Kentucky Redistricting Maps Head To Governor’s Desk
Kentucky’s redistricting maps are headed to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk for approval. The General Assembly approved the new maps Saturday, only days after a Republican plan for redrawing district boundaries was introduced. Redistricting is required every ten years to reflect shifts in population. Legislators used data gathered from the 2020 census in their decision making process.
Graves County court operations to resume in temporary location Jan. 11
Graves County court operations will resume Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, a month after tornadoes ripped through Western Kentucky and irreparably damaged the Graves County Courthouse at 100 E. Broadway.
Circuit and District courts and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk have been closed since Dec. 13 to give the Administrative Office of the Courts the opportunity to find and prepare temporary office space.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky issued Emergency Order 2021-43 to suspend court operations and Graves County has not accepted any court filings – conventional or electronic – during this time. The Supreme Court has now issued Amended Emergency Order 2022-02 to resume operations, including accepting court filings.
Court Proceedings
Court proceedings will be conducted remotely via phone and video or, if parties agree, in person in another county.
Office of Circuit Court Clerk
The Graves County Office of Circuit Court Clerk will open at a temporary location at 1102 Paris Road, Suite 21, in Mayfield. Its hours will be 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT Monday-Friday. The office will serve the public by phone and in person by appointment. Contact the office at 270-247-1733.
Court Filings
To file court documents, use eFiling or place conventional paper filings in the drop box outside the building at the temporary location.
Driver’s License Services
Due to the storm damage, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has taken over issuing driver’s licenses and state ID cards for Graves County earlier than planned. Driver’s license services are no longer offered by the Graves County Office of Circuit Court Clerk.
Reports Of Fake COVID-19 Testing Kits Being Sold Online Increasing
The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to watch for fake COVID-19 testing kits being sold online. As demand for testing continues to increase and supply is shortening across the area, people are turning to online marketplaces for at-home kits. This is not only a waste of money, but could also lead to patients unknowingly spreading the virus or not receiving proper treatment if needed. A quick online search for FDA approved tests will help eliminate the chances of getting a bogus kit.
Kentucky State News Brief
Morgan County Deputy Dies In Accident
(Morgan County, KY) — The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office says one of their own has died. Deputy Alex Spencer died Saturday in what Sheriff Greg Motley says was a tragic accident. Details were not released publicly. Spencer joined the department in March and was set to graduate the Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy next month.
Nicholasville Murder Suspect Dies In Florida As Officers Close In
(Nicholasville, KY) — A man wanted in connection with a Nicholasville murder is dead. Authorities say 54-year-old Kenneth Strange took his own life yesterday as officers in Florida were closing in on him at a gas station. Nicholasville Police say their detectives were working with officers in Lake Wales along with U.S. Marshals to arrest Strange. Strange was suspected of killing his longtime girlfriend, Lydia Cassady.
Man In Custody After Barricading Himself, Starting Fire In Richmond
(Madison County, KY) — A man is in custody in Madison County on multiple charges. Richmond Police say 30-year-old Logan Browning forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment Saturday night and attacked her. Police say the woman and three small children escaped from the apartment as officers arrived. Browning then allegedly barricaded himself inside and fired gunshots about the windows, forcing the evacuation of the building. After a four hour standoff, police say Browning set fire to the apartment and tried to get out a backdoor, where he was caught and arrested. He is hospitalized for injuries and faces counts of burglary, robbery, arson, assault, criminal mischief, wanton endangerment, and a weapons charge.
Owensboro Woman Dies Following House Fire
(Owensboro, KY) — A Owensboro woman has died following a house fire. The blaze broke out early Saturday morning at a home in the 14-hundred block of West 12th Street. An elderly woman was found inside and taken from the scene to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Teen Dies In Henderson Fire
(Henderson, KY) — A teen is dead after a mobile home fire early Saturday morning at a mobile home on Carter Drive in Henderson. Two separate crews entered the home and found 19-year-old Brendan Bellar, who died at the hospital from his injuries. A second occupant escaped the fire and was treated and released from the hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it was determined that the home didn’t have working smoke detectors.
Time Extended For Tornado Victims To Apply For DUA
(Frankfort, KY) — Victims of the tornadoes that struck Kentucky last month have more time to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. The U.S. Department of Labor announced it was extending the deadline to January 28th. The assistance is available for impacted victims in sixteen Kentucky counties.
Governor Warns Of Dangerous Road Conditions
(Frankfort, KY) — Avoid nonessential travel. That’s the message from Governor Andy Beshear in response to the potentially hazardous road conditions after the rapid drop in temperatures. Those who must travel are advised to exercise extreme caution, especially on bridges, ramps, and overpasses. Motorists can check road conditions online at goky.ky.gov
Redistricting Bills Before Gov. Beshear
(Frankfort, KY) — Redistricting bills are before Governor Andy Beshear. The General Assembly met on Saturday to pass the bills. Lawmakers also approved a measure that would change boundaries for the state’s Supreme Court’s districts. The Governor has ten days to sign or veto the bills.
Disaster Recovery Centers Reopen After Closure During Severe Weather
(Frankfort, KY) — Disaster recovery Centers and Mobile Registration Centers are back open in Kentucky after being closed due to severe winter weather. Locations for those centers are available online at fema.gov/drc. You can also call 800-621-3362.
Tennessee State News Brief
Storm Shuts Down Nashville COVID Testing Site As Demand Increases
(Nashville, TN) — Operations at the Nashville drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at 28th Avenue and Murfreesboro Road are expected to resume Monday. The site had been closed the past three days due to the snowstorm that hit over the weekend. With increasing demand for COVID tests, health and other city and state officials are warning residents to watch for scammers. They say watch for pop-up ads on social media and unsolicited text messages and emails asking you to click a link to schedule your test.
Reports Of Fake COVID-19 Testing Kits Being Sold Online Increasing
(Nashville, TN) — The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to watch for fake COVID-19 testing kits being sold online. As demand for testing continues to increase and supply is shortening across the area, people are turning to online marketplaces for at-home kits. This is not only a waste of money, but could also lead to patients unknowingly spreading the virus or not receiving proper treatment if needed. A quick online search for FDA approved tests will help eliminate the chances of getting a bogus kit.
Drugs And Fake COVID Vaccination Cards Found In Suspect Vehicle
(Lebanon, TN) — Lebanon Police say blank COVID-19 vaccination cards were found while searching a vehicle during a recent drug bust in the city. According to reports, the Lebanon Police Department used License Plate Recognition technology to stop the suspect who was driving a stolen car. In addition to the blank vaccination cards, officers found fake negative and positive COVID test result forms, fentanyl, cocaine, cash, and more. The suspect is facing multiple charges.
Representative Cooper Recommending Vaccinations And Boosters After COVID-19 Diagnosis
(Nashville, TN) — Tennessee Representative Jim Cooper says he’s tested positive for COVID-19. On Twitter Saturday, Cooper said he has only experienced mild symptoms so far. Cooper said he is only experiencing mild symptoms because he is fully vaccinated and has received his booster shot. He recommends everyone do the same, saying it’s the best way to protect yourself from the potentially serious side effects of COVID-19.
Escaped Inmate Taken Into Custody After Shots Were Fired Inside Knoxville Home
(Knoxville, TN) — An escaped inmate is back behind bars after an hours-long standoff Sunday in North Knoxville. It was late Saturday night when the Tennessee Department of Correction contacted the State Highway Patrol about 44-year-old Jason Copley who had escaped the Morgan County Correctional Facility. Copley was tracked to a home in the 28-hundred block of Woodrow Drive where Knoxville Police said shots were fired inside of the home about 3 a.m. Sunday. That’s when officers breached the house and took Copley into custody without any further incident.
Tennessee Looking To Educate More Citizens On Human Trafficking Warning Signs
(Nashville, TN) — State officials are recognizing January as “Human Trafficking Awareness Month” across Tennessee. Through mid-December last year, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Hotline received a reported eleven-hundred-85 tips. The Tennessee Department of Health is encouraging residents of the state to be more aware of signs of human trafficking. Officials say knowing these signs and having more tools to combat human trafficking can save lives.
National/World Headlines
Nation Averaging 700,000 New COVID Cases Per Day
(Baltimore, MD) — The nation is grappling with an average of more than 700-thousand new COVID-19 cases each day. It comes as the fate of the Biden administration’s vaccine-or-test mandate for companies with 100 or more employees appears to be up in the air. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday on challenges to the mandate by business lobbies, religious groups, and Republican-led states. There’s now talk among court observers that the Court could issue an administrative stay to delay implementation of today’s deadline.
Devastating Bronx Fire Leaves 19 People Dead, Including 9 Children
(Bronx, NY) — A devastating fire in a Bronx apartment is blamed for the deaths of at least 19 people dead, including nine children. The death toll is expected to rise since at least 13 others have been described as “clinging to life.” Authorities say the blaze on Sunday morning in the third floor apartment was caused by a malfunctioning space heater. Authorities say victims were found on every floor of the 19-story building.
Comedian, Actor Bob Saget Dead At 65
(Orlando, FL) — Authorities say the death of comedian and actor Bob Saget does not appear to suspicious at this time. The 65-year-old was best known for his role as single dad Danny Tanner on ‘Full House.’ He was also the host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Saget was found dead yesterday in a hotel room in Orlando.
American Airlines Apologetic For Pilot’s “Let’s Go Brandon” Sticker
(Fort Worth, TX) — American Airlines is looking into a passenger complaint about a “Let’s Go Brandon” sticker on a pilot’s luggage. A Twitter user sent a photo of the sticker to the airline over the weekend and asked if American accepts what she called “cowardly rhetoric on their crew luggage when they’re in uniform.” On its official Twitter account, the airline tweeted “Thank you for bringing this to our attention.” Let’s Go Brandon has become a coded insult to President Biden.
Chicago Family Charged With Murder In Death Of Six-Year-Old Boy
(Chicago, IL) — More information is coming out about the death of a six-year-old boy from Chicago. Prosecutors on Sunday told a judge that Damari Perry was forced into a cold shower by a relative as punishment for misbehaving before he died back in December. His body was later found in Gary, Indiana. Damari’s mother and 20-year-old brother have both been charged with first-degree murder and concealing a homicidal death. An autopsy is expected to be performed today.
GM Recognizing California’s Authority To Set Car Emissions Standards
(Detroit, MI) — General Motors is agreeing to abide by California’s authority to put vehicle emissions standards into place using the Clean Air Act. They did so in a letter written to the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, where it said they’re “committed to complying with California’s regulations.” The move allows GM to be eligible for government fleet purchases in the nation’s most populated state. It comes after the former Trump administration went after California’s ability to set its own emissions mandates.
