Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher signed a contract on Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda that will give Kentuckians who are visually impaired or disabled greater access to local news and information through an electronic information system.

"This free information system will give many Kentuckians access to their local and regional newspapers through an easy-to-use 24-hour service," said Governor Fletcher. "NFB-NEWSLINE gives people who are disabled or visually impaired the news without delay so that everyone can be informed about what's happening in their communities at the same time. When people have timely information they can better participate in discussions at their work, school, social functions and public meetings."

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, more than 253,000 Kentuckians have difficulty seeing words in newspaper print.

The contract with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the result of House Bill 262 sponsored by Rep. Susan Westrom and Senate Bill 56 sponsored Senator Tom Buford passed by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2004 session.

Using a touch-tone telephone and toll-free number, visually impaired or disabled Kentuckians can access NFB-NEWSLINE each day to hear national and local news stories. Currently, Kentuckians can listen to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Louisville Courier-Journal and Kentucky Enquirer newspapers by telephone, as well as more than 150 other newspapers and three magazines. Two daily newspapers will be added each month to the service, giving users access to 11 Kentucky newspapers within four months. Currently, 38 states are participating in the service.

Kentuckians who are eligible can subscribe to this free service by filling out an application from the NFB which is available online. Assistance also is available by contacting Pamela Glisson, NEWSLINE coordinator for Kentucky, at (859) 266-2807 in Lexington or toll-free at 1-877-266-2807.

Subscribers then receive an identification number and security code that they use when they call NFB-NEWSLINE at 1-888-882-1629.

"NFB-NEWSLINE makes it possible for those of us who are blind to access news and information at the same time as our sighted peers," said James Gashel, executive director of strategic initiatives for the National Federation of the Blind. "Most importantly, it gives us the freedom to choose which articles we want to read and when we want to read them. Staying informed and involved in our communities is what allows us to reach our full potential."

Subscribers can choose from today's newspaper, yesterday's newspaper or the Sunday edition and then choose the section or article by using a standard touch-tone telephone. The menu allows the user to change the speed and voice quality, spell out words or search for a particular word or subject. In addition to newspapers, the NFB-NEWSLINE lets users select a local information channel that tells about other services for people who are visually impaired.

With 11 daily newspapers, Kentucky will have the most daily newspapers available on NFB-NEWSLINE than any other surrounding state except for Ohio, which has 14.

The contract between the Kentucky Education Cabinet and NFB is for one year. The cabinet's Office for the Blind is responsible for managing the program in Kentucky.

The following newspapers will be added during the next four months.

The Kentucky Post, Covington

The Paducah Sun, Paducah

Corbin Times-Tribune, Corbin

Kentucky New Era, Hopkinsville

Appalachian News-Express, Pikeville

Bowling Green Daily News, Bowling Green

Maysville Ledger Independent, Maysville

Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro