JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE USE IS PAUSED
Yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear advised all Kentucky vaccine providers to temporarily pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Early yesterday morning, the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the pause after extremely rare blood clotting conditions developed in six Americans who received the vaccine. The six cases are out of 6.8 million total Americans who have received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. A CDC spokesman indicated the chance of developing blood clots after the J&J vaccine was less than 1 in 1 million. The Calloway County Health Department primarily has administered the Moderna vaccine. However, a few doses of Johnson and Johnson were given in Calloway County. Since it has been at least 3 weeks from the last Johnson and Johnson vaccine administration, those who received it are out of the time period where complications from the vaccine can occur. People who have received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, should contact their health care provider or visit the nearest emergency department immediately.
VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK AT CFSB SITE
The Murray Regional Vaccination Clinic is scheduling online appointments for administration of Moderna COVID-19 first doses at the CFSB Center. This week’s clinic will be held from 11:45 am to 6 pm on Thursday, and from 8 am until 2:15 pm on Friday. Appointments are currently available for those 18 years of age and older. Please visit MurrayKYvaccine.org to schedule an appointment and make sure you select April 15 or 16 to see available appointments.
CCHD REPORTS 3 NEW COVID CASES; 1 COVID DEATH REMOVED
The Calloway County Health Department reported 3 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,438. Of that total, 3,373 have recovered, 17 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. The Kentucky Department for Public Health has made the determination that one of the county’s reported deaths is not primarily COVID related. As a result, the number of reported deaths in the county has decreased from 49 to 48. Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Tuesday was 4.4%, which is higher than Monday’s rate of 3.3%.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE UP
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 799 new cases and 3 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,261 Kentuckians who are listed as covid deaths. As of Tuesday, there have been over 5.19 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.2%, which is higher than last Tuesday’s rate of 2.89%. There are 495 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 119 more than last Tuesday, including 96 in ICU, which is 20 less than one week ago. At least 50,513 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
MURRAY HEAD START PROGRAM RECEIVES TWO AWARDS
The Kentucky Head Start Association announced that Murray Head Start is among programs across the Commonwealth that have received regional awards as selected by the Region IV Head Start Association. The $1,500 Scholarship for Head Start Alumni went to Alyssa Wallace of Murray Head Start, and the $500 Scholarship for Head Start Parent for Post-Secondary Education went to Katie Copeland of Murray Head Start. The annual competition recognizes 18 different award categories across all Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the Southeast United States.
MHS HONORS SHELBY
The Murray High School 2019 class officers in collaboration with the Murray High School Yearbook staff raised funds to honor Robbie Shelby, a long-time Murray High School Chemistry Teacher, who died suddenly in February of 2019. The funds raised were used to erect a bronze plaque outside her former classroom dedicated to her. Murray High principal Tony Jarvis said the tribute is a deserved honor in recognition of Shelby’s influence, adding that she had a tremendous impact on Murray High students for many, many years.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON—Lexington Police say Officer Dawn Miller is still hospitalized after a deadly crash. Officials say Miller was off-duty and heading home from a shift early Monday morning when 38-year-old Angelina Raad crashed into her vehicle head-on. Police say Raad was driving the wrong way on the inner loop of New Circle Road when the collision happened. Raad and Miller were both taken to the hospital, where Raad died. Miller is in serious but stable condition. Investigators haven’t released any new information.
RICHMOND—Police say an investigation is underway into a deadly Richmond crash. The two-vehicle crash happened yesterday on the Dr. Robert Martin Bypass. Police say one person was killed, but no one else was injured. Investigators are working to determine was caused the crash.
HARLAN COUNTY—A Harlan County High School student is facing charges for felony terroristic threatening. The school contacted the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office after one student threatened another. A 15-year-old was taken into custody in the matter. The investigation into the case is continuing.
HENDERSON COUNTY—Officials with the Henderson County Jail say 26 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. The affected inmates are being monitored by medical staff. Jail officials say 225 of the current 430 inmates at the jail have been vaccinated for the virus so far.
DAVIESS COUNTY—Daviess County High School graduate Carroll Stevens is the new interim President at Rhodes College in Memphis. Stevens previously served on the Board of Trustees and will begin his new position July 1st, when current President Marjorie Hass departs. Stevens will work with faculty, staff, and students to help recruit the college’s 21st president. He will not be a candidate for the permanent role.
SCOTT COUNTY—The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of racist pamphlets. SCSO says the pamphlets found in the Mallard Point neighborhood included anti-Semitic messages. The discovery included a swastika and the promotion of white supremacy. It said the people behind the pamphlets are fighting for the white race.
BOURBON COUNTY—Bourbon County High School’s Marching Colonels are going to New York City. They’ve been selected to perform in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s the first time the band will perform during the famous parade. The Marching Colonels will spend the next 18 months rehearsing for their performance and fundraising for the trip.
OWESNBORO—The Nashville Songwriters series is returning to Owensboro. The next installment of the series is set for tomorrow night at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It will feature Jenny Tolman, Chris Beard and Joel Shewmake. Doors will open at 6:30 with the concert to start at 7 o’clock.
TENNESSEE–-Prayer is replacing fear at a Knox County high school the day after a student was killed in an officer-involved shooting. The student at Austin-East Magnet High School was killed on Monday after wounding a police officer in a school bathroom. Yesterday, a prayer vigil was held outside the school and a prayer meeting was also held last evening at Overcoming Believers Church. There have been four deadly shootings involving Austin-East students this year.
TENNESSEE–-There are over one-thousand-450 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 826-thousand-370. Several additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide standing just over 12-thousand-and-20. More than 820 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized statewide.
TENNESSEE—There are over 800 cases of the UK COVID-19 variant and one current case of the South African variant among Tennesseans. Last week, the Tennessee Department of Health said there had been 15 cases of a California variant and nine cases of another California variant. There have also been five cases of a Brazilian variant in the state. The variants are believed to be more transmissible and potentially more dangerous.
TENNESSEE—Dollywood is set to host the annual Flower and Food Festival later this month. It starts on Friday, April 23rd and runs through Monday, June 7th. Dollywood has shifted its COVID-19 procedures making outdoor areas where social distancing can be maintained mask-optional spaces. Reservations are no longer required, but it’s still suggested since the park is under capacity limits.
ILLINOIS—The Illinois House is considering ending qualified immunity for what it calls “bad apples” in law enforcement. The state’s Legislative Black Caucus is looking to further its agenda by renewing focus on the issue. Representative Maurice West says the point is to target those “who do extreme measures, willful and wanton acts, not those who make mistakes.” West also said qualified immunity shifts personal liability from officers to the police force or city government. Executive Director of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Jim Kaitschuk said last month that a vast number of officers would retire if qualified immunity is removed.
