FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The operator of a Cold War-era plant in western Kentucky that supplies enriched uranium to nuclear power plants said Friday it planned to cease production after federal energy officials decided to end its work, putting more than 1,000 workers out of high-paying jobs with benefits.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is the only government-owned and operated uranium enrichment facility in the country. It's operated by USEC Inc. under a lease deal with the U.S. Department of Energy.

USEC executive Robert Van Namen said the company pursued potential opportunities to continue the enrichment work, but DOE concluded "there were not sufficient benefits to the taxpayers to extend enrichment."

"I am extremely disappointed to say we must now begin to take steps to cease enrichment," USEC's senior vice president and chief operating officer said.

Department officials said they looked at possibly keeping the Paducah plant operating longer, but couldn't reach an agreement that was "viable for us as responsible stewards for the taxpayers."

Last May, the plant faced closure until officials reached a deal that gave it a reprieve for another year. Under that deal, the plant enriched depleted uranium for Tennessee Valley Authority and Energy Northwest, a utility in Washington state.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic state Rep. Derrick Graham has been named chairman of the House Education Committee.

Graham, a retired teacher from Frankfort, replaces former state Rep. Carl Rollins who resigned to lead the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corp.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo announced the appointment on Friday, saying Graham has dedicated his life to education and has a deep understanding of Kentucky's educational issues.

Graham has served the Frankfort area in the Legislature since 2003.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Canadian man is facing charges that he stalked the brother of Jennifer Lawrence after authorities say he repeatedly insisted that the man put him in touch with the Oscar-winning actress so he could protect her, according to court documents.

Zhao Han Cong, 23, of Vancouver, British Columbia, was ordered Friday to remain held until he could undergo a psychiatric examination to determine if the case against him can proceed.

FBI agents in Louisville charged Cong on Monday with interstate stalking and repeated harassing phone communications. Lawrence is a native of Louisville.

Cong's attorney, public defender Donald J. Meier, requested the psychiatric exam. Meier didn't cite any specific behavior in making the request, though prosecutors did not object. Cong has not yet entered a plea.

FBI Special Agent Richard Boswell III wrote in an affidavit that Cong started contacting "B.L.," who is identified in a related state court record as the actress' brother Blaine Lawrence, on April 4. Lawrence received numerous phone calls and text messages from "Ted" on his work cell phone at 2 a.m., Boswell wrote. Boswell said "Ted" was later identified as Cong.

The phone calls and text messages came from numbers with area codes in California and Colorado but were later traced to Cong.

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GLASGOW, Ky. (AP) — A south-central Kentucky city is hoping to capture methane gas from a regional landfill and turn it into electricity.

The Daily News (http://bit.ly/18oeey2) in Bowling Green reports officials in Glasgow have partnered with Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative in seeking a $1 million loan to help pay for the project.

Farmers CEO Bill Prather says it could take up to 90 days to hear whether the loan has been approved.

Glasgow Mayor Rhonda Trautman says the city will contribute about $200,000 in cash.

"This is something that down the road we would have to do on our own because EPA will eventually require us to capture the methane gas," Mayor Rhonda Trautman said. "We feel like we are being proactive and very much appreciate Farmers coming forward and partnering on this with us. The city's portion will be about $1.2 million."

The landfill serves 16 counties in the region.