Kentucky State Police Arrest Three Chicago Residents Following Multi-State Pursuit
On Monday night a Trooper with Kentucky State Police, Post 1 conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Malibu for a speeding violation near the 24 mile marker on I-24. As the trooper was walking up to the stopped Malibu, the vehicle began traveling in reverse toward the trooper. The trooper was able to move out of the path of the vehicle. The vehicle then proceeded forward, accelerating westbound on I-24. A pursuit ensued continuing westbound on I-24 and crossing into Illinois.
Once the Malibu crossed into Illinois, authorities from Illinois took over the pursuit. The Malibu was involved in a collision in Illinois and all three occupants were identified and detained by Illinois authorities. Due to the collision, the occupants were taken to Lourdes-Mercy Health Hospital in Paducah, KY for medical treatment. Once back in Kentucky and released from the hospital, the occupants were arrested by the Kentucky State Police.
The driver was identified as 25 year old Edward Nuitall of Chicago, IL. He was charged with Attempted Assault 1st Degree of a Police Officer, Fleeing or Evading Police 1st Degree in a Motor Vehicle, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree, DUI, and numerous traffic violations.
The passengers were identified as 34 year old Michael Wafford of Chicago, IL and 27 year old Lyndell Wafford of Chicago, IL. Both passengers were charged with Complicity to Fleeing or Evading Police in a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree and Complicity to Tampering with Physical Evidence.
All three occupants were lodged at the McCracken County Jail.
Gov Beshear, Kentucky State Police Announce Cadet Class 101 Has Reported to Frankfort
Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced the largest academy class in seven years, including 100 cadets, reported to Frankfort Oct. 3. The new recruits include 87 traditional and 13 LEAP (law enforcement accelerated program) cadets. Cadet class 101 is tentatively scheduled to graduate in February of 2022.
Antler Alert Warns Of Deer Danger
An Antler Alert is issued by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Officials want to remind drivers that it’s peak season for highway crashes involving deer and other wildlife that are on the move looking for food and looking for a mate. According to the State Farm Insurance annual report, Kentucky ranks 18th among states regarding crashes with a deer with a one in 88 chance of having such a crash. The national average is one in a 116.
Total Accidents On Kentucky Roads Drops, But Deaths Increase
(Frankfort, KY) — New data shows that the number of crashes on Kentucky roads is down, but the number of collision-related deaths is up. Officials say total crashes decreased nearly 24-percent in 2020. Kentucky reported its highest number of collision-related deaths last year since 2017, with 780 people killed. Last year’s death total was the third highest in the past decade. Alcohol-related collisions increased, accounting for just over 180 of the total crash deaths in 2020.
Murray Pediatrics Offering Flu Shot Clinic
Murray Pediatrics will be hosting a Flu Shot Clinic on Wednesday, October 13th from 4:00 pm –5:30 pm in the Murray Pediatrics office, located in Suite 208 East of the Medical Arts Building. Appointments for the shot clinic are required. To schedule, call 270.759.9223.
Parents who would like their children to receive the flu shot should schedule an appointment. At the time of check-in, parents should present their insurance card and have proper identification available. Most insurances will pay for the vaccine. The flu shot is available for anyone 6 months to 18 years of age.
Post 1 Troopers Honored at Kentucky State Police Sworn Award Ceremony
Hickory, KY. (October 5, 2021) – On September 30, 2021 Kentucky State Police held the annual sworn awards ceremony in Lexington to honor 55 troopers and officers who put on a uniform each day to patrol Kentucky’s neighborhoods with a mission of serving and protecting their fellow citizens. The achievement awards presented were for acts of service that occurred during 2020.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. spoke during the ceremony thanking troopers and officers for going beyond their regular job duties to protect and serve the citizens of the commonwealth.
“Our troopers and officers put themselves in harm’s way every day, but these acts of heroism and service stand above the normal call of duty,” said Burnett. “Each of these recipients has demonstrated both bravery and self-sacrifice in protecting the citizens of the commonwealth.”
Two troopers from the Post 1 area were included in those honors.
Trooper Landon Stewart was named 2020 Post 1 Trooper of the Year. Trooper Stewart is a 2-year veteran of KSP assigned to Post 1 Mayfield.
Detective Brian Hill was named 2020 Post 1 Detective of the Year. Detective Hill is a 10-year veteran of KSP assigned to Post 1 Mayfield.
Kentucky State News Brief
Senator Paul’s Campaign Reports Record Fundraising
(Washington, DC) — Senator Rand Paul’s campaign is reporting record-breaking fundraising. The Republican’s campaign reported it raised more than four-million dollars for his 2022 re-election bid between July and September. The campaign says that’s the largest amount raised in any three-month period compared to his two previous Senate campaigns. Paul’s third quarter fundraising brings his campaign contributions to over nine-million dollars this year.
Some Services At Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Closed On Monday
(Fort Campbell, KY) — All outpatient services and pharmacies will be closed at Fort Campbell‘s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Monday. The closure is due to Columbus Day, a federal holiday. The Emergency Center and inpatient services will remain open.
GRDHD Updates Coronavirus Numbers
(Owensboro, KY) — The Green River District Health Department is reporting a rise in cases of coronavirus. Yesterday, the GRDHD reported 402 additional confirmed cases with 182 in Daviess County, 105 in Henderson County, 45 in Ohio County, 29 in Webster County, 21 in Union County, 12 in McLean County and eight in Hancock County. There have been nearly 35-thousand cases in the seven-county District since the outbreak began. There have been close to 530 COVID-19-related deaths in the district since the outbreak began.
Harlem Globetrotters Coming To Owensboro
(Owensboro, KY) — The Harlem Globetrotters will be in Owensboro next year. The Globetrotters will face the Washington Generals at the Owensboro Sportscenter on the night of Thursday, January 6th. The appearance will also include a dunk contest. Fans will have the chance to meet the Globetrotters after the game.
KY State-Based Health Insurance Exchange Reopens Nov 1st
(Frankfort, KY) — Kentucky’s state-based health insurance exchange is set to reopen November 1st. Governor Andy Beshear announced the reopening date for the kynect program Monday. The program offers access to health care coverage and other benefits. Residents can begin exploring available plans and benefits October 15th that would take effect as early as January 1st, 2022. The last day for open enrollment is January 15th, 2022.
Nearly 26-Hundred New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Kentucky
(Frankfort, KY) — Nearly 26-hundred new COVID-19 cases are being reported in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear announced the new cases yesterday, along with 15 additional deaths. Over 16-hundred people in the commonwealth are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses, with more than 320 on ventilators. Over 702-thousand Kentuckians have tested positive for the virus and nearly nine-thousand have died since the pandemic began.
New High-Tech Training Center Opens At Danville‘s BCTC
(Danville, KY) — A new high-tech manufacturing training center is open at Danville’s Bluegrass Community Technical College. A ribbon-cutting was held yesterday morning at the facility. Governor Andy Beshear spoke at the ceremony, saying the new center will help close a labor gap of needed technicians in manufacturing. Students who complete the program can expect to make anywhere from 20- to 30-dollars an hour starting out.
Owensboro‘s Gryphon Environmental Receiving 400-Thousand In State Incentives
(Owensboro, KY) — Owensboro’s Gryphon Environmental is set to receive 400-thousand dollars in state incentives. The funding was approved this week by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. The money will go towards an over one-and-three-quarter-million-dollar investment the company is making in its growth. The company manufactures dryers that remove water from municipal sludge and industrial waste, allowing the products to be turned into fertilizer.
EKU Center For Arts Hosting T-Pain In November
(Richmond, KY) — The Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts is hosting T-Pain in November. The concert is set for November 13th and will be a private event just for EKU on-campus students. The rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer has won six Grammys. His book “Can I Mix You a Drink” debuted this year.
Tennessee State News Brief
TDH Updates State Coronavirus Cases
(Nashville, TN) — There are nearly 32-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-241-thousand. Over 80 additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at more than 15-thousand-400. There are nearly 22-hundred COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
Tennessee‘s New License Plate Design Unveiled
(Nashville, TN) — Tennessee’s next standard license plate is being unveiled. In a statewide vote, 42 percent of more than 300-thousand Tennesseans selected the new design that represents the state’s Grand Divisions – West, Middle and East Tennessee. Tennesseans can also select “In God We Trust” to appear over the Grand Divisions symbol. The new plates can be ordered online or in person starting January 3rd of next year.
Memphis Kellogg’s Workers On Strike
(Memphis, TN) — Workers in Memphis are part of a nationwide strike against Kellogg’s. Over 270 workers went on strike yesterday after their contract expired at midnight. The workers rallied outside the Memphis plant yesterday. Union reps are upset about a potential 13-dollar an hour decrease for new workers and they might also have to pay more for benefits.
SBC Committee Opens Privileged Files To Sex-Abuse Probe
(Nashville, TN) — The Tennessee-based Southern Baptist Convention is clearing the way for an investigation into the handling of sexual abuse cases by the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. The SBC’s executive committee agreed yesterday to waive attorney-client privilege for an investigation of the panel’s handling of abuse reports and treatment of victims over the last two decades. The executive committee voted to approve a contract with an independent investigator. The deal with Guidepost Solutions allows for the review of privileged communications and legal documents between executive committee members or staff and their lawyers.
Knoxville City Council Votes To Move Forward With Stadium Plan
(Knoxville, TN) — The Knoxville City Council is voting to move forward with a preliminary plan for a multi-use stadium near the old city in East Knoxville. Members of the council voted 8-to-1 yesterday to advance the project. The publicly-owned stadium is expected to be finished by 2024. The seven-thousand seat future home of the Tennessee Smokies is estimated to cost up to 90-and-a-half-million dollars.
National Headlines
Zuckerberg Denies Claims Facebook Put Profits Over Safety
(Menlo Park, CA) — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says claims that his company puts profits over the safety of users just aren’t true. He posted a lengthly response after a whistleblower testified before a Senate committee yesterday. Zuckerberg stressed he’s spent a lot of time reflecting on the kinds of experiences he wants his own children and others to have online. He says everything they build is safe and good for kids.
Senate Vote On Debt Ceiling Suspension Set For Today
(Washington, DC) — The Senate is taking action today on the nation’s debt ceiling. In two weeks, the government goes into default and can’t pay its bills. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will call for a vote to suspend the debt ceiling through December of next year. The other option is to raise it. President Biden says changing filibuster rules to make that happen is a real possibility. The move would be aimed at Republicans who refuse to weigh in.
2021 COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 2020
(Undated) — This is becoming the deadliest year of the pandemic. More than 704-thousand people have lost their battle with coronavirus across the nation. Half of those deaths happened last year. But with two-and-a-half months left to go, 2021 is on track to top that. Still, the delta variant surge appears to be slowing down a bit as hospitalizations have fallen 27-percent since last month. About 70-million have yet to be vaccinated.
GOP Governors Heading To Southern Border
(Phoenix, AZ) — Almost a dozen Republican governors will be in Texas today to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. This comes amid a recent surge in illegal crossings such as the thousands of Haitian migrants who made it across the Rio Grande River to camp out under a bridge. Other states represented include Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Another Sandy Hook Parent Wins Alex Jones Suit
(Newtown, CT) — Another parent of a child gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 has won a defamation lawsuit. Neil Heslin sued conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for claiming the Connecticut massacre was a hoax, saying it was played out by actors. A jury will now decide on damages. Jones must also pay two other parents who won suits against him. Twenty students and six adults were killed in the shooting.
Dave Chappelle Gets Backlash For Trans Comments In New Special
(Undated) — Comedian Dave Chappelle is back on Netflix. His new hour-long special is called “The Closer.” It was recorded in August and features Chappelle covering the latest controversies. He’s already drawing heat for comments about transphobic feminists, known as TERFs. He says they look at trans women the way Blacks might look at Blackface. Chappelle says this will be his last show for a while.
