Confederate Statue Defaced
The confederate statue of Robert E. Lee was damaged by paint sometime between 10:00 p.m. Wednesday and 7:00 a.m. Thursday on the court square in Downtown Murray. The Calloway County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this incident and is requesting anyone with information to contact them by phone at 270-753-3151.
Governor Beshear Addresses Concerns About OmicronGovernor Andy Beshear addressed the COVID Omicron variant in yesterday’s Team Kentucky update. He says people should be more worried about the Delta variant of the virus. Currently, COVID cases are rising in Kentucky, with more than 33-hundred being reported yesterday. Beshear is urging residents to get vaccinated.
McConnell: No Shutdown Over Vaccine MandatesSenate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans will not try to shut down the government over funding for vaccine mandates. The Kentucky Republican told Fox News his party will soon put forth a free-standing bill to stop the funding for mandates. The government runs out of money at week’s end, but congressional leaders have struck a deal on extending funding into the coming year. Meantime, McConnell blamed inflation on Democrats and said it’s a result of reckless spending policies. He also ripped President Biden’s border policies, saying there’s ongoing chaos at the southern border.
Kentucky State News Brief
Kentucky Man Wins $100,000 Playing Lottery On Thanksgiving
(Louisville, KY) — A Kentucky man is thankful for the Kentucky Lottery. He won 100-thousand-dollars playing a Kentucky Lottery Frosty Cash scratch-off ticket on Thanksgiving Day. He says he doesn’t have any plans for the money at this time and will put it in savings. The Louisville-area Kroger that sold the ticket will get one-thousand dollars from the Kentucky Lottery.
Honor Flight Bluegrass Collecting Christmas Cards For Veterans
(Louisville, KY) — Honor Flight Bluegrass will collect Christmas cards in Jefferson County this weekend for military veterans. It’s part of the non-profit organization’s second Christmas cheer campaign. Honor Flight Bluegrass will try to collect 30-thousand cards in hopes of giving veterans throughout the Commonwealth a pack of ten-to-20 Christmas cards. Cards will be collected tomorrow and Sunday at the Middletown VFW post and can also be mailed to Honor Flight Bluegrass in Louisville.
Veterans To Serve As Grand Marshals Of Owensboro’s Peoples’ Christmas Parade
(Owensboro, KY) — Military veterans are getting their recognition in Owensboro. Local veterans will serve as the grand marshals of The Peoples’ Christmas Parade. The parade will run down 2nd Street at 4:30 in the afternoon on Saturday, December 18th. Those interested in participating in the parade still have time with registration pushed back to next Tuesday, December 7th.
GRDHD To Update COVID Numbers
(Owensboro, KY) — The Green River District Health Department is expected to update its COVID-19 numbers today. On Tuesday, the GRDHD reported 585 new confirmed cases with 309 in Daviess County, 93 in Henderson County, 87 in Ohio County, 32 in McLean County, 31 in Union County, 24 in Hancock County and nine in Webster County. There have been nearly 39-thousand cases in the seven-county district since the outbreak began. There have been over 630 COVID-related deaths since the start of the outbreak.
Family Court Judge Accused Of Abuse Of Power Agrees To Suspension
(Owensboro, KY) — A family court judge in Owensboro accused of abuse of power is agreeing to a temporary suspension. Julia Hawes Gordon will begin her suspension today after facing six counts from the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission, including obstruction of justice and abuse of power. She is also accused of mismanaging her courtroom.
Fire Crews Believe Pest Control Smoke Bomb Sparked Fire
(Lexington, KY) — Fire crews in Lexington believe a pest control “smoke bomb” is responsible for sparking a house fire. The blaze broke out late yesterday morning at a home on West Fifth Street. One person was inside the house at the time and escaped safely. The official cause of the fire is under investigation.
UK Student Competing As Dr. Pepper Challenge Finalist At SEC Championship Game
(Madison County, KY) — A University of Kentucky junior will be competing as a finalist in the Dr. Pepper Challenge at the SEC Championship game. Madison County native Rachel Hughes will try to get as many footballs as possible into a Dr. Pepper can five years away during half-time at the game between Georgia and Alabama. The award for first place is a 100-thousand dollar scholarship. The game will air Saturday.
Nelly Gives 12-Year-Old Girl His Jacket At Concert
(Corbin, KY) — Fans of Nelly are loving a reaction he had with a 12-year-old girl after a concert in Kentucky. Tiffany Harris and her daughter Caitlyn met the rapper as he was boarding his tour bus after the concert. Nelly was worried about the 12-year-old standing in the cold, so he draped his bandana-patterned jacket over her shoulders. The entire exchange was captured on Tik Tok and has since been viewed over seven million times.
Section Of West Louisville Street Renamed For Basketball Legend
(Louisville, KY) — A section of Hale Avenue in west Louisville’s Chickasaw neighborhood is being renamed in honor of basketball legend Darryl Griffith. Hale Ave, between Cecil Avenue and South 40th Street was renamed Darrell Griffith, AKA Dr. Dunkenstein Way yesterday. The sign was placed in front of Griffith’s childhood home. Griffith played for UofL between 1976 and 1980, leading the program to its first national championship in his final season.
3 Penguins Recently Hatched At Louisville Zoo, More Expected
(Louisville, KY) — The Louisville Zoo is caring for three recently hatched penguins. All three were born to parents Miramar and Rabbit between the end of October and the middle of last month. The Zoo says its penguin care team is monitoring some unhatched eggs and more penguin chicks are expected to arrive soon. The three penguins that recently hatched are nesting with their parents in the Zoo’s penguin exhibit and will be able to be seen in the spring.
Tennessee State News Brief
TDH Updates State Coronavirus Cases
(Nashville, TN) — There are over 24-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over one-million-321-thousand. An additional 100 COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at nearly 17-thousand-300. There are about 850 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
Pastor On Trial For Molesting Tennessee Sisters Found Dead
(Murfreesboro, TN) — A Florida pastor accused of molesting two Mid-State sisters is dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. David Rowan was found dead yesterday at a parking garage in Murfreesboro. The parking garage was near the courthouse where a jury was deliberating his fate after his trial started on Monday. Rowan was speaking at a local church in 2014 when the alleged sexual assaults happened.
17 Tennesseans Granted Clemency By Gov. Lee
(Nashville, TN) — Over a dozen Tennesseans are being granted executive clemency by Governor Bill Lee. Governor Lee granted 13 pardons, meaning those people have been forgiven of their crime, and commuted the sentences of three others. Lee also exonerated a Mid-State man who spent 12 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. The clemency was granted by Lee yesterday with guidance from the Tennessee Board of Parole.
Native American Groups Call For Pause To Oracle Project In Nashville
(Nashville, TN) — Native American rights advocates are calling for a pause to the Oracle development in Nashville. On Thursday, the group met with city officials to discuss Native American claims that the East Bank land proposed for the development holds historical significance. Advocates say they believe there are thousand-year-old native burial sites on the East Bank, and they want Oracle to conduct archaeological excavations to preserve artifacts. Both sides said the talks were productive.
Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Offering Rewards For Cold Case Information
(Clarksville, TN) — Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers is hoping the public can provide new information on more than a dozen cold cases over the past three-years. The Crime Stoppers Board voted this week to offer a five-thousand-dollar reward each for information leading to an arrest in any of 15 Montgomery County cold cases. More details on the rewards are available at Clarksville-Crime-Stoppers-dot-com-backslash-Unsolved-Murders.
Grundy County Man Exonerated By The Governor Shares Message Of Hope And Gratitude
(Altamont, TN) — A Grundy County man who had his murder conviction thrown out by Governor Bill Lee is speaking about facing adversity. On Thursday, Governor Lee exonerated Adam Braseel, who was convicted of murder in 2006 and sentenced to 51-years in prison. Braseel said he forgives the people who unjustly put him behind bars because if he is bitter and miserable about others’ choices, it prevents him from moving forward. Braseel was convicted of killing 60-year-old Malcolm Burros despite never having met the victim and was later released from prison in 2019 after new fingerprint technology proved his innocence.
Worker’s Death At Clarksville Manufacturing Plant Considered An Accident
(Clarksville, TN) — Officials say a man’s death at a manufacturing plant in Clarksville was caused by an industrial accident. According to a statement released yesterday, the male worker was injured during routine maintenance of plant equipment at Hankook & Company ES America Corporation. First responders transported the man to a local hospital, where he later died, and his body was turned over to the medical examiner for an autopsy. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration will jointly investigate the cause of the accident.
NDOT Releases 25 New Traffic Calming Projects Coming To Nashville
(Nashville, TN) — The Nashville Department of Transportation is releasing a list of 25 upcoming traffic calming projects. Officials said yesterday that the projects were selected from neighborhood applications based on crash history, average speed, local destinations, and transportation infrastructure. NDOT opens new calming project application windows in January and July and currently has 250 applicants still waiting to be reviewed for approval. A list of approved streets can be found online at Nashville-dot-gov under transportation.
Pastor On Trial For Molesting Tennessee Sisters Found Dead
(Murfreesboro, TN) — A Florida pastor accused of molesting two Tennessee sisters is dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. David Rowan was found dead yesterday at a parking garage in Murfreesboro. The parking garage was near the courthouse where a jury was deliberating his fate after his trial started on Monday. Rowan was speaking at a local church in 2014 when the alleged sexual assaults happened.
Security Elevated At Nashville Middle School Over Threat
(Nashville, TN) — There’s extra security at a Nashville middle school today due to a threat. Bellevue Middle School officials say a threat was written on the wall of a bathroom before Thanksgiving break. They say they don’t believe there’s any danger to the school or students. However, they say there will be additional security today out of an abundance of caution.
Six Middle Tennesseans Among 17 Granted Clemency By Gov. Lee
(Nashville, TN) — Half a dozen Middle Tennesseans are among 17 people granted executive clemency by Governor Bill Lee. Governor Lee granted 13 pardons, meaning those people have been forgiven of their crime, and commuted the sentences of three others. Lee also exonerated a Grundy County man who spent 12 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. The clemency was granted by the governor yesterday with guidance from the Tennessee Board of Parole.
Nashville Parade Replaced By Holiday Music Special
(Nashville, TN) — The Nashville Christmas Parade is being replaced by the Nashville Holiday Music Special. The program will benefit Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. It will feature celebrity appearances and performances at a variety of iconic Nashville venues like Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry and Skyway Studios. The holiday music special was created by the same producers of the Nashville Christmas Parade and will ring in the holidays tomorrow morning.
St. Jude Marathon Set For Tomorrow
(Memphis, TN) — Runners from around the world are in Memphis. About 17-thousand runners and 32-hundred volunteers will participate in the St. Jude Marathon tomorrow. Organizers say every state and over 70 countries will be represented. The race wasn’t held last year over COVID-19 concerns.
UofM Rescinds COVID Vaccination Requirement
(Memphis, TN) — The COVID-19 vaccination requirement at the University of Memphis is being lifted. The school informed students, faculty and staff about the change yesterday. The mandate was rescinded after a court in Kentucky issued a preliminary order preventing the federal government from enforcing an executive order on federal contractors in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Lifting the requirements puts the school in line with state law.
Pipkin Building Closed Today & Tomorrow
(Memphis, TN) — COVID-19 vaccinations won’t be given at the Pipkin Building today or tomorrow. The building is closed today to ensure there’s enough staff during vaccination events for children at the Glenview Community Center and Hickory Hill Community Center. The facility will also be closed tomorrow due to events at the Liberty Bowl.
Law Enforcement Ensuring Safety Of Holiday Shopping
(Shelby Co., TN) — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is trying to ensure a safe holiday shopping season. SCSO launched Operation Jingle Bells this week, patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county and around Wolfchase Galleria. The Memphis and Bartlett police departments are also helping protect shoppers. The stepped up enforcement will run through December 31st.
National/World Headlines
Economy Adds 210,000 Jobs In November
(Washington, DC) — The economy is adding fewer jobs than expected. The number for November came in at 210-thousand. The unemployment rate fell to four-point-two percent. Officials noted sectors including construction along with professional and business services added jobs. Retail trade, which includes general merchandise stores, lost jobs.
Biden Announces New COVID-19 Winter Plans
(Washington, DC) — President Biden has laid out his plans for fighting COVID-19 over the winter. The Biden administration said yesterday the U.S. government will require private health insurers to reimburse their customers for over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests. That in addition to making 50-million tests available for free through rural clinics and health centers. More vaccines will be available at pharmacies, as well, to help fight the new fast-spreading Omicron [[ ahm ih cron ]] variant. The winter plans also include new travel restrictions that require inbound international passengers to be tested for COVID-19 within one day of departure.
Senate Passes Stopgap Funding Bill, Averting Government Shutdown
(Washington, DC) — A government shutdown has been averted thanks to a new funding bill. The Senate voted 69 to 28 to approve the stopgap measure passed by the House yesterday. Some Republican senators were threatening to hold up the vote because of their opposition to President Biden’s vaccine mandate on large businesses. Lawmakers were facing a midnight deadline to avoid a shutdown.
Prosecutor: Michigan School Shooting Was Preventable
(Oxford, MI) — A Michigan prosecutor says the deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School was preventable. Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald says she’s likely to announce charges against one or both of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley’s parents. Crumbley is facing charges as an adult for allegedly killing four students and injuring seven other people on Tuesday. McDonald says Crumbley’s father bought the weapon used in the shooting just days earlier.
Rights Group Issues Warning As Remain In Mexico Policy Restored
(Washington, DC) — An immigrant rights group says the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy is a danger to immigrants. The Biden Administration restored the policy Thursday after being ordered by a federal court. The American Immigration Council called it “a dark day for the U.S. and the rule of law.” Mexico has agreed to support the policy that often forced immigrants to stay in dangerous conditions. The Biden administration pledged to shorten turnaround time for asylum decisions. President Biden had suspended the Remain in Mexico policy last summer, calling it “inhumane.”
ISS Swerves To Avoid Space Junk
(Moscow) — The International Space Station is swerving to avoid space junk. The head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency says the ISS had to swerve away today to avoid hitting a fragment of a U.S. launch vehicle that’s been in orbit since 1994. The space agency says the ISS dropped about 400 yards for nearly three minutes to avoid the collision. Earlier this week, debris orbiting the Earth forced NASA to postpone a spacewalk outside the ISS.
Rolling Stones No Filter Tour The Biggest Of 2021
(Los Angeles, CA) — The Rolling Stones had the biggest tour of 2021. Billboard released its year-end box-office chart which said the Rolling Stones’ No Filter tour was the year’s biggest money maker, raking in over 72-million dollars. Green Day came in second, making over 67-million dollars on the road, and Harry Styles came in third, grossing over 64-million. It’s unclear if the Stones will tour again, but bass player Darryl Jones posted Wednesday that he’s looking forward to the next tour.
