Murray Man Shoots at Sheriff’s Deputies
On Wednesday night., Calloway County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a residence on Onyx Drive for a report of a burglary in progress. Upon their arrival, Deputies reported hearing multiple gunshots being fired inside the residence. Initial information indicated the caller was alone inside the residence and was the source of the gunshots. Deputies attempted to get the caller to exit the residence through negotiations. At approximately 2:00 p.m. a male, later identified as John Nichols, exited the residence and was taken into custody. During a search of the residence, no other people were located. John S. Nichols, age 59, of Murray, Kentucky was arrested and charged with 5 counts of 1 st Degree Wanton Endangerment of a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest. He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.+
Extended Closure on KY 534 in Graves County starting Wed, Sept 8
Culvert replacement to take about three weeks to complete
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans an extended closure of KY 534 just south of the Symsonia community in Graves County starting Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
KY 534 will be closed for approximately three weeks at mile point 4.534 to allow the Bear Creek Fork Culvert to be replaced. This is along KY 534 between Wildcat Road and Angelia Ave.
Beshear Says Kentucky Hospitals Seriously Struggling
Governor Andy Beshear says hospitals are seriously struggling with having enough resources and bed space. Beshear said in his Team Kentucky update yesterday that hospitals are “on the brink.” The governor said the commonwealth is requesting 40 ventilators from the federal government, and that if current trends continue, Kentucky will run out of hospital beds. The commonwealth set new records this week for the number of total positive cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and COVID patients on ventilators.
Teachers Reaching Out To Lawmakers For Action On NTI Flexibility
Kentucky teachers are reaching out to lawmakers, asking them to help create more flexibility surrounding non-traditional instruction. Many districts have had to switch to NTI as a spike in COVID-19 cases empties classrooms. Kentucky legislators limited NTI days to ten per district during the regular session earlier this year. Governor Andy Beshear says reinvestigating that decision should be a priority if the body meets in a special session.
Kentucky Democrats Urging Minimum Wage Increase
Democratic lawmakers in Kentucky are pushing for an increase to the commonwealth’s minimum wage. State Senator Reggie Thomas has pre-filed a bill that would up minimum wage from seven-twenty-five to 15-dollars an hour. Lawmakers for the change say that paying people more will get job vacancies filled and stimulate the economy. Thomas and Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey say there is lots of support among fellow Democrats.
Former Kentucky Pilot Sentenced In Triple Murder
A former American Airlines pilot from Kentucky is facing serious prison time in connection with a triple murder. Christian “Kit” Martin was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole in the murders. Prosecutors say he shot and killed his neighbors Edward Dansereau and Calvin and Pamela Phillips in November 2015. Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Kentucky State News Brief
Shortage Of Rapid COVID-19 Tests At Many Central Kentucky Labs
(Lexington, KY) — Shortages of rapid COVID-19 tests are happening at many central Kentucky labs. University of Kentucky Wild Health Director Dr. Luke Murray says it will be several weeks before the rapid tests will be available on campus. Increased use of the rapid tests in schools and communities in Kentucky are making it difficult for providers to keep up with demand. Dr. Murray says results from traditional tests are still available the same day.
Three Injured In Lexington Apartment Complex Fire
(Lexington, KY) — Authorities say a firefighter and two others are injured after a fire at a Lexington apartment complex. The blaze broke out early this morning at the Pinebrook Apartments on Tates Creek Road at Armstrong Mill Road. Two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries after escaping the flames by jumping from a second-story window. A firefighter was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening burns. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Harrison County Schools Closing Next Week
(Harrison County, KY) — Harrison County schools are closing next week because of a spike in COVID-19 cases and exposures. The district is cancelling classes from September 7th through 10th in an effort to reduce the number of active COVID-19 cases and quarantines. In-season outdoor activities will continue, and most indoor activities will be closed. No instruction will take place.
Police Investigating Owensboro Motorcycle Crash
(Owensboro, KY) — Police are investigating a deadly Owensboro motorcycle crash. The crash happened early yesterday morning in the 43-hundred-block of U.S. Highway 144. Authorities say the motorcycle was the only vehicle involved. Officials say 24-year-old Ian Taylor died at the scene.
New Kentucky COVID-19 Cases Hit Second-Highest Single Day Total
(Frankfort, KY) — New Kentucky COVID-19 cases have hit the commonwealth’s second-highest single day total in the history of the pandemic. Governor Andy Beshear announced over 54-hundred new cases of the virus yesterday, along with 45 additional deaths. Over 23-hundred people in the commonwealth are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses, with more than 400 on ventilators. Over 587-thousand Kentuckians have tested positive for the virus and more than 78-hundred have died since the pandemic began.
Owensboro To Get New Emergency Shelter For Women, Children
(Owensboro, KY) — A new emergency shelter for women and children is coming to Owensboro. Founder Angela Welsh says My Sister’s Keeper will serve as a safe place for women and children in need of a shower, a place to sleep, and a hot meal overnight. Welsh says organizers are creating community partnerships to provide outside resources for the shelter. The facility’s location hasn’t been announced, but it is expected to open mid-2022
Two Jefferson County Public School Students Injured In School Bus Accident
(Louisville, KY) — Two Jefferson County Public School students are expected to recover from injuries received yesterday when their bus was rear-ended. According to reports, the bus carrying nine students from several schools was struck from behind by a Louisville Water Company truck. The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. on westbound I-264 near the Poplar Level Road exit. Two students were taken to Norton Children’s Hospital with minor injuries.
Metro Councilwoman Proposing New Plan To Curb Late Night Violence
(Louisville, KY) — Metro Councilwoman Cassie Chambers is proposing a new plan to stop late-night violence in the Highlands area. On Thursday, details were released of a proposal sponsored by Chambers to add three new Alcohol Beverage Control agents for more coverage at high-traffic bar corridors in the city. A previous plan to have over 170 bars close at 2 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. was scrapped after backlash from business owners. The new proposal also includes funding to train bar security to screen for firearms and administer the anti-overdose drug Narcan.
FBI Resuming Crystal Rogers Investigation In Bardstown After Storm Delay
(Bardstown, KY) — Federal officials say they will continue the search for Crystal Rogers tomorrow after a pause due to the remnants from Hurricane Ida. The FBI says they plan to resume their investigation on Saturday of materials recovered from the Woodlawn Springs subdivision. Agents will be at an off-site collection point in Bardstown, where they will examine material found at a property built by Rogers’ boyfriend, Brooks Houck. Officials say they found an item of interest last week after excavating around one of three properties once belonging to Houck.
Kennedy Bridge Re-Opened To Traffic Following Repairs To Roadway Joint
(Louisville, KY) — Transportation officials say all southbound lanes of I-65 on Kennedy Bridge are re-opened to traffic following a closure yesterday for repairs. A section of the bridge closed since June 7th was opened yesterday afternoon after crews completed work replacing an expansion joint connecting sections of the concrete deck. Officials say they installed around 200 new custom-made, 18-inch steel bolts to replace previous bolts that were installed improperly during construction.
Spalding University Receives Full Accreditation For Occupational Therapy Program
(Louisville, KY) — Spalding University is receiving full accreditation for its three-year Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education announced the University had met standards for accreditation, making it the first Kentucky school to earn the distinction. The accreditation allows Spalding graduates of the program to become certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapists work with a wide variety of patients using scientific bases and holistic perspectives to treatment.
Tennessee State News Brief
Governor Defends State’s Pandemic Response as Tennessee Leads in COVID-19 Infections
(Nashville, TN) — Governor Bill Lee has reiterated his belief that parents – not school districts or officials — should be left alone to take care of their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a news conference in Nashville yesterday, the governor acknowledged that masks are effective against the virus and that parents may choose to let their children wear them to school. Tennessee now leads the nation in the number of infections per capita. After his news conference, a group of local physicians confronted the governor to ask for a meeting with him to discuss universal masking. They also gave Lee a petition signed by more than 63-hundred colleagues around the state calling for universal masking and measures to protect children against the coronavirus.
Tennessee’s Former Chief Vaccine Official Sues for Defamation
(Nashville, TN) — Tennessee’s former top vaccine official — Dr. Michele Fiscus — has gone to court over what she calls “stigmatizing and derogatory” statements that were published in the media after her dismissal. In her lawsuit, Dr. Fiscus alleges State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey and Chief Medical Officer Tom Jones denied her request for a hearing to clear her name. Dr. Fiscus was fired July 12th over what she contends was pressure from Republican lawmakers who were upset with her comments on vaccination for juveniles. She says Jones and Dr. Piercey released a letter after her firing that characterized her as a rogue employee with her own political agenda.
Central Tennessee School Districts Close Following COVID-19 Outbreaks
(Hendersonville, TN) — Several school districts across Middle Tennessee are closing in the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreaks among their students and staff. At least eight school districts have announced they’re closing this week or next. This past month, almost 42-thousand-600 Tennessee children tested positive for the virus. One parent says if the state wants to keep children in schools, it needs to try harder to make sure they’re learning in safe buildings.
Knox County Parents Sue to Overturn Governor Lee’s Ban on Mask Mandates
(Knoxville, TN) — Three Knox County families have filed suit against Governor Bill Lee and Knox County to overturn Lee’s ban on mask mandates. In the proposed class action lawsuit, the families claim the governor and the county are creating an unsafe learning environment for students with disabilities who are more at risk from COVID-19. The governor issued an executive order last month that lets parents opt out of school mask mandates. This past Wednesday night the Knox County Board of Education voted against a universal mask requirement.
Man Arrested After Fentanyl Pills Are Found Hidden in Star Wars Toy
(Murfreesboro, TN) — A Michigan man is charged with hiding more than 170 fentanyl pills inside a Star Wars toy — called a Grogu — that were intended to be sold in Rutherford County. Officials with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office say the man — 34-year-old Zave Garry — is charged with felony possession of drugs and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. They say when he was arrested last week, he was out on bond for a similar case that occurred in Coffee County.
Shelby County Marks Grim Milestone in Battle Against COVID-19
(Memphis, TN) — Health officials say Shelby County has reached a grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic. They say COVID hospitalizations have reached a record high with 721 patients — 203 of them in the intensive care unit. Only about four percent of hospital beds are open in the county. They say pediatric cases comprise 40 percent of all cases in Shelby County. Meanwhile, more than half of the county’s population has been vaccinated with at least one dose.
Commission Receives Eleven Proposals for Future of 100 North Main
(Memphis, TN) — The Downtown Memphis Commission has received eleven proposals for the development of 100 North Main – the city’s tallest building downtown. One of the proposals includes retail, hotel, multi-family residential and office uses. The skyscraper covers two city blocks and has been vacant since 2014. Commission officials say they’re looking for ambitious but achievable plans for the structure.
Memphis in May Lost More Than 170-Thousand Dollars This Year Due to Pandemic
(Memphis, TN) — Organizers for this year’s Memphis in May International Festival blame the pandemic for a loss of more than 170-thousand dollars this year. That’s in addition to the record one-point-eight-million-dollar loss when it canceled last year’s event. All of the events for Memphis in May are scheduled to return next year, but the Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be moved to new locations because of construction scheduled at Tom Lee Park. Organizers say those sites will be announced later this month.
Memphis Man Charged with Breaking Into Ten Cars in Five Hours
(Memphis, TN) — Police say a Memphis man has been charged with making quick work of some car break-ins in southeast Memphis. They say the suspect — Keyon Moore — has confessed to burglarizing ten cars in four separate locations in only about five hours. Investigators say they found many of the items that were reported stolen inside Moore’s car. Court papers say he admitted to dropping off his girlfriend right before he started his crime spree and told police he didn’t know why he was breaking into cars.
Nashville to Expand Testing Sites Amid Staffing Shortages
(Nashville, TN) — As Nashville grapples with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases, it’s expanding the number of its testing sites. At a COVID-19 task force meeting yesterday, Nashville Fire Chief William Swann said the Delta variant helped drive the latest surge in cases. Now, it’s opening a second permanent testing facility next Tuesday, September 7th, in a parking lot on 28th Avenue North. The other testing site is in the 24-hundred block of Murfreesboro Pike.
Nashville’s Health Director Quarantines in Ecuador Due to COVID-19
(Nashville, TN) — Nashville’s health director — Dr. Gill Wright — has to stay in Ecuador after testing positive for COVID-19. City officials say Dr. Wright is not seriously ill and as of last night, was in self isolation at a hospital in Ecuador. They say Dr. Wright tested negative at the beginning of the trip but tested positive as he was about to return. He’s fully vaccinated and will wait out his quarantine period in Ecuador.
Nashville Second Grader Tells Police He Had No Idea Why He Brought Gun to School
(Nashville, TN) — Nashville police say a second-grader at Park Avenue Elementary School told them he had no idea why he brought a gun to school yesterday. The student’s teacher spotted the nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol the student was carrying and escorted the student to the principal’s office. The principal secured the gun and notified police. They say it appears the student found the gun in his guardian’s dresser drawer. The student was allowed to go home with his guardian. The case is being turned over to juvenile court for further review.
North Nashville Families to Receive Monthly Payments in Pilot Program
(Nashville, TN) — In a pilot program organized by several community organizations, including Moving Nashville Forward, thirty North Nashville families will receive monthly payments of one-thousand dollars each. The families will be chosen randomly to receive the monthly payment, for a total of ten-thousand-dollars over ten months. The group says the program can eliminate poverty, improve community health and provide some stability for families who face rising taxes and the aftermath of a natural disaster.
