COVID Victims Honored In Capitol Rotunda After Milestone Passed
(Frankfort, KY) — Kentucky officials are remembering the more than ten-thousand people in the commonwealth that have died from COVID-19 related causes. A memorial ceremony was held in the Capitol rotunda yesterday. State and religious leaders, healthcare workers, and others gathered for the event. Governor Andy Beshear says the commonwealth’s COVID death rate is approaching the number of Kentuckians lost in World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined.
Federal Court Issues Temporary Injunction Against State Law Banning Mask Mandates
(Nashville, TN) — Mask mandates can continue in Tennessee’s public schools, for now. A federal court in Nashville issued an injunction yesterday requiring that the status quo be maintained. The order was issued after Governor Bill Lee signed legislation into law prohibiting mask requirements in schools. A lawsuit was filed on Friday to block the new law from taking effect over potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Murray Woman Arrested During Traffic Stop
Last night a Calloway County Deputy Sheriff stopped a vehicle on Highway 641 North for speeding. During the stop, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were located in the vehicle.
Jessica M. Christopher, age 28, of Murray, Kentucky was arrested and charged with 1stDegree Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Speeding. She was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
AAA: Thanksgiving Travel to Rebound to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels
More than 53.4 million people expected to travel, the highest single-year increase since 2005
Airports and roads may seem more crowded this year as AAA predicts 53.4 million people will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13% from 2020. This brings travel volumes within 5% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with air travel almost completely recovering from its dramatic fall during the pandemic, up 80% over last year. As restrictions continue to lift and consumer confidence builds, AAA urges travelers to be proactive when making their travel plans this holiday season.
“This Thanksgiving, people are ready to get back to traveling,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “With restrictions being lifted and travel more accessible than in 2020, making new holiday memories with family and friends is once again a priority for Americans.”
With 6.4 million more Americans traveling this Thanksgiving coupled with the recent opening of the U.S. borders to fully vaccinated international travelers—people should prepare for roads and airports to be noticeably more crowded.
Kentucky State News Brief
UK Employees On Leave For Failure To Comply With COVID Testing
(Lexington, KY) — The University of Kentucky is putting 24 employees on leave for failing to comply with COVID-19 testing policies. Nearly 150 students also haven’t complied with the school’s testing requirements for the unvaccinated. However, 90 percent of the campus is fully vaccinated.
Thousands Of JCPS Students Scheduled For COVID Vaccinations
(Louisville, KY) — The state’s largest school district is vaccinating thousands of students against COVID-19. Jefferson County Public Schools held two dozen vaccine clinics across the district over the weekend. At least four-thousand appointments were made. The second dose for kids who received the Pfizer vaccine will be available on December 4th and 5th.
Owensboro Christmas Lights Event Set For November 27th
(Owensboro, KY) — Owensboro’s Stonegate neighborhood is preparing for the 29th annual Owensboro Christmas Lights event. The free Christmas Lights display officially kicks off on November 27th. It will run through December 26th. The Stonegate neighborhood is located off KY 54 on the east side of Owensboro.
GRDHD Updates COVID Numbers
(Owensboro, KY) — The Green River District Health Department is updating its COVID-19 numbers. On Friday, the GRDHD reported 213 new confirmed cases with 128 in Daviess County, 45 in Henderson County, 17 in Ohio County, eight each in McLean and Webster counties, four in Hancock County and three in Union County. There have been over 37-thousand cases in the seven-county districts since the outbreak began. There have been about 600 COVID-related deaths since the start of the outbreak.
Lexington Police Investigating Shooting
(Lexington, KY) — Lexington police are investigating after a weekend shooting. Police say a man showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound Saturday night. Officers say the shooting happened on Sutton place, and the victim is expected to be okay. Police believe a vehicle found nearby was connected to the shooting, and took it as evidence. Authorities say the don’t have any suspects.
Charges Filed In Garrard County Food Pantry Fire
(Lancaster, KY) — A woman is facing charges in connection with a Garrard County food pantry fire. Police say 60-year-old Debra Smalling was identified through surveillance video of the scene of yesterday morning’s fire. She was arrested last night and is charged with second-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief. County emergency officials say no one was injured but the building appears to be a total loss.
Fire Damages Lexington Home
(Lexington, KY) — A Lexington home is damaged after a blaze that spread from the fireplace. Officials say the fire broke out at a home on Lyleton Way near Armstrong Mill Road. The first floor and part of the second floor were damaged. Everyone escaped safely.
Court Security Officer Dies In UTV Accident
(Webster County, KY) — A Webster County court security officer is dead following a UTV crash. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Gary Cole lost control of the UTV while out hunting and it flipped into a ditch. He was pinned under the UTV and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Owensboro Hosts Wendell Foster Half Marathon
(Owensboro, KY) — Over 600 runners are recovering after participating in a half marathon in Owensboro. The third annual Wendell Foster Half Marathon was held Saturday morning, supporting a mission to empower people with disabilities. First place overall winner 26-year-old Josh Backes and first place in the women’s division Giselda Olalde each took home a 750-dollar cash prize. The second-place finisher received 500-hundred dollars and the third-place finisher won 250-dollars.
Thousands Of JCPS Students Scheduled For COVID Vaccinations
(Louisville, KY) — Thousands of JCPS students are being vaccinated against COVID-19. JCPS held two dozen vaccine clinics at schools across the district over the weekend. At least four-thousand appointments were made. The second dose for kids who received the Pfizer vaccine will be available on December 4th and 5th.
Louisville‘s Pizza Week Is Here
(Louisville, KY) — Louisville‘s Fourth Annual Pizza Week is here. Starting today, over a dozen restaurants will offer nine-dollar pizzas. The seven-day event celebrates Louisville‘s food and culture while encouraging people to try new places to eat. The week also features Great Lakes Brewing specials.
Drive-In To Host Charity Christmas Concert
(La Grange, KY) — The Sauerbeck Family Drive-In in Oldham County will host a Christmas charity concert later this month. JD Shelburne will play under the drive-in’s pavilion with the concert also being shown on the big screen on November 20th. The money raised will go to Angels in Disguise, which benefits those with Down syndrome. Tickets cost 35-dollars and the movie Elf will be shown after the concert.
TENNESSEE STATE NEWS BRIEF
Shelby Co. Updates COVID-19 Numbers
(Memphis, TN) — The state’s largest county is updating its COVID-19 numbers. The Shelby County Health Department reported more than 130 new cases yesterday, bringing the total to over 147-thousand-400 since the outbreak began. Health department officials say there have been nearly 23-hundred COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the outbreak. There are nearly eleven-hundred active cases in Shelby County.
TBI Investigating Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting
(Jackson, TN) — The TBI is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in West Tennessee. The TBI says a Jackson Police Department officer was assisting security at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital with a combative man on Saturday evening. They say the officer shot the man during a fight in the emergency room. Hospital staff tried to save the man, but he died of his injuries.
Tennessee Pastor: ‘There’s No Pandemic’
(Hartsville, TN) — A controversial Middle Tennessee pastor says Americans should have medical freedom. Global Vision Bible Church Pastor Greg Locke [[ Lock ]] attended a freedom rally in Trousdale County yesterday. Locke has previously called the COVID-19 Delta variant “nonsense.” He said people need to be free to make their own medical choices, adding “there’s no pandemic.”
SCHD Updates COVID-19 Numbers
(Memphis, TN) — The Shelby County Health Department is updating its COVID-19 numbers. SCHD reported more than 130 new cases yesterday, bringing the total to over 147-thousand-400 since the outbreak began. Health department officials say there have been nearly 23-hundred COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the outbreak. There are nearly eleven-hundred active cases in Shelby County.
TBI Investigating Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting
(Jackson, TN) — The TBI is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in Jackson. The TBI says a Jackson Police Department officer was assisting security at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital with a combative man on Saturday evening. They say the officer shot the man during a fight in the emergency room. Hospital staff tried to save the man, but he died of his injuries.
Southwest Tennessee CC To Go Fully Virtual After Thanksgiving
(Memphis, TN) — Southwest Tennessee Community College is going fully virtual. STCC says all classes and operations will be held online November 29th through December 1st. Officials say they’re taking the step to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following the Thanksgiving holiday. The school says it made the decision after being advised by the Shelby County Health Department.
Fayette Co. Public Schools Drops Mask Requirement
(Fayette Co., TN) — The mask requirement by Fayette County Public Schools is over. The district announced last week its mask requirement would end today. Students, staff and visitors no longer have to wear a mask inside FCPS buildings or buses. However, the district says it’s still strongly encouraging wearing masks due to COVID-19.
Pastor Locke: ‘There’s No Pandemic’
(Hartsville, TN) — A controversial Mid-State pastor says Americans should have medical freedom. Global Vision Bible Church Pastor Greg Locke [[ Lock ]] attended a freedom rally in Trousdale County yesterday. Locke has previously called the COVID-19 Delta variant “nonsense.” He said people need to be free to make their own medical choices, adding “there’s no pandemic.”
La Vergne Police Officer Dies On The Job
(La Vergne, TN) — A medical issue is being blamed for the death of a La Vergne Police Department officer. Detective Sergeant Kevin Stolinsky died while on duty Friday. Stolinsky served 20 years with LPD. The department asked for prayers for Stolinsky’s family as they mourn his loss.
Spring Hill GM Plant Hiring
(Spring Hill, TN) — The General Motors plant in Spring Hill is hiring. GM says it’s looking to fill more than 120 temporary production positions. A hiring event will be held tomorrow from ten o’clock in the morning until four in the afternoon. GM says it will do interviews and on-site drug testing to make same day hiring decisions for the positions that start at nearly 17-dollars an hour.
NATIONAL/WORLD
Kyle Rittenhouse Trial: Closing Arguments Set For Today
(Kenosha, WI) — Wisconsin is on alert, with cities across the state bracing for a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. The 18-year-old is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during protests over a police shooting last year. Closing arguments are scheduled for today with jury deliberations to follow. The governor has 500 National Guard troops and hundreds of officers on standby in case of unrest.
Indicted Former Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Expected To Surrender
(Washington, DC) — It’s expected that former Trump adviser Steve Bannon will surrender to authorities before the end of the day after being indicted by a federal grand jury for contempt of Congress. Bannon refused to honor a subpoena to testify before the House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol. He also refused to turn over documents to the panel. The House cited Bannon for contempt and the matter was referred to the Justice Department, with a federal grand jury returning the indictment last week.
Biden Signing Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Today
(Washington, DC) — President Biden is set to sign a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure bill later today. The more than one-trillion-dollar package will pay for improvements to roads, bridges, airports, broadband, and other infrastructure nationwide. Biden will sign the measure at the White House surrounded by members of both parties who supported it.
California Sets Record High Gas Prices At $4.68
(Sacramento, CA) — California is setting a record and it’s one that’s costing drivers. Imagine paying four-dollars and 68-cents for just one gallon of gas. That’s what folks there are doing as California is currently experiencing the highest average price ever in the state. And while it might not be as bad as the Golden State, the pain at the pump is being felt all over, a week before the Thanksgiving travel rush begins. Triple-A puts today’s national average at three-42.
Southwest Airlines Employee Assaulted By Passenger In Dallas
(Dallas, TX) — A Southwest Airlines employee is recovering and a passenger is facing charges after a confrontation over the weekend. It happened at Love Field in Dallas during boarding for a flight to LaGuardia Airport in New York. Dallas Police say the passenger boarded the flight and headed straight to the back of the plane where she argued with a flight attendant who told her to leave. The passenger then reportedly walked to the front of the plane and verbally fought with another airline employee before she punched that person in the head. The passenger is now facing an aggravated assault charge.
Hollywood Workers Vote On Contract Agreement
(Los Angeles, CA) — Voting results are due today on a proposed contract that avoided a Hollywood strike last month. About 60-thousand movie and TV workers nationwide weighed in over the weekend. Their union president urged them to approve the three-year deal which includes pay increases, more rest time between filming and meal breaks. Some members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or IATSE , vowed to vote against it citing the need for better working conditions.
