The Associated Press

A Muhlenberg County farmer who never turned away a stray cat has left a portion of his estate to every county-run animal shelter in the state. County officials around the Commonwealth received checks earlier this month from a man they never met. Muhlenberg County dairy farmer Bland Hardison made sure all of Kentucky's 120 counties will receive a check for $1,432.47.

Kentucky State government employees have offered tips that could save the Commonwealth as much as $5.4 million dollars a year. Personnel Secretary Tim Longmeyer honored 64 workers yesterday or suggestions to improve productivity and government services.

Kentucky State Police say an escaped inmate was found riding as a passenger in a car stopped by police. A trooper pulled over a vehicle in Central City late yesterday afternoon and arrested Anthony Hunt, who was taken into custody without incident. Hunt was charged with second-degree jail escape. Muhlenberg County authorities said the 27-year-old walked away from the county Opportunity Center Monday while on work release. Following his capture, Hunt was taken to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center.

The Illinois State Police is undergoing reaccreditation. The agency announced yesterday it will be assessed by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. It's their seventh assessment by the group. The force will be rated on policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. The ISP has to comply with 364 standards to maintain accreditation, which is valid for three years.

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved a change that could help fishermen catch more invasive Asian carp. Last week, the commission approved allowing wider gill net openings aimed at snaring more of the fish, which spread rapidly and crowd out native species.

Kentucky State Police and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office have a man in custody who twice held off officers yesterday morning. The KSP says the incident began in Fulton when a state trooper stopped 22-year-old Joshua White for a traffic violation and discovered he was wanted for failure to appear in court. When the trooper returned to the vehicle, White drove away.

Kentucky lawmakers will reconvene at noon today to finish out the last two days of this year's legislative session. They face a stack of unfinished bills. Proposals include a measure to reform the state's underfunded pension system and legislation to legalize hemp farming. Lawmakers also could try to override a gubernatorial veto.

New data shows Kentucky children are healthier on average than children across the nation.  Numbers released last week by the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health show over 85% of children in the Commonwealth were in very good or excellent health for a period covering 2011-2012.

Student identification cards issued by public universities could not be used to vote in Tennessee under legislation scheduled to be heard on the House floor this evening. The measure was amended in a House committee last week to remove the use of student IDs. Less than a week before, the Senate voted 21-8 to pass a bill to allow such IDs.

Solar-powered lights have been placed on a western Kentucky bridge while authorities try to find who is responsible for removing wiring from the bridge's navigational lights. Engineers and technicians placed solar-powered lights on the Kentucky 453 Canal Bridge at Grand Rivers, the northern entrance to the Land Between  The Lakes National Recreation Area.