Kentucky AG sues leading insulin manufacturers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s attorney general has sued three leading insulin manufacturers, accusing them of deceptive pricing schemes that have caused hardships in a state with high diabetes rates.

Attorney General Andy Beshear said Monday his lawsuit filed in state court seeks civil and punitive penalties. Defendants are Eli Lilly, Sanofi-Aventis and Novo Nordisk.

Sanofi says it will “vigorously” defend itself against the “meritless” allegations. Novo Nordisk says it’s reviewing the allegations but says it ensures its business practices “are consistent with legal” requirements.

The suit alleges the insulin makers violated Kentucky’s consumer-protection law with schemes to inflate insulin prices. Beshear says the defendants increased the price of insulin products at least 10 times since 2008.

He says costs to make insulin are usually less than $7 per vial, but wholesale prices have jumped to nearly $300 per vial.

State invalidates school’s 2017 K-Prep test scores

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky education officials say standardized test scores are being invalidated at an elementary school in eastern Kentucky.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the decision comes after the Kentucky Department of Education launched an investigation of 2017 K-Prep test scores at Betsy Layne Elementary School in Floyd County. Results of the investigation released Monday said there was evidence that staff “deliberately altered student exams and provided inappropriate assistance” to improve scores.

The report says three administrators and a teacher would be reported to Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board, which oversees educators’ state licenses.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis said he would characterize what the investigation found as “cheating.”

Floyd County Superintendent Danny Adkins said he was reviewing the report and meeting with the school district’s attorney to determine how to best address the problems.

Kentucky WWII veteran to receive French Legion of Honor

WILMORE, Ky. (AP) — A 95-year-old World War II veteran in Kentucky will be awarded the French Legion of Honor, that country’s highest distinction.

The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs says Alvin H. Perry of Wilmore will receive the medal June 6 at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore for his participation in the liberation of France. The date is the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

Consul General of France to the Midwest Guillaume LaCroix (GHEE’-yohm la-KWAH’) will present the medal to Perry.

The department said as a private first class, Perry was a member of the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. Perry landed at Omaha Beach on June 18, 1944. He participated in the Battle of Normandy, where he was wounded in action and captured. He was held captive in Germany and Bavaria for 10 months.

Sentencing delayed for ex-officer who abused minors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has delayed the sentencing of a former Kentucky police officer who admitted to sexually abusing minors in the departments now defunct youth program.

The Courier Journal reports U.S. District Judge David Hale delayed the sentencing Friday, saying the plea deal for ex-Louisville police Officer Kenneth Betts was too lenient. The deal called for Betts to serve 10 to 15 years on federal charges of enticement and child pornography. Hale says federal guidelines call for a 27-year sentence.

Betts’ attorney, Brian Butler, says the delay has postponed a hearing at which Betts was expected to plead guilty to sodomy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Hale also delayed the sentencing of another Louisville officer Brandon Wood, who’s pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Arraignment set for pilot charged in 3 killings

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s attorney general says a pilot charged in the 2015 shooting deaths of three people is scheduled for a court appearance next week.

Attorney General Andy Beshear said Monday that defendant Christian R. Martin is to be arraigned May 22 in a state court in western Kentucky.

Martin was arrested Saturday at the Louisville airport, a day after he was indicted by a Christian County grand jury. He’s charged in the deaths of Calvin and Pamela Phillips of Pembroke, Kentucky, and their neighbor, Edward Dansereau.

A pilot for an American Airlines subsidiary, Martin was living in North Carolina at the time of his indictment.

Beshear said he couldn’t comment on evidence prompting Martin’s arrest.

Christian County Deputy Sheriff Chris Miller says the arrest was welcomed with relief in the community.

6 Kentucky police officers named in indictment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Six police officers have been indicted in Kentucky in connection with a scheme in which they’re accused of being paid for private security jobs during their regular patrol shifts.

Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas B. Wine’s office said in a news release that Louisville Officers Michael Abernathy Jr., Dontae Booker, Cortez Ernest, Jackie Miller, Ashley M. Spratt and Roniqua L. Yocum were charged Monday with theft by deception over $500 but less than $10,000.

The release said Booker, Ernest, Miller, Spratt and Yocum were also charged with criminal syndication, and Abernathy was charged with criminal facilitation to criminal syndication. Miller was also charged with tampering with physical evidence.

Deputy Police Chief Michael Sullivan told news outlets that the six officers are on administrative reassignment.

Attorneys for Miller, Booker and Yokum said they were disappointed by the indictment.