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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 28 october 2019
Kentucky gov's race stirs clash over casino suicide claims

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — En- Bevin said. "Families are ru-
tering the final days of Ken- ined. Lives are ruined."
tucky's bitter race for gov- A top American Gaming
ernor, Republican incum- Association executive had
bent Matt Bevin exposed previously termed the re-
himself to a new attack by marks as "patently false
flatly denying his recorded and irresponsible."
claim that suicides happen The comments resurfaced
nightly in casinos. Saturday night amid one
Telling a debate audience of several combative ex-
Saturday night that the changes between Bevin
truth matters, Bevin chal- and Beshear. The Demo-
lenged his opponent to crat said the governor's
produce a tape proving his remarks were another ex-
denial wrong. Democrat ample of Bevin's false state-
Andy Beshear offered up ments as they argued over
the audiotape Sunday. Kentucky's settlement with
The televised exchange the manufacturer of the
turned Bevin's summer ra- prescription painkiller Oxy-
dio interview on WKDZ into Contin.
a talking point for Demo- Bevin claims Beshear prof-
crats heading into the last ited from Kentucky's settle-
full week of campaigning ment with the drug compa-
in the close gubernatorial ny as a partner at a law firm
contest. In the interview, In a Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 file photo, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, left, and Democratic Attorney that defended the compa-
General Andy Beshear participate in a debate on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington,
Bevin claimed, without of- Ky. ny. Beshear denies any in-
fering evidence, that sui- Associated Press volvement in the $24 million
cides occur on a nightly settlement — reached by
basis in casinos. of their ongoing disagree- sive pension reform in his nightly occurrences as he his predecessor in office —
The exchange highlighted ment over legalizing ca- first term, calls casino gam- discussed what he saw as and notes that as attorney
the rancor between the sino gambling to raise state bling "fool's gold" and said societal costs related to general he's sued multiple
two rivals, which intensi- revenues. Beshear supports it has no chance of passing casino gambling. opioid makers and distribu-
fied when Beshear, as the the idea and wants to fun- the GOP-dominated legis- "Every night somewhere in tors.
state's attorney general, nel the state's share of tax lature. America, somebody takes "This is just more of the same
repeatedly sued the gover- money into struggling pub- In the late July interview on their life in a casino be- from a governor who says
nor for several of his policy lic pension systems. Bevin, WKDZ, Bevin is recorded cause they've wasted the that someone commits sui-
and executive decisions. who has struggled in his claiming gambling-relat- last semblance of dignity cide on a casino floor ev-
It also was an extension efforts to pass comprehen- ed suicides in casinos are and hope that they had," ery night," Beshear said.q

One-year commemoration

of synagogue shooting to

be marked

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The first The commemoration's
anniversary of the deadli- theme is "Remember. Re-
est attack on Jews in U.S. pair. Together." It includes
history is being marked a private Jewish service,
around the world Sunday studying the portion of the
with community service Torah that was to be read
projects, music and an on- when the shooting hap-
line remembrance. pened, opportunities to do
The shooting on Oct. 27, community service, and a
2018, killed 11 worshippers public memorial service.
and wounded seven at Several hundred people
the Tree of Life synagogue have registered to volun-
in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill teer at various community
neighborhood. organizations on Sunday.
The Tree of Life building has In Germany, the Clarion
remained closed since the Quartet, comprised of Pitts-
massacre. The three con- burgh Symphony Orches-
gregations now worship at tra musicians, will perform
two nearby synagogues. at a special event in Berlin.
Last week, Tree of Life lead- Thousands are expected
ers unveiled their vision for to participate in Sunday's
the damaged building: a remembrance through
rebuilt space for places of Pause With Pittsburgh, a
worship; memorial, educa- virtual memorial event cre-
tion and social events; and ated by the Jewish Federa-
classrooms and exhibitions. tions of North America.q