EKB News

One of the top-ranking Democrats in the state Senate apparently will keep his leadership position despite his guilty plea last month to a misdemeanor vote-buying charge. According to a report from the Associated Press No one has stepped forward to challenge Johnny Ray Turner of Drift for the job of Senate minority caucus chairman, the second highest Democratic position in the Senate. Lawmakers returned to Frankfort today for the start of a 30-day session of the General Assembly which got underway shortly afternoon. House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, said the race to replace former Rep. Joe Barrows as the majority whip was perhaps "the hottest contested" leadership contest. Adkins said he anticipated leadership posts would be determined sometime today so legislative leaders could make committee assignments - including four chairmanships - later in the week.