Several news reports this week shed more light on the alleged violations of the state’s hiring merit system in the Transportation Cabinet under Gov. Fletcher. Douglas W. Doerting, assistant director of personnel in the cabinet, alleged in a formal complaint that the hiring decisions were made using an “illegal political patronage” system.

On Tuesday a search warrant was served on the Governor’s office.

A letter from the Federal Highway Administration detailing how the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had failed to meet its Affirmative Action goals has also surfaced. It was reported that he U.S. government might freeze $600 million in Kentucky road projects because the Transportation Cabinet hired almost no minorities in 2004: of 317 merit employees hired during that time 97% were white; however, later reports claimed there was no immediate threat of the freezing of road funds.

More information:

• Courier-Journal: Complaint alleges political patronage in Merit System (May 16, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Personnel Tinkering Allegations Prompt Weekend Standoff (May 16, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Allegations of personnel abuses prompt investigation (May 16, 2005) 
• WKYT 27 Newsfirst: AG Investigating Possible Inappropriate State Hiring Practices (May 16, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: 'Substantial' violations of merit system alleged; Stumbo: Evidence is 'a smoking gun' (May 17, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Alleged merit law violations investigated; Stumbo looking at Transportation Cabinet hiring (May 17, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Cabinet hirings are under investigation; Attorney general looks at alleged Transportation violations (May 17, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Complaint details patronage charges; Fletcher's office faces accusations (May 17, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Treasurer's nephew got a state job (May 17, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Probe targets state cabinet (May 17, 2005) 
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Murgatroyd part of probe (May 17, 2005) 
• Associated Press: AG personnel probe widens; search warrant issued on governor's office (May 17, 2005) 
• Associated Press: AG Warns Transportation Employees Against Destroying Evidence (May 17, 2005) 
• Kentucky Post: Murgatroyd facing probe (May 17, 2005) 
• Assocated Press: Search Warrants Served On Governor's Office (May 17, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Governor's outreach office handled job recommendations, e-mails show (May 18, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Complete text of the federal agency's letter to Kentucky (May 18, 2005) 
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Murgatroyd's state office searched; Gov. Fletcher also hit by patronage investigation (May 18, 2005) 
• Assoicated Press: AG personnel probe widens; search warrant issued (May 18, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Investigators search the offices of two top Fletcher aides (May 18, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Outreach office vetted job seekers (May 18, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Search warrants served on Gov. Fletcher's offices (May 18, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Fletcher aides' offices searched; Warrants seek data on personnel (May 18, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Personnel investigation may lead outside Transportation Cabinet (May 18, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Hiring inquiry widens; Washington threatens to freeze road money over affirmative action (May 18, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Emails show outreach office handled job recommendations (May 18, 2005) 
• Kentucky Post: E-mails suggest man vetted on his politics (May 18, 2005) 
• Kentucky Post: State merit jobs investigation widens (May 18, 2005) 
• WAVE 3 TV: AG Expands Probe Into State's Hiring Practices (May 18, 2005) 
• Associated Press: Personnel investigation leading outside of Transportation (May 18, 2005) 
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Boone Co. official named in state probe; Stanton e-mails reviewed in patronage investigation (May 19, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Office governor created helped with state hires; E-mails show LINK was funnel for jobs (May 18, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Transportation missed goal for minority hirings in 2004 (May 19, 2005) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Perennial issue in Frankfort bites the governor (May 19, 2005) 
• Courier-Journal: Cabinet: Personnel moves unrelated to probe (May 19, 2005) 
• Kentucky Post: Officials deny threat to freeze road funds (May 19, 2005) 

A complete record of the Courier-Journal’s coverage of the hiring investigation can be found here: Courier-Journal: Merit System Investigation