State officials to meet with FBI about former mine inspector

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — State officials have asked to meet with the FBI to determine the extent of a former mine inspector’s falsified reports.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports (http://bit.ly/1C2sK1a ) officials with the Energy and Environment Cabinet want to know whether Kelly Shortridge took bribes from mine owners other than former Democratic state Rep. Keith Hall.

Shortridge has pleaded guilty to taking bribes from Hall. Last week, a federal jury in Pikeville convicted Hall of bribing Shortridge to overlook safety violations at his mines. Both are awaiting sentencing and could face up to 10 years in prison.

Cabinet spokesman Dick Brown said the agency has taken action to prevent similar problems in the future, including rotating inspectors at least once every three years to avoid cozy relationships with mine owners.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

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