that the commonwealth could become one of the first and biggest producers of the crop in the United States.

First, though, the federal government would have to make it legal, and the General Assembly would need to pass legislation to regulate industrial hemp production.

Kentucky politicians at the federal and state level think both approvals could come soon.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement of support for Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and the effort to re-introduce industrial hemp into Kentucky agriculture. Leader McConnell’s office issued the following statement:

“After long discussions with Senator Rand Paul and Commissioner James Comer on the economic benefits of industrialized hemp, I am convinced that allowing its production will be a positive development for Kentucky’s farm families and economy. Commissioner Comer has assured me that his office is committed to pursuing industrialized hemp production in a way that does not compromise Kentucky law enforcement’s marijuana eradication efforts or in any way promote illegal drug use. The utilization of hemp to produce everything from clothing to paper is real, and if there is a capacity to center a new domestic industry in Kentucky that will create jobs in these difficult economic times, that sounds like a good thing to me.”

On the day when the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission voted to support Senate Bill 50, another Kentucky law enforcement group announced its opposition to the measure.

Senate Bill 50, sponsored by state Sen. Paul Hornback, would legalize hemp production for industrial purposes within Kentucky. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has been promoting the legislation and cause heavily for many months as a new revenue source for Kentucky.

A similar bill is also pending in the state House of Representatives.

Thousands of low- and middle-income Kentuckians are eligible for assistance

As part of National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, Governor Steve Beshear launched his annual campaign to urge eligible Kentuckians to apply for the tax credit.  The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit for low- and middle-income working individuals and families.

“Nearly half a million low-wage earning Kentucky taxpayers are eligible to receive the EITC and I encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for this credit,” Gov. Beshear said. “Despite being employed, many hardworking Kentuckians and their families face financial struggles and this credit is a valuable resource they can use to help buy food and clothes, pay bills and more.”

Unemployment rates fell in 97 Kentucky counties between December 2011 and December 2012, while 21 county rates increased and two stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.4 percent. It was followed by Fayette and Union counties, 5.9 percent each; Franklin and Oldham counties, 6.1 percent each; Madison and Shelby counties, 6.2 percent each; Scott County, 6.3 percent; Jessamine County, 6.4 percent; and Daviess and Warren counties, 6.5 percent each.

By: Michael W. Grochowski, Social Security Regional Commissioner in Atlanta

April’s showers bring more than just May’s flowers — they also bring the deadline day for filing taxes. Don’t wait until the showers arrive to prepare for tax season. Whether you are a small business owner, a retiree, or a new parent, here are some Social Security tax tips that may help you.

Irene Morgan (April 9, 1917 – August 10, 2007), later known as Irene Morgan Kirkaldy, was an important predecessor to Rosa Parks in the successful fight to overturn segregation laws in the United States.

Like the more famous Parks, but eleven years earlier, in 1944, the 27-year-old Baltimore-born African-American was arrested and jailed in Virginia for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate Greyhound bus to a white person.

When the bus driver stopped in Middlesex County, Virginia, and summoned the sheriff, who tried to arrest Morgan, she tore up the arrest warrant, kicked the sheriff in the groin and fought with the deputy who tried to drag her off the bus.

Irene Morgan appealed her case on the conviction for violating the segregation laws. After exhausting appeals in state courts, she and her lawyers appealed her conviction on constitutional grounds all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1946, the justices agreed to hear the case.

GEORGE REMUS

From Chicago to Cincinnati to Covington to a grave in Falmouth, that was the life journey of George Remus, the 1920's legendary bootlegger. He lived a life as seen in movies. While there may be a skeleton in everyone's closet, there's few to match the one lying in Riverside Cemetery.

While criminals have been known to see the light and change their ways and follow the law, Remus, a Chicago attorney took a different direction. Seeing the money made by the bootleggers he often defended in court, the lawyer decided to use his knowledge of the legal loopholes to his advantage and make himself into a very rich man. His having worked as a pharmacist in Chicago gave him the privilege of a pharmacy permit which entitled him to legally produce a limited amount of alcohol for "medicinal purpose." A perfect starting point for a business in bootlegging.