The Kentucky General Assembly will not convene Monday because of severe winter weather.  The Legislative Research Commission announced on social media that lawmakers will now convene Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Frankfort. The capitol annex will be closed Monday, but most LRC employees will telework and can be reached by email.  Communities across the commonwealth have been blanketed with snow and ice over the weekend, making roads hazardous and causing power outages. In a Sunday morning press conference, Gov. Andy Beshear said more snow, sleet and ice is expected throughout the evening.  Beshear said that the state had no reports of deaths or significant injuries because most Kentuckians were prepared and had stayed off roads Saturday.  “To the people of Kentucky, thank you. You’re helping everybody out there do their very best in responding. You’re protecting one another and yourself,” he said. “But snow and ice totals are expected to increase today and tonight, so we still have a long road ahead of us.”  At the time of the press conference, Kentucky had more than 50,000 outages reported with more expected. The state has set up 113 warming centers, and local information can be found on the Kentucky Emergency Management’s website. Eighteen state parks have set up warming centers.  The governor and emergency management officials strongly urged Kentuckians to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Beshear also emphasized that when shoveling snow, take breaks, as the activity can increase risk of heart attacks. Last year, six Kentuckians died while shoveling snow.  President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency Saturday for several states, including Kentucky, due to the weather. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) press release said the declaration allows for federal assistance to aid response efforts.  Beshear declared a state of emergency for Kentucky Friday.  Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office is taking reports of suspected price gouging at its hotline, 1-888-432-9257, or online.  Beshear also reminded Kentuckians to call 911 in emergencies or life-threatening situations. If someone has immediate needs that aren’t life-threatening, like little to no heat or phone issues, they can complete the online Rapid Needs Assessment Form or call 502-607-6665. The Disaster Distress Helpline, available by call or text at 1-800-985-5990, can aid anyone in the U.S. struggling with distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. It is a 24/7, year-round, confidential crisis counseling resource. The post Kentucky lawmakers will not convene Monday because of severe snow and ice across the state appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less